My Pinotage Journey – Tasting South Africa’s Best

Blog Series: Pinotage at 100 – South Africa’s Homegrown Grape Reimagined

Intro

Over one hundred wines. Dozens of producers. One unforgettable grape. This final post brings it all together. In January 2025, I traveled through the Cape to explore Pinotage at its source—visiting iconic estates, historic vineyards, and next-generation producers. What I found was a grape not only reborn, but confidently rooted in identity, tradition, and innovation.

Meerendal: Heritage in a Bottle

The journey began in Durbanville, where I visited a block of 1955 bush vines, certified by the Old Vine Project. Meerendal's 2017 Heritage Block offered elegance, plum, and cedar with floral lift, while their 2023 barrel sample was all vibrancy and grace.

De Grendel: Innovation with a View

With a tasting room overlooking Cape Town, De Grendel strikes a balance between tradition and precision. Their Pinotage showed ripe raspberry and toasty notes, with a rosé that radiated freshness. Winemaker Morgan Steyn’s detailed punch-down and saignée regimen makes clear: beauty is in the craft.

Kaapzicht: Many Faces, One Grape

In Bottelary Hills, Kayleigh Hattingh poured a full stylistic arc—from juicy, fresh Skraalhans to the deep, cellar-worthy Steytler Pinotage. Kaapzicht's Vision Cape Blend and Provençal-style rosé highlighted the grape's adaptability. Precision meets personality here.

L’Avenir: Modern Elegance

At Polkadraai Hills, Dirk Coetzee’s thoughtful approach includes whole-bunch fermentation, delicate cap management, and restrained oak. The Block 2 Pinotage was seamless, while the Grand Vin 2008 proved Pinotage can age with dignity. Their Cap Classique was a sparkling surprise.

Bellevue: Tradition and Texture

We walked the 1953 vineyard, still producing low yields from duplex soils. The 2020 Old Vine Pinotage tasted of bramble, strawberry, rose petal, and mint. Wilhelm Kritzinger’s focus on purity shows in every glass.

Beyerskloof: The Soul of Pinotage

Beyers Truter greeted us with his signature warmth and a lineup that spanned styles and generations. The Diesel 2022 was plush and powerful; the Traildust blend (Pinotage, Pinot Noir, and Cinsaut) was playful and food-friendly. I also tasted my first Port-style Pinotage--delicious. Legacy, history, innovation.

De Waal: Oldest Vines in the World

Pieter de Waal shared stories over a bottle of their Top of the Hill Pinotage 2018, a layered wine with rose petal and chocolate. It was a moment to pause and appreciate what it means to farm a living history.

Kanonkop: First Growth of the Cape

A visit to Kanonkop felt like a pilgrimage. Open-top fermenters, bush vines from 1953, and optical sorting show tradition alongside precision. The 2022 Black Label Pinotage and 2014 estate bottling proved why this is the benchmark.

Hamilton Russell & Ashbourne: Coastal Restraint

Tasting through Ashbourne Pinotage from 2001 to 2022 revealed finesse, minerality, and savory complexity. This is Pinotage with a coastal accent—quiet, assured, and age-worthy.

Beaumont: Elegance in the Overberg

With its historic watermill and 1974 bush vines, Beaumont radiates soul. The 2022 Special Release Pinotage was perfumed and structured—a perfect ending to a trip defined by place and people.

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