General information about Pinotage:
Pinotage is a red wine grape that is very famous in South Africa, some even consider it the country's signature variety.
The grape was first bred in 1925 as a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut. The grape normally produces a deep red wine with smoky,
bramble and earthy flavours but it has been criticized for sometimes smelling like acetone. Pinotage is often made into fortified wine or even red sparkling wine.
The grape is not a hybrid, it is a viticultural cross of two varieties of Vitis vinifera.
Even though Pinotage is one of the most popular wines in South Africa it has had its criticism, a regular complaint is that the wine smells like paint.
In addition to South Africa, Pinotage is also grown in Brazil, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, United States and Zimbabwe. The majority of Pinotage plantings in the world can be found in South Africa.
Soil information:
Low-lying medium to high potential alluvial soil with high production potential, such as Oakleaf, Tukulu and Dundee, should rather not be used for Pinotage,
especially not in irrigated areas. These soils are distinguished by their dark brown/black colour, high organic material content and natural nitrogen-supplying capacity.
Deep poor coarse sandy soils such as Fernwood and Westleigh, with a poor water retention capacity ability, not only require more regular irrigation,
but usually produce fruity wines with limited complexity that have to be drunk at an early stage. Poor to medium potential sloping hillsides with a medium to good water
retention capacity usually enhance moderate growth and a natural low crop that ripen easily. These are of the best soils for the growing of quality Pinotage grapes.
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