What Does Pinotage Taste Like and What Should I Try?

What is Pinotage?

Pinotage crosses the Cinsaut and Pinot Noir grapes, the former of which was renamed Hermitage giving us the portmanteau Pinot-age. Despite an inconsistent reputation in the past, it’s absolutely flourishing now and is well and truly South Africa’s flagship grape, becoming a dream BBQ accompaniment.

What does Pinotage taste like?

The Pinotage grapes turned out to be extremely dark, creating bold wines high in tannin, with famously meaty, smoky, and rich profiles. The Pinotage of old was dismissed by some for being unrefined, and for good reason. Being such a good grower and so dense, its destiny was low-quality commercial wine and being stretched too thin. On top of that, it’s a volatile grape that when processed poorly, can go very wrong. Bad Pinotage is Bad Pinotage, put it that way.

However, if that’s what’s put you off in the past then give it another go, because Pinotage winemakers have got their act together since then and it’s come on leaps and bounds. There is now a host of delicious Pinotage bottles with that same inky density, as well as silky plum, blackberry, tobacco, and liquorice. Let’s explore some…

Which Pinotage should I try?

Tesco Finest South African Pinotage

Delicious, accessible, and modern red Pinotage that’s very much on the lighter and younger side of the grape. Think velvety bramble fruits and none of the burnt tar smoke from yesteryears. It’s a very drinkable midweek wine with your Italian dishes, and an easy way into bolder Pinotage.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £8.25

Kanonkop 'Kadette' Pinotage Rosé 2022/23, Stellenbosch

Perdeberg is the largest Pinotage block in the world, never mind just Stellenbosch, and that’s where this wine comes from. Given how robust Pinotage is, it’s innovative to make Rosé from it but the results are delicious. It’s vivid and refreshing, with aromatic summer berries and red apple, and goes to show how versatile this grape can be.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £14.99

Warwick Estate First Lady Pinotage 2020

An award-winning, highly praised Pinotage from Warwick brimming with dark cherries throughout, and backed up by dark chocolate, fine tannins, and a lovely oak spice to finish.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £11.95

Lanzerac Pinotage 2020

Masterfully put together Pinotage with underlying smoked oak and leather supporting smooth plum and butterscotch vanilla. It’s not as gamey as some Pinotage, and has wonderful complexity to explore on the lasting finish.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14%
Find here: £13.99

Barista Pinotage 2021

The work of winemaking legend Bertus Fourie, this Pinotage, as hinted at by the name, draws on the coffee notes in the varietals. Joined by chocolate coated cherries on the nose, it unfolds presenting ripe blackberry and plum before an earthier tobacco on the finish. Incredible value and one for the fireplace we think.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Find here: £7.99

Mooiplaas Wine Estate, The Bean Coffee Pinotage 2020

Classic earthy, leather and smoke intertwining with lofty jammy, berries, softly integrated tannins, and mocha notes. Characterful and tasty to explore.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: £12.25

Check out our favourite Cabernet Sauvignon here, and our Pinot Noir guide here!

TalkTV: Pinotage Wines for Pinotage Day

South Africa’s flagship red grape Pinotage is an interesting one. It’s actually a crossing of two French grapes, Pinot Noir and Cinsault, the latter of which used to be known as Hermitage in South Africa. This is where the name came from - Pinot-age! Geddit? Pinotage is famously rich, meaty and smoky like a good South African braai. In the past, it was a grape that made wines that could be a little rough around the edges but these days, you can find some very beautiful, silky ones with plenty of plush plum fruit flavours. Here are three wines showing Pinotage three ways to celebrate both Pinotage day this Saturday, October 8th and the recent South African heritage day.

Van Hunks Sparkling South African Rosé

Van Hunks is a sparkling wine that is hand crafted in South Africa using the traditional method, just like in Champagne. All the wines are bottle fermented in small batches and matured in contact with the lees for approximately 30 months, which gives them a creamy texture and weight. This rosé is made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a splash of Pinotage to add flavour, colour and richness.

Find it at Amazon for £20.25

Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage Rosé

Kanonkop spend a lot of time working with the Pinotage grape and this wine comes from the Perdeberg, which is the largest single block of Pinotage in the world. It’s quite unusual to make rosé from this robust, full-flavoured grape, but Kanonkop have pressed on and created somethign delicious. Aromatic and vibrant, it has notes of rose, summer berries and refreshing red apple.

Find it at Majestic for £9.99 mix six price

Tesco Finest* Stellenbosch Pinotage

Here we have a fantastic, accessible, modern version of a red Pinotage without the burnt rubber, bonfire stink. It’s light on its feet, velvety and fruity with lots of juicy, bramble fruit. Incredibly drinkable, this is a brilliant mid week red for your spag bol or lasagne. Hailing from South Africa’s most famous wine region, Stellenbosh and created for Tesco by renowned producer Stellenrust.

Find it at Tesco for £7.50

Want to know what else we’ve been tasting on talkTV? See here!

