Not that we ever need an excuse to visit the Cape Winelands, but with this latest collaboration of the crème de la crème of Pinotage producing wine farms, a visit to Stellenbosch is a must this season!

Industry favourites, L’Avenir, Kanonkop, Simonsig and Beyerskloof have teamed up to create the Pinotage Root which offers visitors the chance to taste 5 Pinotage wines from each farm. Each tasting is complemented by local snacks and one farm offers a gourmet meal to top it all off. Of course, TravelGround was thrilled to tag along on the media experience to bring you first-hand information on this brand-new route.

L’Avenir Wine Estate

L’Avenir is nestled in what is known as the ‘golden triangle’ of the winelands and produces top of the range Pinotage wines, which have been awarded internationally. L’Avenir effortlessly embraces its French and South African heritage which is represented in every single detail on the estate: from country chic décor with French accents to signature springbok and rooster labelling on some of the wine bottles to represent national animals from both countries.

On a typical summer’s day in Stellenbosch we’d recommend the refreshing MCC Brut Rosé with a crisp finish with hints of mousse and biscuits. It consists of 25% Pinotage and provides a perfect balance between a sweet, easy-drinking wine and the expected dry Rosé. The unwooded 2014 Far & Near Pinotage with its red cherry, raspberry and chocolate flavours pairs well with soup in winter, so why not enjoy it in L’Avenir’s tasting room in front of the roaring fireplace? To top it all off they offer a cheese board which consists of a variety of local cheeses, a French loaf and Tannie Minnie’s oh-so-famous chicken liver paté.

Our favourite part of L’Avenir, other than the wine, is the fact that you don’t have to drive home! The 4 star L’Avenir Country Lodge offers luxurious accommodation for families, couples and business travellers alike and serves as a perfect getaway spot for local and international visitors to the winelands.

Other attractions and activities on the premises include fishing, boules and picnics next to the dam or in front of the lodge.

Kanonkop Wine Estate

Kanonkop is a fourth generation family estate on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain and has been handed down from father to son for over 40 years. The farm is widely known as the first to produce a certified block of Pinotage and this variety still makes up 50% of all red wine plantings for which Kanonkop is renowned.

Our recommended tasting: For an everyday, easy drinking pino, try the well-priced 2014 Kadette Pinotage. It’s red fruit and mocha flavours complement pasta, red meat and spicy Asian style dishes, but if you’re in the mood for wine with a heavier palate, try the 2013 Kanonkop Pinotage which is divine served with lamb or mutton.

Kanonkop’s stunning new tasting room offers tastings of the various prestigious cultivars which have made them so popular among international and local guests. Besides wine, in summer, they also offer cheese platters to be enjoyed under the oaks with a glass of red wine, as well as a traditional Cape snoek braai year-round for a minimum of 15 people. Booking is essential so make sure you plan ahead for that family get-together or special event with friends.

Simonsig Wine Estate

Simonsig is a founding member of the Stellenbosch Wine Route and late owner Frans Malan’s legacy includes producing South Africa’s first Méthode Cap Classique, Kaapse Vonkel in 1971. This wine was created in the authentic French champagne style, which made it a popular local favourite.

Since the purpose of our visit was to celebrate and indulge in Pinotage, we sipped on the Brut Rosé blend that consists of 31% Pinotage, and can say that it was an absolute treat! If you plan on visiting Simonsig in the summer months, ensure you order a flute of chilled Brut Rosé to enjoy on the veranda ‒ it’s berry flavours and zesty hints of citrus tantalise the palate and are just what you need on a scorching summer’s day in the winelands!

But don’t despair if you visit in winter, as sitting in front of a cosy, crackling fire in their tasting room whilst sipping on the 2013 Pinotage vintage is also an incredible experience. With aromas of red berries, spice and hints of prunes and cherries on the palate, the 2013 vintage pairs well with hearty stews, venison and best of all, a traditional South African braai. This varietal also ages well, making it a favourite for years to come.

Simonsig’s other popular attraction is their signature restaurant, Cuvée, which will charm you with its combo of nostalgic Cape Dutch décor and modern touches, undeniable hospitality and delectable cuisine. We tried the grass-fed beef sirloin with garlic, leeks, truffle and veal jus as a main and lemon tart with coriander, white sesame, lemongrass and coconut for dessert, which were both perfection. The menu is seasonal, however, so every season reveals new culinary surprises!

From the 5th of November 2015, the tasting room offers Fizzday specials, which will take place every first Thursday of the month. From 17:00 to 20:00 there will be live music, special prices on Kaapse Vonkel and tapas.

Beyerskloof Wine Estate

In 1988 Beyers Truter of Kanonkop Estate, one of the Cape’s most foremost winemakers, partnered up with 4 fellow wine lovers with one goal in mind: to produce exceptional wine! And from there Beyerskloof Vineyards was born. The farm has 30 hectares of Pinotage vines and is widely known as a frontrunner in the production of award-winning Pinotage varieties.

Beyerskloof is one of few wine farms to produce the “white Pinotage” which is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. It’s definitely worth a try if you’re looking for a unique tasting experience and its pear and tropical aromas will satisfy most palates. The 2014 Beyerskloof Pinotage is a common favourite and their best seller. Plum, black cherries, mocha, cedar and sweet spicy notes dominate as flavours whereas blackberry and prune aromas define the sweeter 2013 Pinotage Reserve which pairs well with spicy curries or traditional Bobotie.

We were welcomed by Beyers’ son, Anri Truter, in the formal tasting room known as Die Gat (“The Hole”), which is appropriately named after its location next to an underground cellar. Standard wine tastings, however, take place in the vibey and stylish tasting room and you’re also welcome to enjoy your favourite bottle of Beyerskloof wine on the patio or in the restaurant (currently under construction), which has breathtaking views of the vineyards.

When you visit Beyerskloof, ask to taste their famous Pinotage infused salami! After tasting the varied, gloriously Pinotage blends and vintages, a few bites of this was just what we needed to end off our enlightening day on the Pinotage Root.

Pino Fun Facts:

• Pinotage is South Africa’s signature grape variety.
• Pinotage was created in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University
• Pinotage is a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut.
• Pinotage is loved for its earthy, smokey and berry flavours combined with hints of chocolate and coffee-like aromas.
• Pinotage pairs well with braai meat

Need we say more?

The Pinotage Root shuttle departs from the Stellenbosch Wine Routes Vistors centre at 10:00 and returns at 16:15. Transport and wine tastings is R620 pp for 2 and R470 pp for 3 or more. For more information on how to plan your trip, call 021 886 4310, or [email protected]. Visit their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter to stay up to date with the latest news on the Pinotage Root.

Main image credit to Ankia Wolf and image credit for 2 & 4.