As the 2026 harvest commences, the Pinotage Association extends its sincere best wishes to all Pinotage producers for a fruitful, bountiful and successful season. May this vintage yield healthy vineyards, balanced fruit and wines that express both quality and a true sense of place.

Following the milestone 100-year celebrations, we now turn the page to Pinotage 101 a new beginning and, in many respects, a purposeful reset. This chapter calls for the embracing of Pinotage’s many voices, expressions and stylistic interpretations, while remaining firmly anchored in excellence, authenticity and integrity.

In 2026, the Association’s focus is to foster an inclusive, open and engaged Pinotage community. We encourage all producers and wineries to connect with us, participate actively and contribute to shaping the next phase of Pinotage’s journey. Together, we will prioritise access to influential platforms and markets that recognise, trade in and champion quality Pinotage at a premium level.

It is time to be audacious, not timid, about our proudly South African cultivar. Pinotage deserves to stand confidently on the world stage and that journey starts in our vineyards and cellars.

As we prepare to move forward lets take a brief moment to reflect on some of the celebrated Pinotage wines in our Absa competitions.

Absa Award of Excellence for Vintage Pinotage wines 2025

1. Beeslaar Wines | Beeslaar Pinotage | 2015
2. Bergsig Estate | Bergsig Pinotage | 2008
3. Beyerskloof Wines | Beyerskloof Pinotage | 2014
4. Beyerskloof Wines | Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage | 2015
5. Beyerskloof Wines | Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve | 2013
6. Beyerskloof Wines | Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve | 2014
7. Beyerskloof Wines | Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve | 2015
8. Fairview | Fairview Primo Pinotage | 2010
9. Flagstone Winery | Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage | 2009
10. Grangehurst Winery | Grangehurst Pinotage | 2013
11. Grangehurst Winery | Grangehurst Pinotage | 2005
12. Grangehurst Winery | Grangehurst Pinotage | 2003
13. Groot Constantia Wine Estate | Groot Constantia Pinotage | 2015
14. KWV | KWV The Mentors Pinotage | 2014
15. KWV | KWV The Mentors Pinotage | 2013
16. KWV | KWV The Mentors Pinotage | 2011
17. L’Avenir Wine Estate | L’Avenir Platinum Pinotage | 2011
18. L’Avenir Wine Estate | L’Avenir Pinotage | 2003
19. Neethlingshof Estate | Neethlingshof Pinotage | 2014
20. Neethlingshof Estate | Neethlingshof Pinotage | 2012
21. Neil Ellis Wines | Neil Ellis Bottelary Hills Pinotage | 2015
22. Simonsig Family Vineyards | Simonsig Redhill Pinotage | 2015
23. Vondeling Wines | Bowwood Pinotage | 2015
24. Wellington Wines | La Cave Pinotage | 2015
25. Wildekrans Estate | Wildekrans Estate Barrel Select Reserve Pinotage 2010
26. Wildekrans Estate | Wildekrans Estate Pinotage 2009
27. Windmeul Kelder | Windmeul Reserve Pinotage 2015

Absa Top 20 Pinotage for 2025

1. Alvi’s Drift Wines | Verreaux Pinotage | 2023
2. Beeslaar Wines | Beeslaar Pinotage | 2021
3. Beyerskloof Wines | Diesel Pinotage | 2021
4. Bruce Jack Wines | Heritage Flag of Truce Pinotage | 2022
5. Diemersdal Wine Estate | The Journal Pinotage | 2022
6. Diemersdal Wine Estate | The Journal Pinotage | 2023
7. Flagstone Winery | Truth Tree Pinotage | 2022
8. Flagstone Winery | Writer’s Block Pinotage | 2022
9. Glen Carlou | Collection Pinotage | 2023
10. Kanonkop Wine Estate | Estate Pinotage | 2016
11. Klawer Wynkelders | Villa Esposto Pinotage | 2023
12. KWV | Cathedral Cellar Pinotage | 2022
13. KWV | The Mentors Pinotage | 2022
14. Le Grand Domaine | Grand Vin de Stellenbosch Pinotage | 2022
15. Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards | Special Edition Pinotage | 2023
16. Simonsig Wines | Redhill Pinotage | 2022
17. Stellenbosch Hills | Bushvine Pinotage | 2022
18. Warwick Wine Estate | The Black Lady Pinotage | 2023
19. Wellington Wines | Duke Pinotage | 2024
20. Windmeul Kelder | Reserve Pinotage |2022

Absa Top 10 Pinotage for 2025

1. Alvi’s Drift Wines | Verreaux Pinotage | 2023
2. Beyerskloof Wines | Diesel Pinotage | 2021
3. Bruce Jack Wines | Heritage Flag of Truce Pinotage | 2022
4. Diemersdal Wine Estate | The Journal Pinotage | 2022
5. Flagstone Winery | Writer’s Block Pinotage | 2022
6. KWV | The Mentors Pinotage | 2022
7. Le Grand Domaine | Grand Vin de Stellenbosch Pinotage | 2022
8. Simonsig Wines | Redhill Pinotage | 2022
9. Warwick Wine Estate | The Black Lady Pinotage | 2023
10. Wellington Wines | Duke Pinotage | 2024

Absa Pinotage Cape Blend Finalists 2025

1. Bellevue Wines | Atticus Cape Blend | 2024
2. Beyerskloof Wines | Beyerskloof Faith 2020
3. Beyerskloof Wines | Beyerskloof Faith 2022
4. Idiom Wines | Idiom Cape Blend | 2022
5. Koelenhof Wines | Koelenbosch Nineteenfortyone | 2023
6. KWV Wines | KWV The Mentors Perold | 2020
7. KWV Wines | KWV The Mentors Perold | 2022
8. Lyngrove Wines | Lyngrove Platinum Latitude Cape Blend | 2023
9. Perdeberg Wines | Endura Winemaker’s Selection| 2022
10. Simonsig Wines | Simonsig Frans Malan| 2022

Absa Top 6 Pinotage Cape Blends for 2025

1. Bellevue Wines | Atticus Cape Blend| 2024
2. Idiom Wines | Idiom Cape Blend | 2022
3. Koelenhof Wines | Koelenbosch Nineteenfortyone | 2023
4. KWV Wines | KWV The Mentors Perold | 2020
5. Perdeberg Wines | Endura Winemaker’s Selection| 2022
6. Simonsig Wines | Simonsig Frans Malan| 2022

Absa Top 6 Pinotage Rosés for 2025

1. Beyerskloof Wines | Beyerskloof Pinotage Rosé| 2025
2. Bon Courage Estate | Bon Courage Lady of the House Pinotage Rosé| 2025
3. Jakkalsvlei Vineyards | Jakkalsvlei Pinotage Rosé | 2025
4. Kaapzicht Wine Estate | Kaapzicht Pinotage Rosé | 2025
5. Pulpit Rock Winery | Pulpit Rock Winery Stories Pinotage Rosé| 2025
6. Windmeul Kelder | Windmeul Pinotage Rosé | 2025

We wish you a safe, successful and exceptional harvest season.

The Pinotage Team

Contact : Belinda Jacobs | brand@pinotage.co.za

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