IT SELDOM happens that a winemaker has a hand in two Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition laureates in the same year, but what do you know… In 2023 there were two of them: Abrie Beeslaar, cellarmaster behind the winning 2017 vintage from Kanonkop Estate in Stellenbosch and also coming top with the 2019 vintage under his own label, as well as Francois van Niekerk, team leader in the cellar at Wellington Wines where ‘La Cave’ is bottled and also called to the podium in honour of his own Pinotage – both wines from the 2021 vintage.

There were 134 entries from 79 producers in the 28th year of the competition. The judges: wine writer Samarie Smith (chair), winemakers Fred Viljoen (Viljoensdrift), Etienne Louw (Nitida) and Anton Swarts CWM (Spier), plus Hartenberg tasting room manager Rodrick Moyo.

“The Absa Top 10 Pinotage Awards celebrate not only the dedication of the winemakers but also the essence of Pinotage, a grape that is proudly South African and continues to captivate the world” – Beyers Truter, chairman of the Pinotage Association.

• Four of the winning wines in the 2023 Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition have such good track records as to be included among the Top 10 in the SA Wine Classification: Beeslaar, Beyerskloof Diesel, Kanonkop and Spier 21 Gables.

THE WINNERS

Beeslaar Pinotage 2019
R525pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch

Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2020
R950pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Fairview Primo Pinotage 2020
R475pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Francois van Niekerk Pinotage 2021
R710pb ex-producer, Wellington

Kanonkop Pinotage 2017
R450pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

La Cave Pinotage 2021
R220pb from Wellington Wines cellar

L’Avenir Single Block Pinotage 2020
R700pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2018
R320pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch ‘1679’ Old Vine Pinotage 2021
R375pb from Koelenhof Winery, Stellenbosch

Survivor Reserve Pinotage 2021
R440pb from Overhex cellar, Worcester

• For more about the winning wines, click here.

 

ALSO FINALISTS

Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2019
R950pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Bowwood Pinotage 2020
R439pb from Vondeling cellar, Voor Paardeberg, Paarl

Diemersdal Journal Pinotage 2021
R370pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Kanonkop Pinotage 2018
R525pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

La Cave Pinotage 2019
R220pb from Wellington Wines cellar

Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage 2020
R295pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

Mentors Pinotage 2020
R339pb from KWV cellar, Paarl

Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage 2018
R630pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh

Springfontein Jonathan’s Ridge Single Vineyard Pinotage 2018
R495pb ex-cellar, Stanford

Windmeul Legend Pinotage 2021
R350pb ex-cellar, Paarl