Any serious wine taster will tell you Pinotage has improved beyond recognition over the past few years. Much of this improvement can be attributed to the work of the Pinotage Association, which was established by a handful of enthusiastic producers back in 1995. Until then Pinotage was regarded by many merely as a sort of wine curiosity.
It was created in the 1920s by Prof Abraham Perold, who crossed Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (also known as Hermitage) grapes and called the result Pinotage. Even then it was not taken serious for many years, although a few winemakers saw its potential and concentrated on making fine wine from it.
Once the Pinotage Association was formed, members set about sharing their knowledge of the grape, finding ways of enhancing its good points and eliminating any bad ones. The grape was studied seriously and the best clones selected.
Step by step Pinotage edged its way into the world’s spotlight. No other South African wine grape organization comes anywhere near to the Pinotage Association when it comes to dedication and enthusiasm.
The annual Absa Pinotage Top 10 competition was launched in 1997 and has become one of the most prestigious events of the Cape wine calendar.
When it began the competition attracted 48 entries. This year’s competition judges were faced with almost 150 entries.
The interesting feature of the contest is that there is no single winner. Twenty finalists are chosen, and from these the Top 10 are announced.
One of the reasons for this is that Pinotage has proved to be a versatile wine grape and it is possible to make several different styles of wine from it.
The organizers recognize that no one style of Pinotage will appeal to all tastes. But the Top 10 will certainly offer wine lovers a range of superb wines to enjoy.
If you don’t find a wine you love among these 10, you should probably be sticking to beer.
This year’s Top 10 winners, in alphabetical order, are:
Beyerskloof Reserve 2008,
Diemersdal Reserve 2010,
Fairview Primo 2009,
Kanonkop Pinotage 2006,
KWV The Mentor’s Pinotage 2009,
Laibach 2010, Naledi 2009,
Rijk’s Private Cellar 2007,
Schalk Burger & Sons Meerkat 2009
and Windmeul Reserve 2010.
Congratulations to all the winemakers and viticulturists concerned.

Photograph: Pinotage Association

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The winners! Back row from left Riaan Wassung (Die Laan), Neville Dorringron (Rijk's Private Cellar), Ernst Janovsky, General Manager of Absa AgriBusiness, Etienne Louw (Altydgedacht), Johnnie Calitz (Anura). Front row Jacques Wentzel (Welbedacht), Adele Dunbar (Fairview), Braam Gericke (Wildekrans), Gerhard Swart (Flagstone), Danielle Le Roux (Lyngove), and Danie Steyler Jr (Kaapzicht Steytler)

The annual Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition has become one of the most keenly contested events on the South African wine calendar. This year’s contest attracted more than 130 entries, from all the wine regions of the country.

The awards presentation is always a fun affair, with guests being given the chance of selecting their own “Top 10” from the 20 wines in the final run-up. A prize package of all the winners is presented to the guest whose choice comes closest to the judges’ decision.

This years’ Top 10, in alphabetical order, are:
• Altydgedacht Pinotage 2009 (Durbanville),
• Anura Reserve Pinotage 2008 (Paarl),
• Fairvew Pinotage 2009 (Coastal),
• Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage 2008 (Worcester vineyards),
• Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2007 (Stellenbosch),
• Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage 2008 (Stellenbosch),
• Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2006 (Tulbagh),
• Welbedacht Estate Pinotage 2008 (Wellington),
• Welgevallen Kelder’s Die Laan Pinotage 2008 (Stellenbosch), and
• Wildekrans Barrel Selection 2008 (Botrivier).

Among the newcomers to the list is one of particular historical interest. Welgevallen is the farm on which Professor A I Peroldt created the very first Pinotage vines by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsaut (called Hermitage in those days).

Today the farm forms part of Stellebosch University’s property and some of it is on the grounds of Paul Roos Gymnasium.

The grapes for this winning wine were donated to the school by old boys who are now wine farmers, and proceeds from the sale of the wine will go towards a bursary for less privileged kids to attend the famous school.

Presentation packages of the 2010 Absa Top 10 Pinotage wines will be available for sale through the Wine-of-the-Month Club. The presentation packs will include two DVDs and a Pinotage booklet.

Click here for more  information on Pinotage and the South African Pinotage Association.
This package will be of particular interest to wine clubs and tasting groups, who could use it to introduce members to the best of South Africa’s own wine variety.

World’s best?

Could this be the best white blend in the whole world?

The judges at the Decanter World Wine Awards certainly seem to think so.

The 2008 Isliedh from Cape Point Vineyards won the 2010 International Trophy for being the best blended white wine costing more than £10.

Isliedh is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon that has been given almost a year’s maturation in oak barrels. The 2008 vintage earned a full five-star rating in the 2010 edition of the Platter Guide.

Limited stocks of this exceptional wine are available from Cape Point Vineyards at No 1 Chapman’s Peak Drive in Noordhoek, Cape or call 021 789 0094.

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