Pinotage of the Year 2024

Pinotage Reserve

by Diemersdal

Seven generations of skills and passion

The Diemersdal wine estate has been in existence for more than three centuries in the Durbanville Valley, one of South Africa’s oldest wine-growing regions, just 20 minutes from Cape Town. The Louw family have been the proud owners of the winery since 1885 and are now the seventh generation to run Diemersdal with exceptional skill and passionate commitment. In a picturesque setting, with Table Mountain in the background.

Winemaking at Diemersdal is an artful fusion of time-honoured traditions and cutting-edge technology. The result is wines that combine the best of both worlds – rich flavours, an impressive structure and a subtle hint of terroir.

Cape Wines Pinotage of the Year 2024 – The freshness of the Durbanville terroir in every sip

South Africa’s most prominent indigenous grape variety has thrived magnificently in the Durbanville region for decades. The cool coastal climate gives this renowned red wine a refreshing complexity. This powerful red wine from Diemersdal represents a highly valued part of the Louw family’s winemaking heritage. When you consider 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 flavours from French oak barrels. A wine with a long-lasting finish.

Drinking recommendation:
Excellent with hearty meat, such as ostrich fillet with chocolate-chilli sauce or savoury beef stew.

Pinotage of the Year 2024 >6 btl.
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. The vines are rooted in deep red Hu on soils on north-facing slopes, catching the southerly breezes of summer and the frontal winds that punish the Cape from the north in winter. Cool growing condi ons on exposed aspects, as well as the prac se of dryland farming, sees the fruit develop slowly, drawing maximum variety expression on the vine. The result is ght bunches of small berries, ideal for making wines of structure, elegance and refinement.
The grapes were harvested at optimum phenolic ripeness and fermented in open fermentation vats. After 4 days at 26-28ºC, punching down and pumping over took place every 3 hours. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation took place in 225 litre 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. A deep connection to the land, respect for ancestral traditions and a collective knowledge of terroir, grape varieties and microclimate form the basis of their creations. It is not only tradition, but also an innovative spirit that drives them to push the boundaries of winemaking.

Diemersdal Wine Estate

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

The unique terroir of Durbanville creates optimal conditions for wine growing, and Diemersdal is a master at capitalising on these conditions. The careful selection of grape varieties, from elegant Sauvignon Blanc to sophisticated Bordeaux blends, enables the production of versatile and first-class wines.

The first Pinotage was planted at Diemersdal 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, the most important wine award in South Africa. No other winery has achieved this coup before!

Diemersdal Estate distinguishes itself as a pioneer in sustainability by being committed to implementing resource-conserving 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.