Pinotage Top 10 Winners 2020

Winners of the  ABSA Pinotage Top 10 Competition were announced at a ceremony held at Beyerskloof Winery today, Wednesday, starting at 12:00 (South African Time)

The winners of the 2020 competition are

Aan de Doorns Pinotage 2018

WO Worcester, Winemakers Chris van Deventer & Chris Geldenhuys

 

 Anura Signature Pinotage 2017

WO Simonsberg-Paarl, Winemaker Stander Maass

 

Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage  2017

WO Stellenbosch, Winemaker Anri Truter

Conradie Family Vineyards Pinotage 2019

WO Western Cape, Winemaker CP Conradie

Delheim Vera Cruz Pinotage 2016

WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Winemaker Roelof Lotriet

 

Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage 2018

WO Durbanville, Winemaker Thys Louw

 

Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Pinotage 2017

WO Durbanville, Winemaker Wilhelm Coetzee

 

Kaapzicht Pinotage 2018

O Stellenbosch, Winemaker Danie Steytler

 

Pulpit Rock’s Brink Family Vineyards Pinotage 2018

WO Swartland, Winemaker Dewald Huisame

Windmeul’s The Legend Collection Pinotage 2018

WO Paarl, Winemaker Abraham van Heerden

De Wet Viljoen

The ceremony was hosted by De Wet Viljoen, Pinotage Association Vice-Chairman who introduced John Tshabalala, Managing Executive Western Cape ABSA. 

John Tshabalala

John said ABSA were highly privileged to take part in supporting Pinotage and the thanked the Pinotage Association for their good work. He reminded everyone of the thousands of jobs and the support given to communities by the wine business. 

Beyers Truter

De Wet then invited Beyers Truter, Chairman of The Pinotage Association to the stage. Beyers related the history of Pinotage and the genius of Abraham Izaak Perold. Beyers said that Pinotage had changed from an everyday drinking wine to a top wine, “from Cinderalla to top gold”. He said that at the first competition only 35 wine entered and he thoughtthat perhaps only five were worthy winners. This year he said that 35 of the contenders scored more than 90 points, and he glad not to be on the judging panel face with such the difficult task of choosing finalist and winners. Those 35 top scoring wines, he said, came from ten different regions showing that “Pinotage winemakers are in sync with their terroir”.

Beyers ended by saying there were many great wines made in South Africa and they “didn’t want Pinotage to be the crown jewel, just the shiniest jewel in the crown.

Abrie Beeslaar

Abrie Beeslaar was invited to the stage to speak on behalf of the judges. He said that the competition was unusual in a couple of ways. Firstly judging took place over three days, offering judges the opportunity to really taste the wines and have extra time to judge them, and secondly by having ten equal winners it makes the competition about Pinotage, not one winery or style.

De Wet finished by inviting the chefs who prepared the canapés and lunch to introduce them themselves and their dishes.

(L>R) De Wet Viljoen, Beyers Truter, John Tshabalala