White Pinotage?

Pinotage created by a South African professor at Stellenbosch University in 1929 named Abraham Perold, creating a masterpiece for the South African wine industry. Pinotage a viticulture cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsult. Cinsult also know as Hermitage.

Pinotage typically produces full-bodied, smoky, vegetal, animal notes, earthy, peppery and the odd hint or too of banana and tropical fruits.   With some of the characters in mind would you want these in a white wine? And who would ever of thought to make a White Pinotage?

White Pinotage.

Are you thinking that another mad South African professor, from Stellenbosch University tried to create another cross and call it White Pinotage? Maybe you are thinking someone made a blend of 85% Chenin Blanc and 15% Pinotage and called a White Pintoage?

But no!!! Its made by born and bred Norfolk English man named Stephen Richardson. Stephen lived in Norfolk on a large arable farm and in 1996 decided to move to Paarl and start up Mellasat Winery.  

Stephen produces this fine rare breed WHITE PINOTAGE!!! Its made from 100% Pinotage, whole punch pressed and fermented in barrel and left for six months on the lees stirring/Battonage. The Characters that I picked up where for this interesting wine where tropical fruits, banana, slightly creamy and hits of nuts.

 It was interesting as the other day I took these wines to some of my other wine makers friends house in Stellenbosch. There were a few of us, I told them that we should do this blinded.  The first thing that Sprung to there mind was “Chardonnay” then it was “Chenin Blanc”. They where all mind boggled!  How does a Pinotage resemble to any of these two varietals?

You can buy Stephen's White Pinotage in the UK plus many of his other wines.

Let me know what you think when've you had a taste?