Whether it’s award-winning Chenin Blanc, elegant Shiraz (and syrah) or world-class sparkling Cap Classique, South Africa has plenty to boast about when it comes to wine. But only one grape can truly be called its own, and it’s been going strong for a century!
The history of Pinotage properly begins in 1925, when Professor Abraham Izak Perold crossed noble Pinot Noir with hardy Cinsault – also known as Hermitage – to create what would become South Africa’s signature red variety.
The name itself is a portmanteau: ‘Pino-‘ from Pinot Noir, and ‘-tage’ from Hermitage and was an inspired experiment, combining the elegance of Burgundy’s star grape with the resilience of a Rhône workhorse. The result? A cultivar that has become synonymous with South African red wine.
But the road of Pinotage hasn’t always been smooth. The variety was once dismissed by international critics for its overt banana notes, and a bouquet that ran from merely smoky to ‘burnt clutch’. For decades, the jury was out on Pinotage as a quality wine.
Happily, the story today is different. A new generation of winemakers has refined how Pinotage is made, coaxing out a new character altogether. It’s a grape that’s infinitely versatile, from juicy fruit-forward bottles for everyday drinking and elegant rosés to age-worthy wines full of complexity.
If you want to taste South Africa in a glass, Pinotage is a good place to start. And from heritage estates to boutique cellars, these are the best farms and tasting rooms to enjoy it…
Dining and Cooking