variety : Pinotage [ 100% Pinotage ]
winemaker : Tinnie Momberg
wine of origin : Devon Valley
analysis : alc : 13.0 % vol rs : 4.0 g/l pH : 3.7 ta : 4.73 g/l
type : Red style : Dry body : Medium taste : Fruity wooded
pack : Bottle closure : Cork
in the vineyard : It was in 1679 when Simon van der Stel, then governor of the Cape, first discovered the fertile valley of Stellenbosch, which he later named after himself. His first view of one of the hills surrounding the valley was in stormy weather and he appropriately named it Hagelsberg - in Dutch 'hagel' means hail. The name soon changed to Papegaaiberg, as it is still known today. The beautiful vineyards of Middelvlei stretch along the northern slopes of the same Papegaaiberg.
This wine is made from Pinotage, a grape that is unique to South Africa and is derived from the noble Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (formerly called Hermitage) varieties.
The Pinotage vines on Middelvlei were planted in 1962, 1979 and 1997 and cover 23,9 ha. The vineyards face west and are situated at an altitude of 160 m above sea-level. The vines, grown as bush vines, are severely pruned to inhibit their prolific growth.
The conditions for the healthy growth and ripening of the grapes during the growing season (September – December) were ideal. The rainfall during the winter before the vintage, as well as the growing season, was average. The annual rainfall was 660mm for the 2005/2006 season compared to the long-term annual rainfall of 700mm.