Pinotage of the Year 2024

March 25, 2024Andrea Palamarcukova

Pinotage Reserve

by Diemersdal

Seven generations of skill and passion

For more than three centuries, the Diemersdal winery has stood in the Durbanville Valley, one of South Africa's oldest wine-growing regions, just about 20 minutes from Cape Town. Since 1885, the Louw family has been the proud owner of the winery and is now managing Diemersdal in its seventh generation with particular skill and passionate dedication. In a picturesque setting, with Table Mountain in the background.

Winemaking at Diemersdal is an artistic fusion of proven traditions and state-of-the-art technology. The result is wines that combine the best of both worlds – rich aromas, an impressive structure, and a subtle hint of terroir.

KapWeine Pinotage of the Year 2024 – The freshness of the Durbanville Terroir in every sip

South Africa's most prominent indigenous grape variety has thrived in the Durbanville area for decades. The cool coastal climate gives this renowned red wine a refreshing complexity. This powerful red wine from Diemersdal represents a valued part of the Louw family's winemaking heritage. Considering the attractive price, this Pinotage is undoubtedly worthy of our "Pinotage of the Year" award.

91 Points by Tim Atkin
4.5 Stars by Platter’s

Wine description:
Full-bodied with aromas of dark berries and plums, well-balanced with complex aromas from French oak barrels. A wine with a long-lasting finish.

Serving recommendation:
Pairs excellently with strong meats, such as ostrich fillet with chocolate-chilli sauce or hearty beef stew.

Pinotage of the Year 2024 >6 bottles
DIEMERSDAL
Pinotage Reserve – 2021
CHF 17.90 instead of CHF 24.90

Terroir and Oenology

The Pinotage grapes come from 26-year-old trellised vines, their roots deeply anchored in red soils on north-facing slopes. The cooling summer climate and the winter winds from the Cape in the north provide optimal conditions. The exposed sides and the practice of dryland farming promote slow fruit development, maximizing varietal expression. The result is dense grapes with small berries, perfect for structured, elegant wines.
The grapes were harvested at optimal phenolic ripeness and fermented in open-top fermenters. After 4 days at 26-28ºC, punch-downs and pump-overs were performed every 3 hours. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurred in 225L French oak barrels. The wine matured for 14 months in 40% new French oak barrels.

The Winemaker Team

The exceptional winemaking team embodies the essence of passion, craftsmanship, and innovation. Each member brings their expertise and intuition to every bottle. The deep connection to the land, respect for inherited traditions, and collective knowledge of terroir, grape varieties, and microclimate form the foundation of their creations. It is not only tradition but also an innovative spirit that drives them to push the boundaries in winemaking.

Diemersdal Estate

As already mentioned, the renowned Diemersdal Estate in Durbanville boasts an impressive wine tradition dating back to 1698. An inventory book from 1702 testifies to 45 wine barrels, a wine press, and glass bottles at Diemersdal, revealing that wine was already being made at this location over three hundred years ago. The winery was taken over by the current owners, the Louw family, in 1885. As a family-owned winery, Diemersdal has built an unparalleled reputation for excellent wines over the centuries.

The unique terroir of Durbanville creates optimal conditions for viticulture, and Diemersdal masterfully utilizes these conditions. The careful selection of grape varieties, from elegant Sauvignon Blanc to refined Bordeaux blends, enables the production of versatile and first-class wines.

At Diemersdal, the first Pinotage was planted in the same year as at Kanonkop and Bellevue. A major breakthrough for the winery was the award of four gold medals in 2012, all for Diemersdal Sauvignon Blancs, at the Michelangelo Award, South Africa's most important wine award. No other winery had achieved this feat before!

Diemersdal Estate distinguishes itself as a pioneer in sustainability, committing to resource-saving practices and actively protecting the environment. This deep-rooted commitment to quality, tradition, and sustainable measures makes Diemersdal Estate a true treasure in the South African wine world.