A South African Specialty, and it isn't Nando Chicken

What do we think of when we think South Africa ?
1- Nando Chicken
2- Nelson Mandela
3- African Safari
4- Springbok - as in their rugby team
(these are probably things that are symbolic of SA in most folks' mind, in no particular order)

I tend to think a rustically beautiful country, abalone, great steaks (The Butcher Shop, Sandton is a must if you visit Jberg), friendly yet dangerous country & Pinotage, when it comes to South Africa, in no particular order. Zembesitiger likes talking bout grapes so this is the first of a series of talk on grapes that are synonymous with a country. ie Argentina=Malbec, Chile=Carmenere, Riesling=Germany, Shiraz=Australia, Zinfandel=USA and Pinotage=South Africa, Icewine=Canada.

Pinotage
By crossing the Cincault & Pinot Noir grapes in 1925, University of Stellenbosch professor, Abraham Izak Peroldt was probably thinking about combining the elegance of a Burgundy Pinot with the tough, disease resistant workhorse from Southern France in Cincault, to create and practical grape with refine characters.
Initial attempts to make a varietal wine from Pinotage produced unimpressive wines that went insignificant commercially until 1960. Like a Sauvignon Blanc, one will either love or hate a Pinotage. A Sauvignon sometimes have a pungent musty nose that could be offensive to some. Rusty metal, paint varnish and industrial solven are just some of less flattering descriptions used for Pinotage. However, fans of Pinotage, have described the wine to be distinctive, refreshing, fruity with banana & berries fruit notes.

Outside of South Africa, the wine world took notice of the Pinotage grape when iconic winemaker Beyers Truter of Kanonkop won Winemaker of the Year Award at the UK International Wine & Spirit Competition in 1991, when he entered a Pinotage in the competition.

Styles of Pinotage ranges from young fruit forward style of Beaujolais, big American Zinfandel, elegant and complex style of a petite chateau from Bordeaux to "Port" style wines. Axehill & Calitzdorp Winery makes fantastic Port Style wines in recent vintages.

Great South African Pinotage producers in recent years are Kanonkop, Beyerskloof, Fairview Estate, Simonsig, Spice Route, L'Avenir, Stellenbosch Vineyard Kumkani..........

A few South African Pinotage found on our retail shelves recently, Fluer de Cap RM59.99, KWV RM39.99, Bellingham RM62.99, Kanopkop RM121, Kumala Pinotage Cinsault Blend RM43.99, Leopard's Leap Pinotage Shiraz RM54.99. I wont bore you with tasting notes; just remember the Moss Winslet Analysis, start with a less expensive wine to experiment. General distinction amongst these wines are that of a new world fruit forward style and the more traditional reserve complex style.