International Pinotage Day is celebrated each year on the second Saturday of October, a day dedicated to recognizing South Africa’s unique contribution to the wine world. In 2025, this special day falls on October 11.
What is International Pinotage Day? Understanding South Africa’s Signature Grape
The celebration honors the one grape variety that is truly South African. Pinotage is not only cultivated in the country, it was born there, a product of local ingenuity and experimentation. Over the decades, it has come to symbolize more than just a grape: it exemplifies the history, resilience, creativity, and identity of South African wine. From early trials and challenges to international recognition, Pinotage has endured as a distinct and defining varietal.
In 2025, the grape reaches a significant milestone, marking 100 years since its creation, making this year’s celebration not just an annual tradition, celebrating one hundred years of South African winemaking heritage and progress.
100 Years of Pinotage: History, Evolution, and Key Milestones
- The story begins in Stellenbosch in 1924/1925. Professor Abraham Izak Perold crossed Pinot Noir and Cinsault (called Hermitage) to create a vine with elegance and resilience. The name “Pinotage” combines both parents. He planted four seedlings, then left the university. The vines were nearly lost. They were saved, propagated, and eventually planted in experimental vineyards.
- The first wine made from Pinotage was produced in 1941 by C.T. de Waal at Elsenburg using small oak casks. That same year, the first commercial plantings appeared at Myrtle Grove. From one successful vine, all future Pinotage vines were cloned.
- Recognition came in 1959, when a Pinotage from Bellevue won the General Smuts Trophy, the top award at the Cape Wine Show. In 1961, Lanzerac released the first wine with ‘Pinotage’ on the label.
- That same year, Kanonkop planted Pinotage, setting the stage for one of the most important producers in the grape’s history.
- During the 1970s-1990s, Pinotage was widely planted but inconsistently made. Overripe fruit, poor cellar practices, and heavy oak created volatile and ‘burnt rubber’ characters. Critics dismissed it. Some even called it a mistake.
- But the grape’s supporters did not give up. They believed Pinotage could show finesse. In the late 1980s and 1990s, technical improvements, lower yields, better barrels, and careful fermentation changed its trajectory.
- By the early 2000s, modern Pinotage began to prove its potential. A new generation of winemakers insists on purity, balance, and terroir expression.
- Now, in 2025, Pinotage stands as a 100-year-old success story. It has endured decades of skepticism, criticism, and uneven quality, yet it has emerged stronger and more respected than ever. Its history is rich and complex, marked by early experiments, near-forgotten vines, and pioneering winemakers who refused to give up. Today, Pinotage is celebrated at home and internationally for its versatility, distinct character, and expression of South African terroir.
Benchmark South African Pinotage Producers and Iconic Wines
Great Pinotage comes from producers who respect the grape and control its power. Several estates have defined its reputation.
Kanonkop Pinotage (Stellenbosch) - Legacy and Modern Excellence
The most famous name in Pinotage. Their Black Label Pinotage is a benchmark for depth, structure, and ageability. Vintage Kanonkop Pinotage can mature for decades. Former cellarmaster Beyers Truter brought global attention to Pinotage by winning major awards. He later became known as ‘Mr. Pinotage.’ Current winemaker Abrie Beeslaar continues the excellence and also releases his own Beeslaar Pinotage, a modern icon.
Bellevue Pinotage - The 1959 Trophy Winner
Made the 1959 trophy winner that put Pinotage on the map. Still produces top wines today.
Lanzerac Pinotage - The First Labeled Pinotage
First to use the word ‘Pinotage’ on a label (1961). Known for classic styling.
Simonsig Wines - Consistent Quality in Pinotage
Consistent quality. Offers both traditional and modern expressions.
Warwick, Rustenberg, and Beyerskloof - Pioneers of Modern Pinotage
Producers who helped normalize Pinotage as a serious red wine. Beyerskloof makes both affordable crowd-pleasers and high-end single-vineyard wines.
Boutique and New-Wave Pinotage Producers - Innovation and Terroir Expression
A new generation of winemakers is strongly pushing the boundaries of Pinotage, experimenting with lower alcohol, whole-bunch fermentation, concrete and amphora vessels, and minimal intervention in the cellar. Their goal is to highlight freshness, vibrant red-fruit clarity, and authentic terroir expression. South African wine regions such as Elgin, Swartland, and Durbanville are producing distinct, elegant styles that contrast beautifully with the richer, more traditional expressions from Stellenbosch, showing just how versatile and dynamic South Africa’s signature grape can be.
The 2025 Absa Top 10 Pinotage: South Africa’s Best Wines in the Centennial Year
An annual showcase of Pinotage excellence, featuring both legacy estates and new talent. Styles vary from bold and smoky to light and refined, with quality shaped more by the winemaker than the grape.
