WHO COULD possibly argue with the Pinotage Association when they promote South Africa’s red wine ‘calling card’ with biltong as a ‘perfect pairing’. What’s not to like! And having been behind a number of Pinotage & Biltong Festivals in Paarl and elsewhere in the country over the years, the Association stepped things up a notch in 2019 with the launch of a Biltong Competition. The challenge: to find the butcher(s) who can make the best biltong in the Boland.

The Pinotage Association chose six finalists (see below) on the basis of a Pinotage and biltong tasting on Pinotage Day (12 October), which was followed by a month of online voting. The first Boland Biltong Champions: Nic & Elize van Rensburg and their team at Eikeboom Butchery, “the oldest surviving traditional butchery in the town of Stellenbosch” which “specialises in traditionally-made biltong, droëwors and matured quality meats…”

For those who have never encountered these wonderful South African things, never been to this country, never watched a game of rugby… Biltong comprises strips of cured, air-dried meat, boerewors is seasoned sausage made from minced or pounded meat, and droëwors is air-dried boerewors. Of course, according to the meat experts, this is over-simplifying matters somewhat! And if you’re going to indulge in the best biltong, you may as well to match it to what the wine experts rate as the best Pinotage, right! Some perfect partners given below:

PAARL

Champion Biltong Shop:
Goede Hoop Butchery
Top Pinotage Cellars:
Anura, Boland, Fairview, KWV, Perdeberg, Rhebokskloof, Vondeling, Windmeul

ROBERTSON

Champion Biltong Shop:
Pinto Butchery (18 Paul Kruger St)
Top Pinotage Cellars:
Rooiberg, Viljoendrift

STELLENBOSCH

Champion Biltong Shop:
Eikeboom Butchery (19 Plein St)
Top Pinotage Cellars:
Beeslaar, Beyerskloof, Delheim, Kaapzicht, Kanonkop, Lanzerac, L’Avenir, Lyngrove, Neethlingshof, Simonsig, Spier, Tokara

SWARTLAND

Champion Biltong Shop:
Deli-Co Butchery (Zonkwasdrift Rd, Riebeek Kasteel)
Top Pinotage Cellars:
Meerhof, Pulpit Rock, Riebeek Cellars, Swartland Winery

WELLINGTON

Champion Biltong Shop:
Vleismeester Butchery (56 Main Rd)
Top Pinotage Cellars:
Bosman, Diemersfontein, Wellington Wines

WORCESTER

Champion Biltong Shop:
Hoogstraat Vleismark (123 High St)
Top Pinotage Cellars:
Aan de Doorns, Alvi’s Drift, Overhex/Survivor

• 2019 Absa Pinotage Top 10 here, SA Pinotage Classification here