Pinotage is a grape that was created in 1925 by crossing pinot noir with cinsaut, an Italian grape variety. (At the time, cinsaut was commonly called hermitage, so pinotage got its name from the combination of "pinot" and "hermitage.") It has since become South Africa's signature red wine grape, and for several decades South Africa was basically the sole home of pinotage. However, in the last couple years several other countries have begun experimenting with this unusual variety.
What does pinotage wine taste like?
Pinotage is famous for having a very pungent aroma. In addition to its fruity bouquet of wild berries, cherries, plums, blackberries and sometimes even bananas, it often smells slightly metallic and coppery - much like blood or raw red meat. Pinotage also can have an acrid quality, similar to road tar and hot asphalt; some people even claim to detect paint or vinegar.
Needless to say, these unusual aromas mean that pinotage is a grape variety that people tend to either love or hate. However, despite its unusual aromas, pinotage is a delicious, unique grape variety and it is worth it to sample several different examples of it.
Where does pinotage wine come from?
Pinotage is synonymous with South African wine; though it only occupies about 7% of that country's vineyard space, it has become a kind of mascot for the South African wine industry. This country is very proud of its unique grape, and they even have a law in which "Cape Blends", a South African red wine blend, must contain a minimum of 30% pinotage.
In the last five years or so, several other countries have begun releasing wines made from pinotage, notably New Zealand, Canada, and California. These countries tend to make pinotage that showcases the fruity aspects of pinotage, and downplays its meaty, metallic characteristics - however, these elements are still often present, and perhaps because of this pinotage is still a pretty uncommon grape. Only time will tell if it gains popularity on an international scale.
What foods pair well with pinotage wine?
As you might have guessed from the description of its aromas, pinotage pairs very well with meat dishes, especially gamey meats like lamb, goat, and rabbit; it is also very good with smoked meats and any type of sausage. Pinotage also pairs nicely with aromatic cheeses, including goat cheese and manchego.
Curious to learn more about the world's great grape varieties? Check out these articles on zinfandel and gewurztraminer.
Melissa Priestley - Melissa Priestley is a freelance writer and certified sommelier who has worked in the wine industry for over seven years. She started out ...
