Pinotage
Species:	Vitis vinifera
Also called:	Perold's Hermitage x Pinot
Origin:	South Africa
Notable regions:	South Africa

Pinotage [ˌpinɔˈtaʒə] is a red wine grape that is South Africa's signature variety. Vitis vinifera ( Common Grape Vine) is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa This list of wine-producing regions catalogues significant Growing regions where Vineyards are planted Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice For the Tokyo University supercomputer see Gravity Pipe. GRAPE, or GRA phics P rogramming E nvironment is South African wine has a history dating back to 1659, and at one time Constantia was considered one of the greatest wines in the world It was bred there in 1925 as a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut. Pinot noir ('pino nwar is a red Wine Grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Cinsaut or Cinsault (pronounced "san-so" is a red Wine Grape, whose heat tolerance and productivity make it important in Languedoc-Roussillon It typically produces deep red varietal wines with smoky, bramble and earthy flavors, sometimes with notes of bananas and tropical fruit, but has been criticized for sometimes smelling of acetone. Varietal describes Wines made primarily from a single named Grape variety. For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation. This list of culinary fruits contains the names of some fruits that are considered edible in some Cuisines The definition of fruit for these lists is a culinary fruit Acetone (also known as propanone, dimethyl ketone, 2-propanone, propan-2-one and β-ketopropane) is a colorless mobile flammable Pinotage is often blended, and also made into fortified wine and even red sparkling wine. Fortified wine is Wine to which alcohol (usually Brandy) has been added ^[1] The grape is a viticultural cross, not a hybrid. Viticulture (from the Latin word for Vine) is the Science, production and study of Grapes which deals with the series of Hybrid grapes refer commonly to those Grape varieties which are the product of a crossing between two or more different Vitis Species In plant breeding, a cross is a cultivar which is the result of crossing two or more cultivars within the same species, while a hybrid is a cultivar bred from members of different species. Plant breeding is the art and science of changing the genetics of plants for the benefit of humankind A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar Both of Pinotage's ancestors are Vitis vinifera. Vitis vinifera ( Common Grape Vine) is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and

Contents 1 History 2 Criticism 3 Wine regions 3.1 South Africa 4 Viticulture and winemaking 5 Synonyms 6 External links 7 References

History

Pinotage is a grape variety that was created in South Africa in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Abraham Izak Perold, PhD ( 20 October 1880 - 11 December 1941) was a South African chemist and viticulturist Stellenbosch University ( Afrikaans: Universiteit Stellenbosch) is an internationally recognised University which is situated in the town of Stellenbosch Perold was attempting to combine the best qualities of the robust Cinsault with Pinot Noir, a grape that makes great wine but can be difficult to grow. Cinsaut is known as Hermitage in South Africa, hence the portmanteau name of Pinotage. ^[2] Perold planted the four seeds from his cross in the garden of his official residence at Welgevallen Experimental Farm and then seems to have forgotten about them. In 1927 he left the university for a job with KWV co-operative and the garden became overgrown. The Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt (usually abbreviated to KWV) was a Winemaking co-operative founded on 8 January 1918 The university sent in a team to tidy it up, just as Charlie Niehaus happened to pass by. He was a young lecturer who knew about the seedlings, and rescued them from the clean-up team. ^[3] The young plants were moved to Elsenburg Agricultural College under Perold's successor, CJ Theron. In 1935 Theron grafted them onto newly established Richter 99 and Richter 57 rootstock at Welgevallen. A rootstock is a Plant, and sometimes just the Stump, which already has an established healthy root system, used for Grafting a cutting or ^[3] Meanwhile Perold continued to visit his former colleagues. Theron showed him the newly grafted vines, and the one that was doing best was selected for propagation and was christened Pinotage. The first wine was made in 1941 at Elsenburg, with the first commercial plantings at Myrtle Grove near Sir Lowry's Pass. ^[3]

The first recognition came when a Bellevue wine made from Pinotage became the champion wine at the Cape Wine Show of 1959. This wine would become the first wine to mention Pinotage on its label in 1961, when Stellenbosch Farmer's Winery (SFW) marketed it under their Lanzerac brand. ^[4] This early success, and its easy viticulture, prompted a wave of planting during the 1960s.

