6 Shades of Pinotage

Pinotage was born in South Africa — bred in 1925 from a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut by Professor Abraham Perold at Stellenbosch University. No other country grows it. No other country understands it quite as well. And nothing proves how badly it was misunderstood — dismissed for decades as rustic and heavy — like a properly made Pinotage in full flight.This case brings together six distinct expressions: Vondeling Bowwood’s granite-grown intensity from Voor-Paardeberg; the concentrated power of Groenland Steenkamp Bush Vine; the silky precision of Asara 2018; Maasbaai’s coastal-spiced take; Stettyn’s reliably satisfying everyday pour; and — saving the best known for last — the legendary Diemersfontein Coffee Pinotage 2024. Six shades. One case.The Pinotage StoryPinotage is the only truly South African grape — and for a long time, that was held against it. Early expressions were often harsh and inconsistent. Critics dismissed it. Then something changed. A new generation of winemakers began to understand Pinotage on its own terms: as a warm-climate grape that, when farmed well, produces wines of extraordinary concentration, with layers of dark fruit, mocha, tobacco and spice that reveal themselves slowly over hours in the glass. Diemersfontein in Wellington transformed the conversation with their Coffee Pinotage — a market-defining wine that brought a whole new audience to the variety. This case captures the full range of what followed.The WinesVondeling Bowwood Pinotage 2022 From the ancient granite soils of Voor-Paardeberg, the Bowwood is Vondeling’s expression of Pinotage — produced on a farm that knows its terroir deeply. Dark berry fruit, gentle earthy spice, and the quiet confidence that only granite-grown vines deliver.Groenland Steenkamp Bush Vine Pinotage 2022 Bush vines produce concentrated, intense fruit — and the Steenkamp family’s Groenland vineyards deliver exactly that. Dark plum, tobacco and warm spice from old vines that have had years to work their way into the soil.Maasbaai Pinotage 2023 Bold, juicy and proudly South African. Dark cherry, plum, mocha and a soft coastal spice that reflects its origins near the Cape coastline. Every bottle sold contributes R5 to Clean C, helping fund beach clean-ups and protecting South Africa’s coastline for future generations.Asara Pinotage 2018 The most refined wine in the collection. Layered black fruit, plum, dark cherry and coffee mocha with a smooth, silky mouthfeel and beautifully balanced tannin. The 2018 shows exactly what a few years in bottle does for a good Pinotage.Stettyn Pinotage 2024 Does exactly what a good everyday Pinotage should — opens happily alongside a braai, makes no demands, and disappears fast. Fresh, fruit-forward, and exactly what you want to pour freely.Diemersfontein Coffee Pinotage 2024 The wine that changed Pinotage’s reputation. Intensely flavoured, with coffee, dark chocolate and mocha at its core — a cult expression from Wellington that brought a whole new audience to South Africa’s signature variety. If you’ve never tried it, this is where you finish. If you already know it, you know why it’s saved for last.Food PairingVondeling Bowwood 2022: Lamb chops on the braai, or a slow-cooked lamb shoulder with herbs. Groenland Steenkamp Bush Vine 2022: Karoo lamb, wild mushroom risotto, or a hearty tomato bredie. Maasbaai 2023: Braai classics — boerewors, lamb chops, or a sosatie over a wood fire. Asara 2018: Duck breast with cherry reduction, or aged beef fillet. Elegant enough for fine dining. Stettyn 2024: Boerewors and the braai. Exactly that. Diemersfontein Coffee Pinotage 2024: Dark chocolate desserts, rich chocolate fondant, or spiced brisket with a coffee rub.The 6 Shades of Pinotage collection is the definitive home tasting of South Africa’s only indigenous grape — six wines, six styles, one story.