Entries are open: Time to take up the 2019 Absa Top 10 Pinotage challenge

26 September 2019

Entries for the Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition are now being accepted in preparation for the judging that will take place from 9 to 12 July at Nederburg in Paarl. The deadline for the submission of completed entry forms is 3 June. 2019 marks the 23rd year of the Absa Top 10 Pinotage competition, culminating in one of the most prestigious award presentations in the local wine industry, featuring as it does the most successful of the truly South African varieties and one of the country’s signature wines. The quality of Pinotage and consumer demand for this ‘indigenous’ variety of the Cape continues to climb, with Absa’s sponsorship of the Pinotage Association an important factor in the growth of the category. Once again the penultimate round of judging will involve the selection of 20 finalists, the names of which will be announced in the exciting build-up to the Absa Top 10 Pinotage awards. And for the third year, over-and-above the call for current or imminent releases that comply with minimum volume requirements, Pinotage producers are also encouraged to enter the Museum Class for wines that are at least 10 years of age, invariably ‘sold out’ but assessed to gauge how they have evolved. Last year, the judges were in awe of the standard exhibited by the older wines, testament to how well Pinotage can mature. The competition winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held at Boschendal in Franschhoek on 15 August 2019. For more information about the awards or to enter the competition, please click here.