Best Wines for a Beef Sunday Roast

Fluffy Yorkies, crispy spuds, slivers of tender beef… who doesn’t love a Sunday roast? And it tastes even better when you’re washing it down with a cracking wine. Read on for some top grape varieties guaranteed to match the meaty gorgeousness of a beef Sunday roast, whether or not you choose to smother yours in gravy…

Cabernet Sauvignon

Are you a Sunday roast purist? Then you can’t go wrong with Cabernet Sauvignon – perhaps the most classic match there is. It really makes the beef shine; the wine’s tannins and structure hold up brilliantly against the meat’s robust texture and help bring out its flavour. Styles of Cabernet vary quite a bit depending on where they’re from, so shop (and sip) around to find one you like. Those from Bordeaux are typically lighter than those form the sunny ‘New World’ and are often blended with Merlot, so expect a balance of lovely black and red fruit. California, meanwhile, is known for bold and powerful, age-worthy fruity numbers and if you want something in the middle, look to South Africa, Chile or Southern France.

Affordable: Apothic Cabernet Sauvignon UK £9 // US $8.98
Mid-Tier: Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon UK £21.50 // US $25.19
Top-End: Mt Brave UK £79.99 // US $99.99

Malbec

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer. Argentina, where some of the world’s best Malbecs are made, also produces some of the world’s best beef so, obviously, the two will go together! Inky and rich, Malbec’s soft tannins and juicy, ripe sweetness make it a good pairing with everything else you’ve got going on the plate too, such as roasted carrots and crisp roasties. Don’t just stick to Argentina though; try Malbecs from Chile or for a more savoury, structured style, head to Cahors in the south of France, which is in fact the grape’s original homeland (and where it is known as cot).

Affordable: Tesco Finest Argentinian Malbec £8
Mid-Tier: Bramare Malbec Lujan de Cuyo £29.44 // US $39.99
Top-End: Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino UK £81.95 // US $119.99

Shiraz / Syrah

Whether in its more concentrated, richly-fruited, juicy and peppery form (Shiraz) or a more meaty, herbaceous style (Syrah), this versatile grape variety is a delicious match for beef. Old-World style Syrahs such as those from the grape’s original home in the Northern Rhône, can often be quite savoury and earthy, so make a good match for the all-important side veg (carrots, parsnips, you name it). Meanwhile, wines labelled as Shiraz, usually from Australia, are typically robust and juicy enough to make the beef stand out. Great halfway styles between the two classics can be found in California or cool climate, Northern Chile.

Affordable: McGuigan Reserve Shiraz £6
Affordable: The Black Stump Durif Shiraz £11.99
Mid-Tier: Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz UK £29.95 // US $27.99
Top-End: Mclaren Vale Yangarra Estate Ironheart Shiraz UK £89.97 // US $121.88

Grenache

It’s not hard to love Grenache. This grape’s got plenty of body, great for meaty dishes like Sunday roast beef but, thanks to soft tannins and lower acidity, it’s also seriously approachable and fruity (read: dangerously drinkable) with notes of wild strawberry and spice. You can easily sip it before, during and after the meal – it’s just as tasty on its own as it is with food, so it’s a prime pick if you’re draining a few bottles with friends over a pub meal where everyone has ordered something different. Spanish wines will label it as Garnacha, while Australian or Rhone ‘GSM’ blends see it blended with Syrah/Shiraz and Mourvedre, aka Mataro.

Affordable: Waitrose Cotes du Rhone Villages £7.99
Mid-Tier: Anayón Garnacha £22.15
Top-End: Orin Swift 'Abstract' UK £39.99 // US $37.99

Tempranillo

One word: Rioja. Savoury, spiced and bursting with strawberry, licorice and leather notes, this medium-bodied wine basically goes with loads of different foods and that means every bite of your sautéed cabbage (if you like that kind of thing with your roast) is going to taste just as great as those roasted potatoes or green beans. While the region of Rioja offers us the most famous expression of Tempranillo, you’ll also find the grape grown elsewhere in Spain and in countries like Australia, where styles are sometimes fuller and more juicy, with chocolate and black fruit notes.

Affordable: Il Carretto IGT Rosso di Puglia £8.75
Mid-Tier: Altos de Baroja Rioja Joven £10.95
Top-End: Marqués de Murrieta Gran Reserva Rioja £48.95

Pinotage

South Africa’s flagship red grape, brooding, earthy Pinotage will give love to the roasted, charred flavours on your plate with its plum, blackberry and dark cherry flavours. Don’t be put off by the ‘burnt rubber’ character that it’s sometimes described as having; the very best-made wines have plenty of fruit, structure and, as they age, develop notes of smoke and spice., especially when you choose a more premium wine made from older vines.

Affordable: Swartland Private Collection Pinotage £8.29
Mid-Tier: The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage £22.90
Top-End: Hamilton Russell Ashbourne £37.95

Sangiovese

Even if you’re not fully ‘au fait’ with the Sangiovese grape, you’ve probably drunk it. For example, ever had Chianti or a Brunello? This Italian grape’s fresh acidity and earthy character makes it infinitely matchable with food, and it can take on a trad British roast just as successfully as Nonna’s finest lasagne. It’s also one of the rare grapes that loves acidic tomato sauces, If you’re looking for something quirkier, try Sangiovese grown in California (you’ll find some interesting takes in the Napa Valley) or Australia. 

Affordable: Caparzo Sangiovese Toscana UK £11.15 // US $12.99
Mid-Tier: Le Volte dell' Ornellaia £28.99
Top-End: Antinori Tenuta Tignanello 'Marchese Antinori' Chianti Classico Riserva UK £34.79 // US $49.99

Looking for some fun Easter drinks gifting? Why not try these Delicious Chocolate Alcoholic Drinks and while you’re at it why not check out these Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?