Saturday Sipping Session – Pinotage Day
Saturday Sipping Session – Pinotage Day
October 18 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
FreeAt Wine Menu, we’d like to celebrate 100 years of South Africa’s beloved grape, Pinotage. What makes Pinotage special for South Africa? Well it’s not just any wine; it’s a big part of our culture, skill, and pride, making waves all around the world. A centuries worth of experimentation has resulted in a grape that is made in various styles; ranging from lighter, almost Pinot Noir/Cinsault styled wines, to full, round bold stylistic expressions.
The day honors South Africa’s unique signature red wine grape, which was created in 1925 by Professor Abraham Isak Perold (the first professor of viticulture at Stellenbosch University) by crossing the Pinot Noir and Cinsault (Hermitage) grapes in his garden at the Welgevallen Experimental Farm.
Initially overlooked, the surviving vines were saved by Charlie Niehaus. He managed to salvage them and replanted them at Elsenburg Agricultural College, leading to the first wine in 1941. After early criticism, the grape evolved, with its commercial potential recognized in the 1950s and a significant international breakthrough in the early 1990s, cementing its status as South Africa’s signature red wine.
Join us at wine menu as we sip through a special selection of Pinotage from around the Western Cape.