Page 190 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

188  THE WESTERN AND SOUTHERN C APE

Pinotage Wine-Making

Pinotage is a unique South African cultivar developed in 1925 by
Stellenbosch University professor Abraham Perold, from a cross
of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (then called Hermitage). The world’s first
commercially bottled Pinotage was released in 1961 under the
Lanzerac label. The fruity, purple-red wine has since then achieved
international acclaim. Pinotage comprises only a small percentage
of South Africa’s total grape plantings, with most of the crop grown Old grape press in the
around Stellenbosch. There are small Pinotage plantings outside Stellenryck Museum,
South Africa, notably in California and New Zealand. Stellenbosch

The Pinotage Cultivars
Pinot Noir, the noble cultivar from
France’s famous Burgundy district,
contributed complexity, flavour and
colour, while Cinsaut improved the
yield. Today, Pinotage is an early-
ripening cultivar that results in a
light- to medium-bodied wine with
Pinot Noir Cinsaut Pinotage
unique flavour characteristics.

The large oak barrels used for
maturation and storage of red wines
are often decorated with hand-
carved designs, like this beautiful
example from the Delheim cellar
in Stellenbosch.
Stellenbosch (see pp196–200) is
surrounded by gentle hills that are
Pinotage International Awards
ideal for growing Pinotage.
1987: Kanonkop (1985) – Beyers Truter voted
Diners’ Club “Winemaker of the Year”
1991: Kanonkop (1989 Reserve) – Robert
Mondavi Trophy (USA)
1996: Kanonkop (1992) – Perold Trophy
(International Wine and Spirit Competition)
1997: L’Avenir (1994) – Perold Trophy
1997: Jacobsdal (1994) – gold medal at Vin Expo
Competition (France)

Lanzerac, in Stellenbosch, combines a
luxury country hotel (see p386) with a
Two of South Africa’s well-known Pinotage labels working winery. Pinotage is one of a range
of wines made by the estate.

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