Durban - Pinotage is South Africa’s home-grown pride. While it is not everyone’s favourite varietal, it is the one we can proudly place before the international stage as our contribution to viticulture.
For the past 19 years Absa has supported the development of this wine via the Absa Top 10 Awards, with Kanonkop and Rijk’s this year making history at the event. Both of these pinotage producers received unprecedented 10th awards for their Kanonkop Pinotage 2012 and Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2011 respectively.
The 10 winners topped 154 wines entered in this year’s competition. Stellenbosch, Paarl and Durbanville each delivered two of the top 10, with the Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage 2014 joining Kanonkop in flying the Stellenbosch flag.
The Altydgedacht Pinotage 2013 and Diemersfontein Pinotage Reserve 2014 saw Durbanville staking a spot as a potent pinotage region, while Paarl producers Windmeul and first-time winner Ayama won for their Windmeul Pinotage Reserve 2014 and Ayama Pinotage 2013 respectively.
South Africa’s oldest wine farm, Groot Constantia, showed it could still produce the goods with its Groot Constantia Pinotage 2013, while Worcester-based Overhex Wines secured its first Absa Top 10 outing with the Overhex Wines International Survivor Pinotage 2014.
The Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage 2013 had the last word on this year’s event.
Pinotage Association chairman Beyers Truter says the two outstanding features this year were Kanonkop’s and Rijk’s milestones and the performance of wines from the 2014 vintage. He says the original vision for the competition was both honouring pinotage and creating legends.
“By winning Top 10 awards 10 times, Kanonkop and Rijk’s have now established themselves not only as legendary producers of pinotage, but icons in the South African wine industry,” he says.
He quipped it was “remarkable” to see wines scarcely 18 months old standing on the winners’ podium – a tribute to the 2014 vintage that had a wet pre-season and produced a relatively light crop.
“Now we have four wines barely out of their nappies showing the quality and refined elegance to take Top 10 trophies, showing us how exceptional last year’s vintage was. Consumers can tick off 2014 as a must-have year for red wine,” Truter says.
Diary note: Talking of pinotage, the annual Diemersfontein Pinotage on Tap festival, takes place at The Litchi Orchard in Salt Rock on September 19. Drinks International magazine named it the world’s best wine event in 2014 and it treats guests to delectable food, bottomless tastings of Diemersfontein coffee chocolate pinotage tapped directly from the barrel, and lively local entertainment.
Tickets cost R350.
The Mercury