Pinot Noir Day

August 18, 2022kapweine

South African Pinot Noir

It all started with a Swiss clone

Every day should be South African Pinot Noir Day, but August 18th is the only day officially marked on the calendar. Celebrate this day by learning a little more about this variety and the wines you should taste.

Although every day of the year should be Pinot Noir Day, August 18th is the international day for this grape variety, which brings us so much joy at celebrations where we drink a glass of this wine.

South African Pinot Noir wines have improved in recent years as more and more winemakers try their hand at the notoriously inconsistent variety. This is not only due to advances in viticulture and cellar techniques, but also because winemakers have dedicated themselves to the art of Pinot Noir.

It all started with a Swiss Pinot Noir clone

Professor Abraham Izak Perold imported the Swiss clone BK5 Pinot noir in the 1920s, and Muratie in Stellenbosch was the first estate to plant the variety in 1927. At the time, the variety struggled to gain a foothold outside of Stellenbosch, as there was a strong focus on producing wine in volume rather than quality.

The quota system introduced in the late 1950s also prevented expansion of production. In the mid-1970s, Tim Hamilton Russel of Hamilton Russel Wines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley played an important role in unlocking the true potential of Pinot Noir in the country. He decided to produce the variety despite the quota system and the fact that the available clone was intended for sparkling wine rather than still wine.

Together with his winemaker at the time, Peter Finlayson, Russel proved that the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is ideal for Pinot Noir production. New Dijon clones, better suited for producing fine table wines, became available in South Africa in the 1990s.

Along with the shift towards producing quality wines, these new clones led many new regions to also plant the variety, including Elgin, Doring Bay, and Franschoek. Prof. Perold crossed Pinot noir with Cinsaut to create the truly South African variety, Pinotage.

5 facts you need to consider

1. Pinot Noir enjoys the same climate as Chardonnay. These two grape varieties are often grown in close proximity to each other.

2. Blanc de Noirs Champagne uses Pinot Noir (and Pinot Meunier) as its base grape. Pinot Noir is one of the few red grape varieties from which red, rosé, white, and sparkling wine are made!

3. Due to the almost unfavorable conditions for Pinot Noir in South Africa, clone selection (the selection of the most suitable vines for the region/area) is of utmost importance to ensure that the best possible grapes can be produced.

4. South African Pinot Noir can taste of red fruits such as raspberries, plums, cranberries, and cherries. Aged Pinot Noirs often develop earthy notes with hints of truffle, wild mushrooms, cured meats, and exotic spices.

5. Due to its high acidity and low tannin content, Pinot Noir is a very versatile wine for food pairing. Pinot Noir pairs particularly well with duck, chicken, pork, and mushrooms.