We were invited to see which were the Top 10 Pinotages this year and to taste them on their own and with lunch
in Slanghoek, one of the most beautiful and unknown (by too many!) valleys in the Western Cape
You gasp when you round the mountain and see this view for the first time
We regret that we had not returned for far too long
in Slanghoek, one of the most beautiful and unknown (by too many!) valleys in the Western Cape
You gasp when you round the mountain and see this view for the first time
We regret that we had not returned for far too long
It was held at the Le Valle Slanghoek Mountain Resort in their huge glass function venue and the adjoining lapa
We each took a glass and went into the adjoining lapa to taste
This tasting has converted Lynne into liking younger Pinotages
The style seems to have changed from needing to age for 10 years and being slightly metallic,
to wines with really good wood maturation and superb ripe fruit,
maturing early, as well as still having good aging ability. And we found so many food-friendly wines
and entered the lapa to taste the Top 20
Winemaker Anri Truter on the Beyerskloof stand
They had four excellent wines in the top 20, but the rules say that only one can get an award, to give others a chance,
as Beyerskloof, owned by "Mr Pinotage" Beyers Truter and his son Anri, has been so successful in the past
The Beyerskloof 2022 Diesel Pinotage knocked our socks off
Soft on the nose, the wine delights with a silky palate full of ripe berry fruit, balancing chalk and wood to finish
A Stellenbosch classic. 21 months French Oak
The Diesel 2023 is shy with smoke on the nose. On the palate, it is complex and layered with dark fruit, tannins and chalk
22 months maturation in French Oak. One to watch
The 2023 Kriekbult follows with great fruit on the full nose and palate
It spent 20 months in French oak barrels, half of them new
The Winemakers Reserve 2023 has elegance, good layered fruit and wood support
Abri Beeslaar had entered his Beeslaar 2024 Pinotage
It has a great sophisticated nose, with lovely full sweet fruit and lots of support from wood and chalky tannins
We scored it really high. W O Western Cape
Diemersdal had three wines in the top 20
The Journal Pinotage 2024 has good well aged wood, drying chalky tannins and good berry fruit follows
It needs time; it spent 24 months in French oak. Grapes from their property in Durbanville
Lynne tasting the Estate Pinotage 2025 and chatting to winemaker Juandré Bruwer
Perfume and mushrooms on the very attractive nose, juicy on the palate with lots of fruit and some chalk
Made using oak staves stirred in stainless steel tanks. Wine of Origin Cape Town. We tipped this to win
The Diemersdal 2023 Pinotage Reserve has a complex nose of smoke, dust and petrichor
Cherries, berries chalk and soft wood on the palate. Durbanville grapes
The Du Toitskloof Granite 2024 pinotage has fruit, wood, freshness on the nose
Dark berries and tight tannins on the palate, with minerality, it needs time
Made with Malmesbury grapes by winemaker Tiaan Loubser
Another Classic was the Groot Constantia 2024 Pinotage, made by cellarmaster Daniel Keulder
An expensive nose, with great berry fruit on the nose and palate, tight chalky tannins, layers of dark berry fruit
It has quality and length and will age so well, it also goes so well with food (we drank it with lunch)
Grapes grown on the historic Groot Constantia estate. We tipped it to win
Frostline 2024 Pinotage came from the Koo Plateau, so far out of the traditional wine lands and so unusual
It has Incense wood on the nose, shy fruit and is slightly metallic. Winemaker Stephan Joubert
Groot Phesantekraal in Durbanville had two wines
The 2024 has violets on the nose as well as lightly toasted French oak
Made by winemaker Richard Schroeder, it has sweet and sour berry fruit, tutti frutti, long, with chalky tannins
Their 2023 Berliet, named for a vintage French car which lives on the farm,
is very fruity on the nose and palate and has good oak support
It was made using carbonic maceration and was in French oak for 16 months. It is young and zesty so needs time
Koelenhof Wynkelder also wowed us with their Director's Reserve 2023
Floral perfume and light hints of wood on the nose, there is so much cherry & raspberry fruit on the palate, silky and layered. from Stellenbosch. A food wine, in 100% French oak for 18 months
Winemakers Nicholas Husselmann & Handré Visagie. We tipped this to win too
Le Grand Domaine had their 2024 Grand Vin de Stellenbosch,
made by Debbie Thompson, assisted by Mosima Mabelebele
It has perfume, elegance, good fruit and wood on the nose
Dark oak, juicy, dark berry fruit with licorice chalk and tannins on the palate.
French oak for 17 months
Stellenbosch Hills had their 2024 Bush Vine Pinotage
Wearable perfume on the nose with good wood notes
Soft chalk, good layers of fruit, this juicy food wine has got it all, it has length and can age
Another of our top choices. Grapes from Durbanville. Winemaker Charl Myburgh
Stellenbosch Vineyards 2025 Bushvines Pinotage
has forest green notes on the nose,
with sweet and sour dark berry fruit on the luscious palate, supported by drying tannins
Winemaker Bernard Claassen
Stellenrust 2024 ArtiSons Prof Perfect Crime, made by winemaker Tertius Boshoff
The wine comes from 60 year old bush vines in Bottelary
It has incense wood with whole berry fruit, grippy tannins and chalk
The story is on the back of the bottle.
