Pinotage – flavour, fruit & originality from South Africa
Pinotage is the national grape variety of South Africa – a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault (formerly known as Hermitage). The grape variety produces powerful, spicy and often smoky wines that stand out due to their unique character. Stylistically, Pinotage ranges from fruity & uncomplicated to smoky & powerful to experimental varieties such as Coffeestyle or Pinotage Rosé.
Typical flavours are plum, blackberry, black cherry, smoke, tar, leather, coffee, dark chocolate and spices – sometimes with a hint of game.
🔹 Junger, fruchtiger Pinotage: Frisch, beerig, zugänglich, mit milder Würze.
🔹 Pinotage Reserve / Barrique: Kräftig, rauchig, mit Kaffee- und Röstaromen.
🔹 Coffeestyle Pinotage: Modern, betont schokoladig-kaffeebetont, weich.
🔹 Pinotage Rosé oder Sparkling: Frisch, fruchtig, belebend – ideal im Sommer.
Der Pinotage passt perfekt zu BBQ, Wild, gegrilltem Fleisch, Burgern, würzigen Eintöpfen und orientalischen Gewürzen.
1️⃣ Young, fruity Pinotage
Flavour: Juicy, berry, soft, with restrained tannins.
Typical flavours: blackberry, cherry, plum, raspberry.
✅ Best food pairings:
✔ Grilled dishes & street food → Burgers, sausages, chicken wings
✔ Pasta with tomato sauces → Pasta arrabbiata, lasagne
✔ Light stews & vegetable dishes → Bean stew, ratatouille
➡ Recommended recipes:
– Burger with cheddar & onion chutney
– Pasta Arrabbiata
2️⃣ Pinotage Reserve / Barrique
Flavour: Full-bodied, intense, with roasted aromas & structure.
Typical flavours: coffee, smoke, leather, dark fruit, dark chocolate.
✅ Best food pairings:
✔ Game & dark meat → ostrich steak, wild boar ragout, rack of lamb
✔ Strong sauce dishes → BBQ ribs, boeuf bourguignon
✔ Hearty casseroles & spicy cuisine → Moussaka, chilli con carne
➡ Recommended recipes:
– Wild boar ragout with polenta
– BBQ ribs with homemade sauce
3️⃣ Coffeestyle Pinotage
Flavour: Soft, round, with a dominant coffee-chocolate note.
Typical flavours: espresso, vanilla, cocoa, dark fruit.
✅ Best food pairings:
✔ Grilled meat dishes → Fillet of beef, steak with pepper crust
✔ Spicy sandwiches & cheese → Pulled pork, BBQ sandwich, matured cheddar
✔ Chocolate desserts → Brownies, chocolate mousse
➡ Recommended recipes:
– Pulled Pork Burger
– Brownies with espresso ganache
🔍 Pinotage & food pairing at a glance
| Pinotage style | Best food pairings |
|---|---|
| Young, fruity Pinotage | Pasta, burgers, stews, street food |
| Pinotage Reserve / Barrique | Game, BBQ, braised dishes, strong sauces |
| Coffeestyle Pinotage | Steak, sandwich, mature cheese, chocolate |
🥂 The ideal serving temperature for Pinotage
-
Young Pinotage: 14-16 °C
-
Matured Pinotage / Reserve: 16-18 °C
🚀 Conclusion: Why Pinotage goes perfectly with savoury cuisine
Pinotage is a wine full of character and complexity – ideal for BBQ fans, game lovers and connoisseurs of strong flavours. From fruity and light to smoky and intense, it is a true South African flagship. 🍷🇿🇦
➢ Which combination did you like best? Discover all the matching recipes here! 😊🚀
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