What Does Pinotage Taste Like and What Should I Try?

What is Pinotage?

Pinotage crosses the Cinsaut and Pinot Noir grapes, the former of which was renamed Hermitage giving us the portmanteau Pinot-age. Despite an inconsistent reputation in the past, it’s absolutely flourishing now and is well and truly South Africa’s flagship grape, becoming a dream BBQ accompaniment.

What does Pinotage taste like?

The Pinotage grapes turned out to be extremely dark, creating bold wines high in tannin, with famously meaty, smoky, and rich profiles. The Pinotage of old was dismissed by some for being unrefined, and for good reason. Being such a good grower and so dense, its destiny was low-quality commercial wine and being stretched too thin. On top of that, it’s a volatile grape that when processed poorly, can go very wrong. Bad Pinotage is Bad Pinotage, put it that way.

However, if that’s what’s put you off in the past then give it another go, because Pinotage winemakers have got their act together since then and it’s come on leaps and bounds. There is now a host of delicious Pinotage bottles with that same inky density, as well as silky plum, blackberry, tobacco, and liquorice. Let’s explore some…

Which Pinotage should I try?

Tesco Finest South African Pinotage

Delicious, accessible, and modern red Pinotage that’s very much on the lighter and younger side of the grape. Think velvety bramble fruits and none of the burnt tar smoke from yesteryears. It’s a very drinkable midweek wine with your Italian dishes, and an easy way into bolder Pinotage.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £8.25

Kanonkop 'Kadette' Pinotage Rosé 2022/23, Stellenbosch

Perdeberg is the largest Pinotage block in the world, never mind just Stellenbosch, and that’s where this wine comes from. Given how robust Pinotage is, it’s innovative to make Rosé from it but the results are delicious. It’s vivid and refreshing, with aromatic summer berries and red apple, and goes to show how versatile this grape can be.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £14.99

Warwick Estate First Lady Pinotage 2020

An award-winning, highly praised Pinotage from Warwick brimming with dark cherries throughout, and backed up by dark chocolate, fine tannins, and a lovely oak spice to finish.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £11.95

Lanzerac Pinotage 2020

Masterfully put together Pinotage with underlying smoked oak and leather supporting smooth plum and butterscotch vanilla. It’s not as gamey as some Pinotage, and has wonderful complexity to explore on the lasting finish.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £13.99

Barista Pinotage 2021

The work of winemaking legend Bertus Fourie, this Pinotage, as hinted at by the name, draws on the coffee notes in the varietals. Joined by chocolate coated cherries on the nose, it unfolds presenting ripe blackberry and plum before an earthier tobacco on the finish. Incredible value and one for the fireplace we think.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £7.99

Mooiplaas Wine Estate, The Bean Coffee Pinotage 2020

Classic earthy, leather and smoke intertwining with lofty jammy, berries, softly integrated tannins, and mocha notes. Characterful and tasty to explore.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £12.25

Check out our favourite Cabernet Sauvignon here, and our Pinot Noir guide here!

Black History Month in Focus: Wine

There is still plenty of room for growth and awareness of black-owned wine brands in the wine industry, despite slow progress. Just 1% of wine producers in the US are still black-owned, and as an industry steeped in history, inheritance and the importance of connections, it is a difficult club to break into.

We think winemaking would be all the better and richer for a more diverse and inclusive philosophy, and supporting black-owned brands producing exceptional wine is one of the best ways to contribute.

There are plenty of black winemakers with inspirational stories making wines that attract major recognition, but we’ve included seven below from across the world, who have helped mould a brighter and more inclusive wine landscape. Cheers to that!

Amandla - Praisy Dlamini

Meet the South African powerhouse behind Amandla, Praisy Dlamini, a multi-lingual agricultural ace and the first woman CWG Protégée. With her all-female, all-black squad, Amandla is shaking up the Western Cape's winemaking scene with Amandla, after rising up the ranks of Distell and Anchor Yeast. Translating to ‘power’, Amandla have a vibrant portfolio, many of which you can find brightening up supermarket shelves in the UK – make sure to try their jammy Shiraz Zinfandel.

Click here for more information!

