IT WAS disappointing news for the wine-loving public looking forward to the Pinotage festival scheduled for 11 October 2025 at the Meerendal estate in Durbanville outside Cape Town – a festival to celebrate 100 years since the first seeds of South Africa's most successful grape variety were planted in 1925. With less than a month to go before the festival was due to take place, the Pinotage Association announced that their Flagship Event had been called off “in light of the overwhelming calendar of Pinotage 100 events taking place across the country” and that the celebrations would be carried forward into Pinotage 101 in 2026.
The association's “cornerstone events of the centenary” from 9 to 11 October '25 include the Absa Top 10 Pinotage Awards, the Perold Cape Blend & Pinotage Rosé Awards and a Pinotage Party – all for invited guests only. The finalists in the Top 10 Pinotage Competition disclosed by the organisers in advance of the awards function include a number of the leading producers, several of whom had already impressed local and international panels earlier in the year (see below).
After Stellenbosch University's Prof Abraham Perold crossed Pinot Noir and Cinsault/Hermitage back in 1924, the first Pinotage wine to go on sale to the public was the 1959 vintage under the Lanzerac label, launched in 1961 by Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery (SFW) using grapes from vines planted in 1953 at PK Morkel's Bellevue estate in Bottelary, Stellenbosch. How things have changed since then, with Lanzerac in the Jonkershoek corner of Stellenbosch now independent, SFW now Heineken Beverages, Bellevue undergoing a process of restoration and renewal while still honouring a rich heritage.
Looking ahead, what are the top Pinotage events to look forward to in the last quarter of the centenary year? Well, there's ‘Woordfees-wynskool: Pinotage 101‘ on 15 October and the ‘Pinotage 100 Years Celebration' on 18 October, both happening in Stellenbosch, and then there's the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Pinotage in Pretoria on 15 November.
TOP PINOTAGE RATINGS IN 2025
Alvi's Drift Verreaux Pinotage 2023
95/100, Fine Wine Awards
R650pb ex-cellar, Scherpenheuwel-Worcester
Bellingham Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2021
95/100, International Wine Challenge
R280pb ex-Franschhoek Cellar
Bellingham Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2022
97/100, Trophy Wine Show
R280pb ex-Franschhoek Cellar
Beyerskloof Grand Pinotage 2019
95/100, Gilbert & Gaillard
Sold on allocation, Stellenbosch cellar
Bruce Jack Flag of Truth Pinotage 2022
95/100, Decanter World Wine Awards
R573pb ex-cellar, Napier
Christina 9 Barrels Pinotage 2021
Best in Class, National Wine Challenge
R275pb ex-Van Loveren cellar, Robertson
Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Pinotage 2023
96/100, Decanter World Wine Awards
R165pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Flagstone Truth Tree Pinotage 2021
96/100, Fine Wine Awards
R170pb ex-cellar, Somerset West / Strand
Groot Phesantekraal Pinotage 2023
95/100, Fine Wine Awards
R179pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Hasher Batrachella Pinotage 2022
97/100, Decanter World Wine Awards
Trophy, International Wine Challenge
95/100, Fine Wine Awards
R595pb ex-cellar, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde
illimis Pinotage 2024
95/100, Winemag Report
R313pb ex-Karibib cellar, Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch
Kanonkop Grand Pinotage 2019
95/100, Gilbert & Gaillard
Sold on allocation, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch cellar
Kanonkop Pinotage 2009
96/100, International Wine & Spirit Competition
Museum Class, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch cellar
Kanonkop Pinotage 2022
95/100, International Wine & Spirit Competition
R570pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Koelenbosch Director's Reserve Pinotage 2022
95/100, Gilbert & Gaillard
R320pb ex-Koelenhof Winery, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
L'Avenir Grand Pinotage 2019
97/100, Gilbert & Gaillard
Sold on allocation, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch cellar
Neethlingshof Pinotage 2023
95/100, International Wine Challenge
R150pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Piekenierskloof Johan van Zyl Old Vine Pinotage 2023
95/100, Fine Wine Awards
R460pb ex-cellar, Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
Springfontein Jonathan's Ridge Single Vineyard Pinotage 2019
Best in Class, Terroir Wine Awards
R495pb ex-cellar, Stanford
Stellenbosch ‘1679' Old Vine Pinotage 2022
95/100, Fine Wine Awards
R400pb ex-Koelenhof Winery, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Survivor Pinotage Reserve 2022
96/100, Decanter World Wine Awards
R465pb ex-Van Loveren cellar, Robertson
