McFarlane, Capitoline Wolf White 2024

Get to know: McFarlane Wines, Capitoline Wolf White 2024

A textured South African white wine from the Western Cape, blending heritage grapes with a modern, thoughtful touch.

Tasting Note

McFarlane Wines, Capitoline Wolf White 2024 is an elegant white blend that balances generosity with freshness, offering layers of flavour without ever feeling heavy. Pale gold in colour with perfumed aromas of quince, white flowers, ripe yellow fruit, and a subtle hint of green spice. On the palate, this Chenin Blanc and Semillon blend is fleshy yet precise, with juicy yellow fruit, a gentle bittersweet edge, and warming notes of ginger biscuit. Bright acidity keeps everything lifted and mouthwatering, leading to a long, savoury finish with a lightly creamy texture from lees ageing. This is a characterful Western Cape white wine that rewards a bit of attention but is just as enjoyable poured freely at the table.

Top food pairings:

• Guanciale carbonara or creamy pasta dishes
• Roast chicken with herbs and buttery potatoes
• Hot cross buns with butter and mature cheddar

Kate Says

"A blend of Chenin and Semillon, which is not that common but here works so well. Alexandra picks early to retain freshness but uses long contact on the lees to extract flavour and moreishness. Fermented in big old French barrels and aged for 6 months. The nose is ripe and generous but the palate remains vibrant and fresh with stone fruits and a hint of ginger. The acidity is superb and really balances it all."

Producer Info

McFarlane Wines is the project of Alexandra McFarlane, a passionate advocate for South Africa’s heritage grape varieties and a rising name in the Western Cape wine scene. Working with Chenin Blanc and Semillon from carefully selected sites in Bot River and Durbanville, she focuses on minimal intervention and gentle handling to craft wines that are honest, expressive, and full of quiet complexity. The combination of ocean-influenced vineyards and thoughtful winemaking gives this South African white wine its distinctive balance of ripeness and freshness.

How it’s made:

• Varieties: 60% Semillon, 40% Chenin Blanc
• Hand-harvested with freshness in mind from Bot River and Durbanville vineyards
• Whole-bunch pressed with gentle settling overnight
• Wild fermentation in large, neutral French oak barrels
• Aged for 6 months on gross lees with regular stirring and full malolactic fermentation

Good to know:

• Region: Western Cape, South Africa
• Style: White, still, medium-bodied
• Closure: Cork
• Vegan: No
• ABV: 12.5%
• Vintage: 2024

Why we love it:

This South African white wine brings together the richness of Semillon and the freshness of Chenin Blanc in a way that feels both comforting and refined. It’s a brilliant food wine with enough texture and complexity to elevate a meal, yet still easy enough to enjoy on its own.