L'Avenir Wine Estate Pinotage by L'Avenir 2011
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L’Avenir is situated in South Africa’s most renowned premium wine region, Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch has long been known for its diverse terroir, influenced by four prominent mountains. L’Avenir is located on the slopes of one of these four mountains, the Simonsberg Mountain, and sits on a geological vein comprised of decomposed shale. It was this unique terroir that led the Cape’s earliest European settlers to identify L’Avenir estate as one of the very first sites for grape growing back in the late 1600’s.
L’Avenir’s distinctive terroir, along with low-yielding, old vines on the estate are a cornerstone of L’Avenir’s winemaking. This combination plays a significant role in the ageablity and fruit intensity of the Pinotage, the iconic red grape from South Africa. L’Avenir’s Chenin Blanc, considered South Africa’s signature white grape, is sourced from their Certified Heritage Vineyard which is part of the South African Old Vine Project.
Aptly named, L’Avenir means future in French, as this unique boutique winery swiftly gained recognition for its distinctive Pinotage and Chenin Blanc produced by renowned winemaker, Francois Naudé. Today, visionary winemaker Dirk Coetzee leads the production team in honing the winery’s focus on their distinctive vineyards by creating Single Block releases of Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.
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.
With an important wine renaissance in full swing, impressive red and white bargains abound in South Africa. The country has a particularly long and rich history with winemaking, especially considering its status as part of the “New World.” In the mid-17th century, the lusciously sweet dessert wines of Constantia were highly prized by the European aristocracy. Since then, the South African wine industry has experienced some setbacks due to the phylloxera infestation of the late 1800s and political difficulties throughout the following century.
Today, however, South Africa is increasingly responsible for high-demand, high-quality wines—a blessing to put the country back on the international wine map. Wine production is mainly situated around Cape Town, where the climate is generally warm to hot. But the Benguela Current from Antarctica provides brisk ocean breezes necessary for steady ripening of grapes. Similarly, cooler, high-elevation vineyard sites throughout South Africa offer similar, favorable growing conditions.
South Africa’s wine zones are divided into region, then smaller districts and finally wards, but the country’s wine styles are differentiated more by grape variety than by region. Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, is the country’s “signature” grape, responsible for red-fruit-driven, spicy, earthy reds. When Pinotage is blended with other red varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Pinot Noir (all commonly vinified alone as well), it is often labeled as a “Cape Blend.” Chenin Blanc (locally known as “Steen”) dominates white wine production, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc following close behind.