Want to learn more about Rare Ozzies? Join this Facebook Group.
Pinotage is a red wine variety which was bred in the 1920s in South Africa from a cross between the red wine varieties Pinot Noir and Cinsaut.
This variety is a major contributor to the South Africa wine industry. Lesser areas are grown in California and New Zealand and it plays a cameo role a few other countries.
The truth is that the Pinotage variety can be used to make truly unpleasant wines, or some very good wines, or in fact plenty of ordinary stuff in between.
The cross was made to try to combine the wine quality of Pinot Noir with the high yielding ability of Cinsaut.
Good Pinotage wines are very good. They retain, or maybe constrain, the wild, rich flavours to make lighter red styles or sometimes deep rich reds.
Two problems which detract from quality of some wines made from this variety are over-aggressive tannins and volatile acidity.
Pinotage is also used to make Port style wines, sparkling wines, roses and sometimes as a component of blended white wines.
Detail of the De Long Wine Map of South Africa showing the Stellenbosch Region where Pinotage is a popular variety.
Just a few Australian wineries have shown any interest in the variety. The field for new varieties is crowded and it seems others have more viticultural and marketing potential.
As a rare variety Pinotage is included in the Rare Ozzies book. It includes comments by winemaker Phil Barrecas about his winery's experience with Pinotage.
This mixed dozen of red wines contains 2 bottles of each of Alicante Bouchet, Malbec, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Saperavi and a Barbera, Sagrantino and Sangiovese blend.
Please subscribe to my newsletter... I promise not to abuse your inbox. You will receive no more than three emails per month, most often just one, and you can unsubscribe at any time. |
|
Cargo Road Wines in the Orange NSW region is a Site Sponsor of Vinodiversity
Hahndorf Hill Winery in the Adelaide Hills is a Site Sponsor of Vinodiversity
Milton Wordley Wine Photographer and Blogger at People of Wine
Vinodiversity may be able to answer your alternative varietal wine question. Just ask!
You can use this space to promote your winery or wine based business.
See this page for details
Contact Darby for details.
Tweets by @vinodiversity
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.