19 August 2016

2016 Pinotage Top 10 Finalists

The 20 finalists for the 2016 Absa Pinotage Top 10 Competition are:-

  • Delheim Vera Cruz Estate Pinotage 2014
  • Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2015
  • Flagstone Writers Block Pinotage 2014
  • Fleur du Cap Pinotage Unfiltered 2014
  • Frater Family Wines Oupa Bull Pinotage Reserve 2015
  • Kanonkop Pinotage 2010
  • Kanonkop Pinotage 2013
  • Knorhoek Two Cubs Pinotage 2015
  • KWV The Mentors Pinotage 2013
  • Landskroon Pinotage 2014
  • L’Avenir Single Block Pinotage 2014
  • Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage 2014
  • Maastricht Pinotage 2015
  • Manley Pinotage 2014
  • Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Pinotage 2014
  • Rickety Bridge Pinotage 2015
  • Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2013
  • Rooiberg Winery Reserve Pinotage 2015
  • Simonsig Pinotage Redhill 2014
  • Springfontein Wine Estate Jonathan’s Ridge Single Vineyard Pinotage 2012

The 10 winners will be announced on 29 August 2016.

This is the 20th year of the competition which started in 2007. In the past 19 years two wineries have won more times than any other: Kanonkop and Rijks, both taking 10 trophys, and it is good to see they are both finalists this year.

There's a good mix of established names and newcomers. I'm pleased to see L'Avenir back in the finals; their vineyards  produced 7 wins in the past and the current entry's back label honours Francois Naude the winemaker from that time.

Pinotage Association Chairman Beyers Truter said

"Rijk’s and Kanonkop, as other finalists such as Simonsig and Diemersdal are no strangers to the Absa Top 10, while relative newcomer producers of the likes of Rickety Bridge and Frater Family Wines are exciting developments.

Together with this mix of new and established, it is fantastic to see quality Pinotages originating from nearly all of South Africa’s diverse regions – from Stellenbosch and Paarl, to Walker Bay, Durbanville and Robertson. For quality Pinotage wines to be produced from such a diverse spectrum of terroirs not only underscores the versatility of the grape; it is also testimony of the producers’ love for fine winemaking, their commitment and insight of the region’s climates and terrains.”


Congratulations to all.

No comments:

Post a Comment