PINOTAGE

The red Pinotage grape was developed in 1925 by a South African viticulturalist who crossed the red French grapes Pinot Noir and Cinsault (known locally as Hermitage), in the hopes of generating a Pinot Noir-like grape that could survive South Africa’s hot climate. Success! Pinotage has since become the signature South African grape, making deeply colored wines with high tannins, medium acidity and flavors that include black fruit, smoke and earth.