Launched in 1990 in honour of the spirit
and life’s work of Desiderius Pongrácz, Pongrácz embodies the
pioneering legacy of this intrepid trailblazer whose passion, vision,
intellect and tenacity broke new ground in the South African vineyard.
Fondly known as Pongie to his friends
and colleagues, he changed the art of the vine forever, creating many
innovations and a new style of viticulture that is still evident today.
It is no wonder that the Cap Classique that bears his name stands apart
from the rest.
Brave and undaunted, Pongie was a larger
than life personality who boldly believed in finding better ways to do
things. He saw a world of endless possibilities and his knowledge of
rootstock, grape cultivars and grafting techniques were legendary. Yet
it was through his ability to see the new in the familiar, to see
opportunity where others see normality, where he stood out during his
extraordinary life.
Pongrácz boldly made its debut in 1990
at a time when Méthode Cap Classique was in its infancy. One of 14
founding members of the Méthode Cap Classique Association, which was
established just two years later, Pongrácz soon became the best known
and biggest selling South African bottle fermented sparkling wine,
taking this dynamic category to new heights. Today the Méthode Cap
Classique Association boasts no less than 95 members with Pongrácz still
standing tall as the market leader.
Made in the classic French tradition but
proudly on South African soil, Pongrácz is composed of two noble grape
varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that Pongie himself helped
establish in the Cape. After leading the Cap Classique wave for over a
decade with the Brut, Pongrácz raised the bar even further with the
launch of the grande cuvée, Desiderius, in 2002, and a Brut Rosé in 2009.
Pongrácz Brut
is a timeless Cap Classique that has a perfect balance of crisp acidity
and fragrant green apples, finished off with subtle brioche.
Pongrácz Rosé
is delicately balanced between acidity and red berry notes, finished
off with soft yeasty tones, complemented by a beautiful salmon hue.
With its elegantly designed fluted bottle, the signature cuvée, Desiderius,
encapsulates grace and exceptional character. Crafted from Chardonnay
and Pinot Noir, it is alluring with a rich complexity, nuances of
deciduous fruit, almonds and freshly baked bread that delight all the
senses.
Singularly crafted with a dry, elegant
and refined finish, Pongrácz is a regular winner of local and
international accolades, the most recent being Best Cap Classique with a
95,5 Platinum rating for Desiderius at the 2015 South African Wine
Index (SAWi) Awards.
Pongrácz will be toasting its 25 year
reign as the country’s No. 1 Méthode Cap Classique with numerous events
that will not only celebrate a quarter-century of outstanding
winemaking, but also honour the man whose life’s work made it all
possible.
For more information, visit www.pongracz.co.za
The entire range is available for purchase at www.vinoteque.co.za.