With nearly 400 years of winemaking tradition, South Africa has rightfully earned its place as one of the most important wine regions in the southern hemisphere. The pinotage grape has become the flagship of its vineyards, and with it, Chocoholic Pinotage 2021, a seductive single-varietal with a retro aesthetic, is crafted. For curious palates.
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General features
General Information
Chocoholic Pinotage 2021 consists of two clearly different components. 10% of the must was created by twisting the grape stems to encourage fruit growth while still on the vine. The juice from these grapes was added to the pinotage must, which received oak contact to achieve a smooth, subtly sweet, and meaty red wine. The vineyards are bush-trained and dry-farmed, growing on deep, decomposed granite soils on the slopes of the Darling Hills, with a cooling effect on warm afternoons due to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean.
After crushing and destemming, fermentation developed over 5-6 days at 20-30°C with skins. Subsequently, part of the wine spent 8 to 12 months in staves to gain complexity. The result is a red wine that displays seductive aromas of chocolate, cherries, vanilla, and plum. On the palate, these aromas are complemented by hints of caramel. Soft tannins, good structure, and a persistent finish.
South Africa is one of the oldest producers within what is referred to as the New World of winemaking, as the winemaking tradition in this country dates back four centuries. All vineyards cultivated in South Africa are influenced by the ocean, whether it be the Atlantic or the Indian. In this way, the sea breeze provides a Mediterranean climate similar to that enjoyed in Spain.
Furthermore, one of the strengths of South African wines is the diversity of soils and the different ways of working them. For this reason, the concept of ‘terroir’ takes on meaning when the differences between vineyards are appreciated. Sandstone terrains and others with fluvial deposits, slate, or granite host some of the most coveted grape varieties, ranging from almost sea level to over 1000 meters in altitude. Today, South Africa has more than 95,000 hectares of vineyards in an area approximately 800 km long.
Chocoholic Pinotage 2021 (West Coast, South Africa) is ideal for pairing with meat-based rice dishes such as chicken paella or Iberian pork medallions with mustard sauce.