Botani Old Vines

D.O. Málaga & D.O. Sierras de Málaga

The winery is located in Vélez-Málaga. The vineyards are spread across multiple villages in the Alta Axarquía, the most historic viticultural area in Málaga.

100% Muscat of Alexandria. The oldest variety in the Muscat family and one of the few remaining genetically unmodified vitis vinifera cultivars remaining in the world today. The Phoenicians transplanted this grape from Alexandria, Egypt to Málaga approximately 2,600 years ago.

54 small north facing vineyard plots in the villages of Almáchar and El Borge. Extremely steep (45-70%) mountain vineyards. No trellising, terraces, or mechanization.

Between 1946-1975

Traditional dry farmed viticulture. Practicing organic gobelet (vaso) trained vines. Cultivated completely by hand, and grapes are carried up the mountain with the assistance of mules. The majority of the vines receive no treatments whatsoever and minimal human intervention. Many of the vineyards are planted directly into the rock (slate).

Solid and decomposed slate intermixed with white quartz. No organic matter whatsoever.

Dry Mediterranean climate (120-150 mm/L2). High elevation results in significant diurnal shifts, favoring a long and balanced maturation.

The grapes are chilled in a cool chamber for 24 hours before processing. Gently pressed in a pneumatic press. The must settles overnight and ferments in 10,000L stainless steel temperature-controlled tanks.

Aged sur lie in stainless steel for six months.

Despite Jorge Ordóñez Málaga's focus on unfortified sweet wines, Jorge and Alois Kracher were inspired to produce a fresh and dry Moscatel from the mountain vineyards of the Axarquía. Botani was the first dry Moscatel made in Spain in modern times, resurrecting the tradition of Málaga's historic "Mountain Wines." This wine inspired a new generation of dry aromatic white wines produced from Spain's Mediterranean coast.