South African Pinotage

South Africa’s Most Loved (and Hated) Variety

Pinotage, a red wine grape native to South Africa, is known for its unique characteristics and ability to produce juicy red wines that split opinions amongst wine drinkers.

The popularity swings of Pinotage wine are stark. In 1992, it was the cheapest grape in South Africa, often suppressed by quantity-focused producers and the sanctions imposed against Apartheid. By 1997, post-apartheid, it was the most expensive, and by 2003 it was the cheapest again. This cross variety just couldn’t win!

It’s a hardy grape, developed in 1925 by one of the heroes of South African wine, Abraham Perold. The crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault became known as Pinotage by blending the names of the parents. (Cinsault was called Hermitage in South Africa at the time.)

What is Pinotage? It’s a thick-skinned grape that ripens very easily and can produce heavy yields (of up to 120hl/ha) if trained into vigorous pruning systems. However, wines made from fruit of low-yielding, old vines can result in intensely flavoured and complex reds with a rich colour.

Flavour

Pinotage often has a rather sweet, estery pungency, which has led many wine drinkers to dismiss the wines as nearly undrinkable. If the vintage is too hot at the end of the growing season, unpleasant burnt tar flavors can be prevalent due to over-extraction.

However, good examples of Pinotage wine show a vibrant wild fruitiness with notes of blackberry, plum, and red berry. When tamed by time and oak, these wines evolve beautifully, developing savoury notes of dark chocolate, black pepper spice, and even hints of leather and tobacco.

Style Range

Most Pinotage is designed to drink early. Fermentations are cooler and longer to extract dense fruit, without harsh tannins.

OAKED AND AGEWORTHY STYLE

French or American oak not only adds flavor but also rounds harsher tannins. This allows for fuller flavor and colour extraction earlier on in the cellar work, resulting in bold flavors and a complex profile.

BLENDED STYLE

Cape blends, particularly in Stellenbosch, can be very high in quality, with Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz all playing a part. These are luscious, intense, full-bodied wines that showcase the best of the Western Cape region.

Structure

Pinotage can be highly tannic and dismissed as a coarse red wine, but with more gentle extraction and oak maturation, the deep purple berries can produce some of the richest and long-lasting wines in South Africa.

It usually has a lovely vibrant acidity, which contributes to its juicy character. The medium tannins and rich colour make Pinotage a distinctive wine in the world of red varietals.

Food Pairings

Good Pinotage is one of the best wines to drink with pepperoni pizza. Its bold flavors and spicy notes complement the savory and spicy elements of the dish perfectly.

Growing Regions

SOUTH AFRICA

Pinotage’s homeland grows the grape in many areas, both bulk and quality regions. Stellenbosch is particularly renowned for its Pinotage production, with wines like Stellenbosch Pinotage, Bellingham Pinotage, and Fairview Pinotage gaining recognition.

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD
The variable popularity of Pinotage has limited its spread across the wine world, but there are some sparse plantings in Brazil, California, Israel, New Zealand, and Zimbabwe.