Theopolis Vineyards – Theodora Lee

Theodora Lee, AKA Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards, is a dynamo of the wine world. Her Theopolis Vineyards in California's Yorkville Highlands produces handcrafted wines that have earned high praise, with ratings soaring as high as 94-96 from Robert Parker. A lawyer turned winemaker, she's embraced her passion for wine, especially Petite Sirah, and crafted so many award-winning bottles. From her beloved Petite Sirah to Pinot Noir, her wines shine, consistently winning gold medals and accolades. Not only does she make incredible wine, but she's also an advocate for black women in the wine industry, organizing events that celebrate their contributions.

Click here for more information!

Abbey Creek Vineyard – Bertony Faustin

Bertony Faustin, Oregon's pioneer, broke barriers to become the state's first recorded black winemaker in 2008. His journey wasn't your typical grapevine tale, it was a symphony of passion, perseverance, and family legacy. Taking over Abbey Creek Vineyard, he transformed it into a hub of life, music, and exceptional wines. Faustin didn't just stop at winemaking; he ventured into filmmaking with the award-winning documentary "Red, White & Black," shedding light on diversity challenges in the wine industry. Beyond the bottle, he's building bridges, fostering community, and championing diversity and inclusion.

Click here for more information!

Longevity Wines – Phil Long

Phil Long and wife Debra turned Longevity Wines from a garage hobby into a thriving family-owned winery, with love baked into every aspect of it, even the name which celebrates their enduring love for each other. Located in California's Livermore Valley, they're making waves in the wine world, from their cozy tasting room welcoming all to exceptional wines, like their crisp 2019 Chardonnay which received rave reviews across the industry. Sadly, just a few days after being named Livermore Valley’s Winery of the Year, Debra passed away in 2019 but Phil and his son continue to draw on the inspiration of their love story to take Longevity from strength to strength, including a 2019 partnership with Bronco Wine to get Longevity to the world – what a story.

Click here for more information!

Brown Estate – Coral, David, and Deneen Brown

The Brown siblings, Coral, David, and Deneen, turned their parents' Napa estate into a wine wonderland, and the Valley’s only black-owned vineyard. Taking the reins, they decided it was time for Brown Estate to create its own magic in a bottle. From Zinfandel to Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, their wines are a flavourful symphony. Their 2017 Big Dam Cab is a standout, aging gracefully in French oak, revealing a remarkable complexity that'll keep you sipping and smiling. Established officially in 1996, they've grown considerably since, accruing a loyal and diverse following, and have recently opened up their Brown Downtown tasting room in Napa, bringing their passion to wine lovers far and wide.

Click here for more information!

La Fete du Rosé - Donae Burston

Rosé has long been targeted only at white women, but wanting to change that, Donae Burston met with the owner of Domaine Bertaud Belieu, the oldest vineyard in Saint Tropez and La Fete du Rosé was born. Originally from Baltimore, Donae worked in the luxury spirit industry for nearly 20 years, seeing up close how brands market to people of colour, and now he gets to take this experience to the world of Rosé. Light, smooth, and fruit-forward, the brand has now rolled out across America and even has its own giveback scheme, donating to programmes that fund travel opportunities for underrepresented youth.

Click here for more information!

Mermosa - Desiree Noisette

Desiree Noisette is the unstoppable force behind Mermosa Wines, Florida's first black woman-owned wine brand. She's not just ‘Head Mermaid’ at Mermosa; she's an attorney, artist, business dynamo, wife, and mum. In 2017, she went all in, selling her home to start Mermosa, inspired by ready to make cocktails at after work drinks. They now sell this signature serve, as well as a range of sparkling wines in 16 US States. The story of her ancestors is a must read too, so make sure to read that on the link below!

Click here for more information!

5 Inspirational South African Women Winemakers

Breaking barriers in what, for a long time, was a male-dominated industry, these South African trailblazers are shaking up the wine world with their innovative and exceptional creations.

There is probably nowhere else on earth with so many fantastic women winemakers in one place, each overcoming obstacles, making their mark on the industry and inspiring the next generation. There really are so many that it’s difficult to choose, but here are five standouts moulding a brighter and more inclusive wine future. Cheers to that!