Criticism

Despite the reputation for easy cultivation, the Pinotage grape has not existed without criticisms. A common complaint is the tendency to develop isoamyl acetate during winemaking which leads to a sweet pungency that often smells like paint. Refractive index | --> Isoamyl acetate, also known as isopentyl acetate, is an Organic compound that is the Ester formed from Isoamyl Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of Wine, starting with selection of the Grapes and ending with bottling the finished wine Pungency (also called piquancy) is a sharp and biting sensory impression Paint is any Liquid, liquifiable or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque Solid ^[2] A group of British Masters of Wine visiting in 1976 were unimpressed by Pinotage, calling the nose "hot and horrible" and comparing the taste to "rusty nails". The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Master of Wine ( MW) is a qualification (not an Academic degree) which has existed since 1953 and is conferred by The Institute of Masters of Wine ^[4] Throughout its history, the grape has seen its plantings rise and fall due to the current fashion of the South African wine industry. In the early 1990s, as Apartheid ended and the world's wine market was opening up, winemakers in South Africa ignored Pinotage in favor of more internationally recognized varieties like Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Syrah is a dark-skinned variety of Grape used in Wine. Syrah is grown in many countries and is primarily used to produce powerful Red wines which enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red Wine grape varieties. Towards the end of the 20th century, the grape's fortunes began to turn, and by 1997 it commanded higher prices than any other South African grape. ^[2] Despite this, there remains a segment of South African winemakers, such as André van Rensburg of Vergelegen, who believe that Pinotage has no place in a vineyard. Vergelegen (Dutch "remotely situated" is an historic wine estate near Somerset West, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. ^[5]

Oz Clarke has suggested that part of some South African winemakers disdain for Pinotage stems from the fact that its a distinctly New World wine while the trend for South African wine is to reflect more European influences and flavors. Oz Clarke (1949 -) is a British Wine writer and broadcaster Biography Oz Clarke was educated at a famous independent school The King's School Canterbury New World wines are those Wines produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Canada Despite being a cross from a Burgundy and Rhône grape, Pinotage reflects none of the flavors of a French wine. Burgundy wine ( is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France. The Rhône wine region in Southern France is situated in the Rhône river valley and produces numerous wines under various Appellation d'origine contrôlée French wine is produced in several regions throughout France, on over 800000 Hectares (over 2 million Acres of Vineyards and in a typical ^[6] While not a criticism itself, outside of small plantings most notably in New Zealand and the United States, Pinotage has yet to develop a significant presence in any other wine region. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[7] In the early 21st century, several of South Africa's top producers have turned from focusing predominately on Pinotage to using it more as a blending component, or have stopped using it at all. ^[8]

Wine regions

In addition to South Africa, Pinotage is also grown in Brazil, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, United States and Zimbabwe. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Canadian wine is produced in Southern Ontario and southern British Columbia, and Nova Scotia. The Israeli wine industry has Wineries numbering in the hundreds and ranging in size from small boutique enterprises making a few thousand bottles per year to the largest producing New Zealand wine is largely produced in ten major wine growing regions spanning latitudes 36° to 45° South and extending 1600 km (1000 miles American wine has been produced for over 300 years Today Wine production is performed in all fifty states with California leading the way in wine production followed See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election In New Zealand, there are 94 acres of Pinotage. The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U In the US, there are plantings in California and Virginia. California wine is Wine made in the US state of California. Nearly three-quarters the size of France, California accounts for nearly 90 Virginia wine refers to Wine made from Grapes grown in the US ^[2] German winemakers have recently begun experimenting with the grape. German wine is primarily produced in the southwest of Germany, along River Rhine and its tributaries with the oldest plantations going back to the Roman ^[6]

