The event was held at Simonsvlei Winery in Paarl,
which also houses the offices of Veritas and the Pinotage Association
Tasting the competition wines in Bennie's Bistro
For us it was a very fast speed tasting
The temperature that day had risen - a Spring heatwave at 37ºC
and getting out of Cape Town early afternoon to get there by 4 pm took us more than an hour and a half
Lynne reckoned everyone was headed for the first dip of the year in their home pools...
While many of these wines have gentle fruit on the palate, none was sweet
All make perfect matches with many different foods on a menu if one, or some are having meat
and the others fish or seafood; they pair easily with both
The residual sugars ranged between 1.8 gm/l for the Deetlefs Stonecross Pinotage Rosé 2026
to 8.2 for the 2026 Rooiberg Winery Pinotage Rosé
They are all certainly a great introduction to modern Pinotage Rosés
then we were ushered into the main building to the Tuga Portuguesa Restaurant for the awards and speeches
The programme and the menu
De Wet Viljoen, Master of Ceremonies, welcomed us
The Pinotage Association received 56 entries:
37 Cape Blends from 28 producers and 19 Pinotage Rosés from 19 producers
The Cape Blends represented 13 production areas and the Rosés 12,
giving the judging panel a view of wines made across a broad range of origins
The Pinotage Association received 56 entries:
37 Cape Blends from 28 producers and 19 Pinotage Rosés from 19 producers
The Cape Blends represented 13 production areas and the Rosés 12,
giving the judging panel a view of wines made across a broad range of origins
All the competition wines were available for tasting with our meal
who is responsible for logistics, venues and getting us to this and all the other arrangements
She organises other large functions so well too,
including the Terroir, Pinotage and this week's Veritas Awards competitions and presentations
These are the two lists of the finalists
The 2026 Perold Absa Cape Blend Finalists
There were two vintages of the KWV The Mentors Perold 2021 - Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec
and 2023 to which 7% Petit Sirah was added. Both are superb examples of modern Pinotage blends
and 2023 to which 7% Petit Sirah was added. Both are superb examples of modern Pinotage blends
We were able to taste all of them with our food and they added so much to it
The quality is very high and the different blends all show something different
with the blended components playing quite a big part in enhancing the main component, Pinotage,
which is what a good blend is all about
with the blended components playing quite a big part in enhancing the main component, Pinotage,
which is what a good blend is all about
Chairman of the Pinotage Association, Beyers Truter, in a pensive moment
This was the 15th Perold Cape Blend Competition
This was the 15th Perold Cape Blend Competition
Current CWM Chair Mark Philp and Bennie Howard, who was one of the first three CWM graduates
The first three Cape Wine Masters (FC “Duimpie” Bayly, Bennie Howard and Tony Mossop)
wrote and passed their examinations in 1983, but were only awarded their diplomas on the 19th of July 1984
The idea of making a blend was first discussed by the Pinotage Association pre 2000, when research began
Duimpie Bayly drank pinotage for two hours, just tasting, then blending
He called it a Cape Blend
"The next step is to encourage wider participation and help more wine drinkers discover the awarded wines"
“We must keep growing these competitions,” said Truter
“More entries bring more producers into the conversation
and give us a stronger view of the quality being made across our wine regions
The awards also give people a practical starting point:
Twelve wines to seek out, taste and talk about. That is how recognition can lead to a wider audience for Pinotage”
Winemaker Guy Webber, a member of the judging panel
The judging panel included Charles Hopkins, Guy and Estelle Lourens
With Cape Blends and Rosés asking different things of Pinotage,
the awards provide an opportunity to recognise quality across both styles.
“The quality of these wines shows how versatile Pinotage can be.
In a Cape Blend, it can contribute fruit, structure and depth while working with the other varieties
As a Rosé, it can offer freshness, delicate fruit and balance
The styles are different, but the same care is needed: sound fruit, thoughtful winemaking
and a clear idea of the wine the producer wants to make” - Charles Hopkins – 2026 panel convener
Tuga Portuguesa is owned and run by the family legacy of Naldo Gonçalves,
continuing through his son Ryan and grandson Luca
The family has over 45 years of experience in restaurant kitchens
including historical roots with the original Longhorn Steakhouse, O Galito, Vilamoura, NV-80 and Pigalle
awarded to the winners who were, in order:
1. Bon Courage for their very elegant 2026 Lady of the House Pinotage Rosé
2. Jakkalsvlei 2026 Pinotage Rosé
3. Deetlefs Stonecross Pinotage Rosé
4. Merwida 2026 Papenkuils Vlei Vygie Pinotage Rosé
5. Pulpit Rock 2026 Stories Pinotage Rosé
6. Rooiberg Winery 2026 Pinotage Rosé
Flagstone Winery - Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend, 2023, WO Cape Coast
Jakkalsvlei Private Cellar - Jakkalsvlei Mount Cuvée Cape Blend, 2024, WO Western Cape
KWV - KWV The Mentors Perold 2023, WO Coastal Region
Neethlingshof Estate - Neethlingshof Tors, 2024, WO Stellenbosch
Perdeberg Group - Perdeberg Endura Winemaker’s Selection Cape Blend, 2024, WO Coastal Region
Stellenbosch Hills - Stellenbosch Hills Suikerboschrand, 2022, WO Stellenbosch
The Pinotage Rosé winners
Back row, Left to Right: Beyers Truter (Chairman), Hennie Kotze (Jakkalsvlei), Jolene Grobler (Absa),
Irvi Geduld (Bon Courage), Philip Deetlefs (Deetlefs), Dirk Rust (Rooiberg)
Front row: Jean Aubrey (Merwida), Dewald Huisamen (Pulpit Rock)
Back, Left to Right: Beyers Truter (Chairman), Hennie Kotze (Jakkalsvlei), Andri le Roux (Perdeberg),
Luan Steyn (Neethlingshof), Charl Myburgh (Stellenbosch Hills), Jolene Grobler (Absa)
Front: Gerhard Swart (Flagstone), Izéle van Blerk (KWV)
The six winners of the 2026 Perold Absa Cape Blend Competition
will each receive a tuna-fishing expedition sponsored by TN Coopers
L to R Hugh, KoJo and Niger
The food was spectacularly good
We started with perfectly cooked baby squid and spicy chicken livers
This was followed by huge tender spiced prawns
The steak Trinchado was tender in a well-spiced sauce
John's plated main course is below
Deep fried crunchy squares of herbed polenta, battered green beans, a dish of rich pork stew with beans and spice,
two prawns, Peri Peri chicken, chips and a dish of Bacalhau
We must return soon
All the stories we have produced since 2012
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