Pinotage from South Africa

Pinotage - The soul of South Africa

The grape variety Pinotage is an important component of South African wine culture and a grape variety that originates exclusively in South Africa. The grape variety was "invented" in South Africa and is grown there by many wineries. Pinotage is often used for cuvées and rosé wines in addition to single-varietal vinification.

However, the grape variety Pinotage inspires not only in South Africa, but all over the world. Pinotage wines are generally characterised by a fruity taste and a complex body. A special characteristic of the Pinotage grape variety is above all its intense aroma. This gives the wines a very special, full-bodied character.

Pinotage inherits the strong berry aromas from the Pinot Noir grape variety and the spiciness from the Cinsaut grape variety.

Pinotage - Origin of the grape variety

In 1925, Professor Abraham Isak Perold bred in his garden this cross between the grape varieties Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. This created the basis for the Pinotage red wine. Abraham Isak Perold is therefore considered the inventor of the grape variety Pinotage. Pinotage is therefore a historical grape variety for South Africa, but it is relatively young compared to French grape varieties.

In terms of naming, Abraham Isak Perold combined the name Pinot Noir, with another name of the Cinsault grape variety, Hermitage. This developed into the name we know today:Pinotage.

Pinotage - Production in South Africa

Today, many well-known wineries in South Africa produce Pinotage wines. A well-known region for the cultivation of Pinotage is the wine region Stellenbosch. Here wineries like Kanonkop with their Kanonkop Kadette range (Kadette Pinotage), as well as Diemersfontein or Beyerskloof excellent Pinotage wines, which are known worldwide.

Pinotage is grown almost exclusively in South Africa. Occasionally, however, this unique grape variety can be found in other wine regions of the world. Over the years, the grape variety has experienced some successes in South Africa, but also setbacks. The grape variety is therefore considered an important symbol of South African viticulture.

Pinotage - smell and taste

Pinotage-Wines can be found with very different aromas and in different styles. In general, Pinotage is a full-bodied grape variety that brings a lot of aroma. Pinotage can be vinified both fresh and with smoky aromas. The aroma of banana, plum and tropical fruits is also a common flavour profile.

A speciality of the Pinotage grape variety is the Coffee Pinotage style. Here, the chocolate and coffee aromas naturally found in Pinotage wines are intensified by maturing in wooden barrels. A well-known wine here is the The Chocolate Block Pinotage . This is characterised by particularly intense chocolate aromas.

Pinotage - Online order in the shop

In our Online shop we offer a very large selection of wines from various Pinotage wines from various wineries in South Africa.

The Pinotage from the winery Diemersfontein or the Pinotage from Beyerskloof Winery belong to the classics from South Africa. Also very special Pinotage wines like the one Pinotage Cellar Selection from the winery Kleine Zalze wine lovers all over the world.

In our Online shop you will find a large selection of South African Pinotages from various wineries. The WineStore(www.the-winestore.com) makes it very easy and reliable to order Pinotage wines from South Africa.