Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2013
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Beyers Truter, winery founder and winemaker, searched for prime land within Stellenbosch to plant his Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Truter is not only known as "Mr. Pinotage" to much of the industry, but he is also one of South Africa’s most respected winemakers. In addition, he was awarded the Robert Mondavi Trophy as the International Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London.
Truter was formerly winemaker for Kanonkop Wine Estate, where his first Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded the best table wine at the Stellenbosch Wine Show. Truter teamed with Simon Halliday and opened Beyerskloof in 1988.
South Africa’s signature grape, Pinotage is a distinctively earthy and rustic variety. In 1924 viticulturists crossed finicky Pinot Noir and productive, heat-tolerant Cinsault, and created a variety both darker and bolder than either of its parents! Today it is popular in South Africa both as a single varietal wine and in Cape blends. Somm Secret—The name “Pinotage” is a subtle portmanteau. The Pinot part is obvious, but the second half is a bit confusing. In the early 1900s, Cinsault was known in South Africa as “Hermitage”—hence Pinotage.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.