All About Pinotage
South Africa's Best
October 8th was Pinotage Day, a wine with character that leaves no one indifferent. To celebrate, we want to present some important facts about the significance of Pinotage in South Africa.
Pinotage and South Africa are inextricably linked. If we look up the word «Pinotage» in the most important online dictionary, Wikipedia, we get the following description: «Pinotage is a red grape variety created by crossing Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) and Cinsault. It is mainly cultivated in South Africa».
The History of Pinotage
The Pinotage grape variety was developed in 1925 in South Africa by Abraham Izak Perold, the first professor of viticulture at Stellenbosch University. The professor sought to combine the best characteristics of the robust Hermitage with Pinot Noir, a grape variety known for producing great wines but difficult to cultivate. Perold planted the four seeds of his cross in the garden of his experimental farm. In 1927, the university sent a team to clear out Perold's belongings, as he had taken another position, and saved two young plants from the plantings.
The first wine from this grape variety was produced in 1941 at Elsenburg and Kanonkop Estate. Its wines gained enormous fame due to their ability to age for up to 25 years, which is why the area is referred to as "the formidable leader of the Cape's red wine pack."
Pinotage Today in Facts
Pinotage has inherent adaptability and the ability to achieve high grape yields under ideal growing conditions. There is now a solid knowledge base on the successful cultivation of Pinotage vines, so the Pinotage producer is fortunate to have various options when choosing alternative cultivation methods, with yield control measures ensuring an optimal harvest.
- Total area with Pinotage vines: 6,570 ha
- Percentage of total area of Pinotage vines: 7.21%
- Total Pinotage exports: 19,969,571 liters
- Total domestic Pinotage: 4,611,590 liters
In which regions can Pinotage vines be found in South Africa?
Share in wine regions – 0.5% Klein Karoo, 0.6% Northern Cape, 1.0% Cape South Coast, 6.2% Worcester, 8.3% Olifants River, 11.6% Robertson, 13.5% Breedekloof, 18.2% Stellenbosch, 19.6% Paarl, 20.4% Swartland.
Pinotage in a Glass
A bottle of Pinotage opens very quickly, and the drinking duration depends on your thirst. But do you know what goes into a glass of South African Pinotage wine? Because the following facts about growing Pinotage must be considered.
Yield: Moderate
Ripening: Early to mid-season, from late January to early March. Ripening of vines on virus-infected vines takes approximately 160-190 days. Ripening of vines on virus-infected vines takes approximately 10-21 days longer, i.e., from late February to mid-March.
Infestation: Moderately susceptible to powdery mildew, downy mildew, and Botrytis cinerea
Growth: Moderate
Vigor: Moderate to ideal
Ripening period: From late October to early November
Bud break: Early to mid-season, from early September after Chardonnay and before or along with Merlot
Pinotage and Health
There are certainly many reasons to drink wine, and when it comes to Pinotage, there is much to be said for it. And this is the most important thing: it is enjoyable.
Numerous studies have shown that moderate consumption of red wine can be beneficial for health. This is because red wine contains high concentrations of resveratrol, an antioxidant that has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.
Now it's just a matter of choosing the best South African Pinotage.
The Present and Future of Pinotage
25 years ago, the Pinotage Association launched the Absa Top 10 Pinotage Awards. It promotes excellence and quality by raising awareness of Pinotage, researching it, and changing perceptions of it.
"For a Pinotage to be excellent, it needs this attention to detail. Pinotage takes more time than any other grape variety, and careful planning is required. But when done right, it is exceptionally versatile," says Beyers Truter, chairman of the Pinotage Association, in an interview on wine.co.za
The association set to work to enable an optimistic future for Pinotage. The rise of Pinotage has been driven by passion and made possible by a strong partnership with Absa. Thanks to their tireless support and industry knowledge, this local grape variety has been able to reach its full potential.
What began as an experiment in 1925 is now produced by an increasing number of top wineries in excellent quality, recognized worldwide. Today, Pinotage has developed into an exceptional expression that is enticing, pairs well with other wines, ages, and deserves respect.
Learn more about Pinotage production.
Slide the photos:
