Six wines from Stellenbosch wineries have been named finalists in this year’s Absa Top 10 Pinotage competition.
The prestigious competition was launched by the Pinotage Association 25 years ago, with the aim to drive excellence and quality by creating awareness, researching and changing perceptions of this varietal.
“For pinotage to be excellent it requires this attention to detail. Pinotage takes longer to master than any other varietal and it needs meticulous planning. When you get it right, though, it’s exceptionally versatile,” explained Beyers Truter, chairperson of the Pinotage Association.
This year’s entry statistics highlight the relevance of the Absa Top 10 competition. Since the start of the competition a total of more than 3 100 entries have been received, an average of 119 annually. In 2022 the entries were 130 in total.
Among the top 20 finalists of the competition are: Beeslaar Pinotage 2020 by Abrie Beeslaar; Beeslaar Pinotage 2019 by Abrie Beeslaar; Beyerskloof Winemakers Reserve Pinotage 2018 by Anri Truter; Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2020 by Anri Truter; Kanonkop Pinotage 2019 by Abrie Beeslaar; and Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2019 by Michael Malan.
The Vintage Class category, open exclusively to pinotage wines that are 10 years or older, has been established to showcase how well pinotage ages.
This class demonstrates that top pinotage wines are fulfilling their promise of great maturation potential.
By highlighting age-worthy pinotage wines, the Vintage Class further advances the appeal of this uniquely South African grape. This year, five finalists have been named in the category: Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2011; Hill & Dale Pinotage 2009; Lanzerac Pinotage 2001; Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection Pinotage 2012; and Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2012.
The winners will be announced next Tuesday (30 August).
