Pinotage is a proudly South African varietal. And we are a proud producer of this versatile wine. Our Barony Bønne Pinotage derives it's name from the original Rosendal Norwegian heritage. Bønne easily translates to bean, which gives a hint into the soft coffee notes of this fantastic wine.
Described by our award-winning winemaker, Therese de Beer, our Barony Bønne Pinotage 2013 has a semi-opaque crimson hue. Smokey whiffs of roasted coffee beans and dusty cocoa greet the nose while bright cherry and sweet plum flavours tantalise the palate.
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GRAPE
It was the year 1925 that Prof. Abraham Izak Perold, the very first professor of viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch, had a look at grape variants Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (which was known as Hermitage) and decided to apply unchartered innovation to viticulture by cultivating these two grapes together to see what would happen. Perold’s goal was to create a wine that was as delicious as Pinot Noir but grew as well as Cinsaut.
THE RESULT: PINOTAGE
The successful result of the crossing between Cinsaut and Pinot Noir was unexpected. It eventually become the 2nd most planted grape in South Africa.
THE TASTE:
It’s common to find purple and black fruits in Pinotage, but occasionally you’ll taste amazing red fruit flavours of raspberry, red licorice and even red bell pepper. A wide array of other flavours include: rooibos, dried leaves, bacon, sweet and sour sauce, hoisin and sweet pipe tobacco.
DID YOU KNOW?
The skins of Pinotage are so rich in tannin, anthocyanin and cyanidin that many winemakers in South Africa will ferment wines fast and hot (to reduce rigid tannin) and then finish the fermentation separated from the skins.
1 comment
I have always wondered about the make up of the grape varietal of Pinotage. Thank you for the fantastic history lesson.