Amandla - Praisy Dlamini

The beautiful vineyards of the Western Cape are home to Amandla, an all-female all black endeavour at every level of production. Heading it up is a shining star of South African wine, Praisy Dlamini who after completing a degree in Agriculture, studying Afrikaans, completing a 3-year internship at the Cape Winemakers Guild and becoming the first woman CWG Protégée, rose up the ranks of Distell and Anchor Yeast. Then came Amandla, which means power, a vibrant producer that you can now find on UK supermarket shelves.

Amandla Shiraz Zinfandel

A juicy and jammy blend without being overbearingly sweet, this is a fantastic creation. Plum, blackberries, and all with underlying spice fill the silky-smooth mouthfeel and on top of that, it’s also food friendly – particularly with BBQ.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £7.49 (usually more!)

Aslina Wines – Ntsiki Biyela

Ntsiki Biyela's remarkable journey began as South Africa's first black woman winemaker in 2004, taking on a role at Stellekaya Wines. Just five years later, she earned the prestigious title of 2009's Woman Winemaker of the Year – incredible. From humble beginnings, Ntsiki's life took a transformative turn when she received a winemaking scholarship from South African Airways in 1999. Her passion flourished while working with Californian winemaker Helen Kiplinger through the Wine for the World initiative, igniting her ambition to establish her own winery and in 2007, that dream came true when Aslina Wines was born, named after her grandmother, showcasing her talent and fostering transformation and diversity within the South African wine industry.

Aslina Umsasane

A seriously well-structured Bordeaux-style red made to be the centre of attention. Full-bodied dark depths are plush with rich blackberry and plum, and woody spice before a satisfying long finish – the complete package.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £19

Lelie Van Saron - Natasha Williams

Meet Natasha Williams, the talented winemaker behind Lelie Van Saron, her own label nestled within Bosman Family Vineyards as of 2014. From her early days, a perceptive school counsellor saw her winemaking potential, and after completing studies in Oenology at Stellenbosch University, she learnt even more in California and France before venturing out on her own adventure. Natasha's philosophy revolves around a minimal approach, crafting her Chardonnay and Syrah wines with purity, harmony, and balance. Cheers to her delightful and terroir-driven creations!

Lelie van Saron Chardonnay 2020

Vibrant cool climate single vineyard sustainably farmed Chardonnay, with an inviting citrus nose hinting opening up to fresh minerality on the palate, and the perfect touch of toasted oak.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £31

VineVenom - Samantha Suddons

Introducing Samantha Suddons, the fearless winemaker behind the boldly named VineVenom! Her journey in winemaking started at just 21 when she moved to South Africa. After mastering her craft with the Cape Wine Academy and Wine and Spirits Education Trust, Samantha honed her skills at renowned wineries like Mullineux and Reyneke, the latter of which made a lasting impression on her as she became inspired by low-intervention, biodynamic, and organic practices.

Shining Rosé

Carignan which spent 7 months under flor yeast and Touriga Nacional contribute equal parts to this extremely complex Rose, showing instant saline notes swept away by a bouqet of rose petals, red apples, cherries, strawberries and gentle herbs. Such a fresh and vibrant feel with way more going on than just red fruits.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12.5%
Find here: R180 (Only in South Africa but it’s around £8)

Carmen Stevens Wines- Carmen Stevens

Meet Carmen Stevens, the unstoppable force behind Carmen Stevens Wines – South Africa's first 100% black-owned winery! In the apartheid-era, she roared to be heard, fighting prejudice to pursue her winemaking dream. Medals came thick and fast for her wines, but despite this she wasn’t able to get a bank overdraft to launch her own business. After blazing a trail as head winemaker at Amani Vineyards, Carmen finally fulfilled her dream by starting her own venture in 2011. With sheer passion and determination, she's won countless awards, including being voted Winemaker of the Decade! Her wines are a true reflection of her commitment to quality and detail, with hand-picked grapes and individual attention to each vineyard block. She even does incredible charity work on the side – what an inspiration.

Catoria Shiraz

This is a Shiraz that stands out from traditional styles, showing off Durbanville and Stellenbosch terroir simultaneously. Jammy fruits galore, wafts of smoke and hints of peppery spice make every sip intriguing and all in all, it’s a characterful full on Shiraz that’s easy to love.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £13.99

Of course, it’s not just South Africa producing the inspirational women of wine, so have a read through others from across the world here.