1/5
SweetnessDrySweet
The grape archive
Pinotage
PEE-noh-tazh
South Africa’s signature crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut ranges from juicy red-fruited styles to dense, smoky and age-worthy wines.
Typical flavour register
01Blackberry02Plum03Smoke04Coffee05Banana
In the glass
A visual taste profile.
These scales describe a representative dry expression. Climate, harvest date, yields and winemaking can move an individual wine in another direction.
3/5
AciditySoftFresh
4/5
TanninSilkyFirm
4/5
BodyLightFull
5/5
FruitSavouryFruit-led
Where it grows
From origin to the wider vineyard.
The first country is the grape’s principal reference point; the remaining countries show important established cultivation rather than a complete planting census.
South Africa
Core countryStellenbosch · Swartland · Paarl
New Zealand
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
Brazil
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
United States
EstablishedSmaller but established plantings
Three useful expressions
Fresh & fruit-led
Juicy fruit, moderate extraction and little oak emphasise immediate pleasure.
Classic regional style
The grape’s familiar balance of fruit, structure, spice and place.
Structured & age-worthy
Lower yields, selected sites and careful ageing build concentration and longevity.
Handling
Serve15–18 °C
GlassLarge red-wine glass
Decant45–90 minutes
Cellar3–12 years
At the table
Pair it by weight, freshness and aroma.
Why Pinotage matters
Professor Abraham Perold created Pinotage in 1925 by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsaut, then locally called Hermitage.
The best examples balance the grape’s natural character with climate, soil and cellar choices. Treat the profile as a compass rather than a fixed recipe.
Reference databases and further readingVIVC · Variety database ↗OIV · Vitivinicultural data ↗Wine Folly · Grape guide ↗