Survivor 2023 Reserve Pinotage, made by Pierre Wahl from Swartland grapes, was so impressive
Full on berry fruit, smoke comes later, with elegance
A firecracker on the palate with fruit, wood, tannins and chalk all at the same time, and it leads one to food
Another we tipped to win, it is so good
Wellington Wines wowed us with the 2024 La Cave from the Swartland. Winemaker Daniel Slabber
Slightly shy on the nose initially, then mature fruit in layers with prunes and plums and spice
New French oak for 24 months. Another food wine. And another pick for a winner for us
Ivor Gouws, Mr South Africa 2026 Finalist with Abrie Beeslaar. He was MC for the Awards
Marshalling the well-trained troops
Good table layout, everyone could see the podium
On our table to enjoy with lunch. We also had a bottle of the Groot Constantia
Delicious canapés before the speeches
Preserved figs on blue cheese toasts and caramelised onion and goats cheese on tartlets
Flutes for the pre-lunch bubbly
Ah, Lynne's favourite Rosé Cap Classique to refresh the palate after tasting all the Pinotages
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel, of course
Little filo bobotie bites
Bennie Howard CWM, having fun
and Danie Keulder in serious discussion
An opportunity to taste some award winning olive oils
While admiring the stunning view
Olive oils from Babylonstoren in Paarl
Apricot glazed Chicken skewers, tender and moreish
Sakkie and Zonja du Toit, owners of the resort with Elsabe Ferreira and Bennie Howard CWM
More figs and blue cheese on toast
Olive Oil from De Rustica Estate in the Klein Karoo
and one of our favourites, which we used to sell in our shop, Willow Creek from the Nuy Valley
All seated and ready to start the awards and lunch
The Programme and menu
The deeply flavoured Roasted Butternut soup had a sprinkling of toasted pumpkin seeds to add texture
and a spoonful of crème fraiche
and a spoonful of crème fraiche
Beyers Truter talked about the history of Pinotage and the areas in which it was first grown
Anand Naidoo from the sponsor, ABSA Bank, told us that this year 12 producers from 59 regions entered,
with quality , dedication and craftsmanship
This is how the finalists reflect the revolution in Pinotage. The top 10 reflect 9 Wine of Origin regions
The producers and the bank have a shared commitment to excellence, locally and nationally
How impressed he was with the wines, every wine has a story, a true South African story that must be told to the world
The main course was served. Slow cooked and very enjoyable venison (eland) stew,
presented in a puff pastry case, with mashed potato, topped with a bone marrow and pinotage jus
Accompanied by some rather al dente spring vegetables and slivered almonds
De Wet Viljoen began the presentation of the awards to the top 10 Pinotages
But first he thanked Elsabé Ferreira for her sustained hard work on the Pinotage Awards
Anand Naidoo of Absa and Beyers Truter presented the awards
The winner for the 10th time, Anri Truter of Beyerskloof for the Diesel Pinotage 2022
The very fragile glass Trophy
The 2026 Absa Top 10 winners are:
Diemersdal - The Journal Pinotage 2024, WO Durbanville
Survivor Wines –Pinotage Reserve 2023, WO Swartland
Beyerskloof Wines – Diesel Pinotage 2022, WO Stellenbosch
Du Toitskloof Wines – Granite Pinotage 2025, WO Malmesbury
Koelenhof Wynkelder – Koelenbosch Director’s Reserve Pinotage 2023, WO Stellenbosch
Wellington Wines – La Cave Pinotage 2024, WO Wellington
Stellenrust Wines – Stellenrust ArtiSons The Professor’s Perfect Crime Pinotage 2024, WO Stellenbosch
Langdam FrostLine – Frostline Pinotage 2024, WO Koo Plateau
Groot Phesantekraal – Pinotage 2024, WO Durbanville
Le Grand Domaine – Grand Vin de Stellenbosch Pinotage 2024, WO Stellenbosch
Dessert was handed around on trays and was a selection of small bites
These Brownies were excellent and made by Zonja du Toit, one of the owners of the resort
Small, very sweet koeksisters
A swirl of creamy Peppermint crisp dessert and there were also some crisp spring roll Melkterts
It was a very enjoyable event
The Top 20 winemakers (or their representatives) with Beyers Truter & Anand Naidoo of ABSA
and the Top 10
Back row, l to r: Richard Schroeder, Groot Phesantekraal. Handré Visagie, Koelenhof. Anri Truter, Beyerskloof
Juandré Bruwer, Diemersdal. Tiaan Loubser, Du Toitskloof. Stephan Joubert, Langdam FrostLine
Front row, l to r: Daniel Slabber, Wellington Wines. Survivor Wines representative. Beyers Truter, Beyerskloof
Debbie Thompson, Le Grand Domaine. Anand Naidoo. Stellenrust representative
The full list of Top 20 Producers
All the stories we have produced since 2012
can be opened from the archive list near the top of the column on the right of this page
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