South Africa

The majority of the world's plantings of Pinotage is found in South Africa, where it makes up just 6. 7% of the vineyard area but is considered a symbol of the country's distinctive winemaking traditions. It is a required component (30-70%) in "Cape blends". Cape blend is a South African Red wine made of a Blend of varieties one which must be Pinotage. Here it is made into the full range of styles, from easy-drinking quaffing wine and rosé to barrel-aged wine intended for cellaring. A rosé (From French rosé ‘pinkish’ Wine has some of the color typical of a red wine but only enough to turn it pink It is also made into a fortified 'port' style, and even a red sparkling wine. Port wine (also known as Vinho do Porto, Oporto, Porto, and often simply Port) is a Portuguese, Fortified The grape is very dependent on the skill and style of winemaking, with well made examples having the potential to produce deep colored, fruity wines that can be accessible early as well as age. ^[2]

Viticulture and winemaking

The vines are vigorous like their parent Cinsaut and easy to grow, ripening early with high sugar levels. ^[4] It has the potential to produce yields of 120 hl/ha (6. In Agriculture, crop yield (also known as "agricultural output" is not only a measure of the Yield of cereal per unit area of land under cultivation The litre or liter (see spelling differences) is a unit of Volume. Explanation The hectare is commonly used in most countries around the world especially in domains concerned with land planning and management such as Agriculture, 8 tons/acre) but older vines tend lower their yields to as low as 50 hl/ha. The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U In winemaking, controlling the coarseness of the grape and the isoamyl acetate character are two important considerations. Volatile acidity is another potential wine fault that can cause Pinotage to taste like raspberry vinegar. A wine fault or defect is an unpleasant characteristic of a Wine often resulting from poor Winemaking practices A wine fault or defect is an unpleasant characteristic of a Wine often resulting from poor Winemaking practices The raspberry (plural raspberries) is the edible Fruit of a multitude of plant species in the subgenus Idaeobatus of the genus Rubus Vinegar is an acidic liquid processed from the Fermentation of Ethanol in a process that yields its key ingredient Acetic acid (also called ethanoic acid ^[6] Since the 1990s, more winemakers have used long and cool fermentation periods to minimize the volatile esters as well as exposure to French and American oak. The process of fermentation in Wine is the Catalyst function that turns Grape juice into an Alcoholic beverage. Esters are a class of Chemical compounds and Functional groups Esters consist of an inorganic or organic Acid in which at least The use of Oak in Wine plays a significant role in Winemaking and can have a profound effect on the resulting wine impacting the color flavor ^[2]

The grape is naturally high tannins which can be tamed with limited maceration time but reducing the skin contact can also reduce some of the mulberry, blackberry and damson fruit character that Pinotage can produce. Tannins are Astringent, bitter plant Polyphenols that either bind and Precipitate or shrink Proteins The astringency from the tannins is what Maceration is the Winemaking process where the phenolic materials of the grape— Tannins, coloring agents ( Anthocyanins) and flavor compounds— The BlackBerry is a Wireless Handheld device introduced in 1999 as a two-way pager The damson or damson plum ( Prunus domestica subsp insititia, or sometimes Prunus insititia) is an edible drupaceous fruit Some winemakers have experimented with letting the grapes get very ripe, prior to harvest followed by limited oak exposures as another means of taming the more negative characteristics of the grape while maintaining its fruitiness. The Harvesting of Wine Grapes is one of the most crucial steps in the process of Winemaking. Newer clones have shown some potential as well. ^[6]

Synonyms

Perold's Hermitage x Pinot. The alternative name 'Herminoir' was considered. ^[3]

External links

• www.pinotage.org The Pinotage Club
• www.pinotage.co.za The Pinotage Association
• Pinotage Aroma Wheel

References

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