Pinotage is grown across the world, from Zimbabwe to New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany, the United States, and Israel. It’s birthplace, however, remains South Africa and as such this local variety is a unique and valuable instrument to market South African wines in general.
How to grow Pinotage vines
Pinotage has an inherent adaptability and the capacity to produce high grape yields under ideal cultivation conditions. There is now an established knowledge base on how to grow Pinotage vines successfully, and as such, the Pinotage producer is fortunate to have various options when choosing alternative cultivation practices, with yield control measures that will ensure an optimal crop.
The Process
Soil
Deeper soils with good water retention
Budding
Early mid-season, from early September after Chardonnay and before or together with Merlot
Veraison
From end October until early November
Vigour
Moderate to ideal
Yield
Moderate
Ripening
Early mid-season, from end January to early March. Bud burst to harvesting takes approximately 160-180 days. The ripening of grapes on virus-infected vines takes approximately 10 to 21 days longer, i.e. from end February until middle March.
Distance Resistance
Moderate susceptible to powdery mildew, downy mildew and Botrytis cinerea.
Growth
Moderate