The 2025 Absa Top 10 Pinotage winners highlight the excellence and diversity of South Africa’s signature red grape in its centenary year. The winning wineries are:
- Alvi’s Drift Wines International (2023 Verreaux Pinotage)
- Beyerskloof Wines (2021 Diesel Pinotage)
- Bruce Jack Wines (2022 Heritage Flag of Truce Pinotage)
- Diemersdal Wine Estate (2022 The Journal Pinotage)
- Flagstone Wynkelder (2022 Writer’s Block Pinotage)
- KWV (2022 The Mentors Pinotage)
- Le Grand Domaine (2022 Grand Vin de Stellenbosch Pinotage)
- Simonsig Wines (2022 Redhill Pinotage)
- Warwick Wine Estate (2023 The Black Lady Pinotage)
- Wellington Wines (2024 Duke Pinotage).
Each of these award-winning wines received the newly minted gold-plated Pinotage Medallion, personally overstruck with the engraved ‘engel piepie,’ alongside a 1kg Silver Medallion containing actual Pinotage wine, a world-first creation by The Cape Mint, designed to represent the aging potential and timeless quality of the country’s finest Pinotage.
Pinotage and South African Wine Identity: Heritage, Culture, and Skill
Pinotage is more than a grape; it is a symbol of South Africa’s heritage, reflecting the country’s history, resilience, and winemaking identity. It tells a story in every bottle.
- It is uniquely South African
No other major wine-producing country embraces it to the same extent. It is the country’s signature variety. When the world thinks of South African wine, Pinotage is the distinctive flag. It’s the grape the world associates with South Africa.
- It reflects national history
Born from innovation. Nearly lost. Saved by chance. Celebrated. Criticized. Reborn. The trajectory of Pinotage mirrors the evolution of South African wine itself. Its story is South Africa’s story in liquid form.
- It tests winemaking skill
Pinotage is unforgiving. Poor handling produces faults. Great handling produces beauty. It exposes a winemaker’s talent. Successful Pinotage is often proof of technical and artistic capability. The grape separates the ordinary from the exceptional.
- It diversifies the red wine landscape
South Africa makes excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Merlot. But Pinotage adds unique flavor layers: earth, fynbos, game, smoke, cherry, plum, chocolate, spice. It expands the country’s stylistic range. It brings versatility and character no other grape can match.
- It supports wine tourism and marketing
Wine tourism in South Africa often highlights Pinotage tasting rooms, vineyard tours, and themed festivals. International Pinotage Day itself is a marketing tool that builds global connection. It attracts visitors and showcases South African culture.
- It invites debate
Some still dislike the grape. Some think it should not define the country. This tension keeps the conversation fresh and forces quality improvements. Pinotage is not pushed by nostalgia alone. It survives today because it delivers when well made. Its polarizing nature keeps it interesting and relevant.
How to Celebrate International Pinotage Day 2025
Here are clear, practical ways to engage with the day.
- Taste a vertical lineup
Compare old and new vintages from one estate. Study aging and evolution.
- Showcase stylistic contrast
Pour a lighter, modern Pinotage next to a rich, oaked example. Learn how choices in vineyard and cellar change the wine.
- Blind tasting
Include Pinotage among other reds. Ask guests to identify it. See whether its identity stands out.
- Pair with food
Traditional pairings: braai meats (grilled meats), boerewors (traditional BBQ sausage), lamb, spicy stews.
Modern pairings: duck, mushrooms, smoked dishes, barbecue sauces.
- Learn the label
Check vineyard sites, clones, oak regime, alcohol level, and region.
- Invite a winemaker or sommelier
Host a talk or video session to explore history, viticulture, and technique.
- Support small producers
Discover new names. Buy single-vineyard or limited-release Pinotage
- Share online
Use the hashtag #PinotageDay. Post tasting notes. Compare impressions with other wine lovers worldwide.
Pinotage at 100: Celebrating a Century of South Africa’s Signature Grape
The year 2025 marks the 100-year anniversary of the original cross that created Pinotage, making this more than just an annual wine celebration, it is a true centennial milestone. This landmark highlights how far the grape has come, the remarkable improvements in its quality, its evolving global perception, and its growing presence on the world stage. From early skepticism to international recognition, Pinotage’s journey demonstrates resilience and the enduring spirit of South African winemaking.
At the same time, the centenary inspires ambition and curiosity about the future. What will Pinotage look like in the next 100 years? Can it become a globally respected fine wine category? How will a new generation of winemakers redefine its expression? This milestone challenges producers and enthusiasts to imagine new possibilities while honoring the grape’s rich legacy.
Conclusion: Why International Pinotage Day 2025 Matters
International Pinotage Day 2025 is more than a simple toast. It is a statement of identity, a celebration of resilience, and a recognition that a once-controversial grape has grown into a symbol of South African pride, creativity, and potential. It honors the vision of those early pioneers who crossed Pinot Noir and Cinsault, and the generations of winemakers who nurtured Pinotage into a wine of international distinction.
One hundred years after its birth, Pinotage is no longer an experiment. It is a legacy, a testament to perseverance, and a promise for the future.
Pour a glass on October 11, 2025. Taste history. Taste place. Taste South Africa. Let each sip remind you of a century of challenges overcome and the exciting possibilities still ahead!
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