Zonnebloem-Pinotage.png
Zonnebloem-Pinotage.png

Zonnebloem Pinotage | Stellenbosch, South Africa

£11.70

Zonnebloem offers a range of full-bodied wines that are well-structured to showcase varietal character with rich, robust flavours, yet remaining accessible and easy to drink.

An oak aged 100% Pinotage packing an ample fruit intensity of juicy plums blueberry, and chocolate with a plush, velvety palate.

One of South Africa's oldest wine brands, it dates from 1892 when Willem Malherbe inherited half of the family farm (established 1682) in Simondium, Paarl and names it Zonnebloem, meaning ‘Sunflower’.

The farm was bought and improved by Willem Daniel Furter, who’s sudden death saw his daughter take over. South Africa’s first female wine maker Marie Furter, aged 21, won 3 trophies in the 1940 Paarl Wine show. She taught her skills to the new owner and brother-in-law John de Villiers; but again became directly involved in winemaking upon his death in 1948. With her husband Maurice Close the farm was bought in 1956, but unable to justify the investment required for a new winery they focused on just growing grapes for local co-operatives. Marie died in 1988 and the farm was sold in 2003.

The female heritage continues today with production being run by an all-woman winemaking team. Cellar master Elize Coetzee started at the winery in 2005, Kelly-Marie Jacobs the white wine maker joined in 2016 and red winemaker Bonny van Niekerk has two decades of experience, including time in California.

Zonnebloem offers a range of full-bodied wines that are well-structured to showcase varietal character with rich, robust flavours, yet remaining accessible and easy to drink.

An oak aged 100% Pinotage packing an ample fruit intensity of juicy plums blueberry, and chocolate with a plush, velvety palate.

One of South Africa's oldest wine brands, it dates from 1892 when Willem Malherbe inherited half of the family farm (established 1682) in Simondium, Paarl and names it Zonnebloem, meaning ‘Sunflower’.

The farm was bought and improved by Willem Daniel Furter, who’s sudden death saw his daughter take over. South Africa’s first female wine maker Marie Furter, aged 21, won 3 trophies in the 1940 Paarl Wine show. She taught her skills to the new owner and brother-in-law John de Villiers; but again became directly involved in winemaking upon his death in 1948. With her husband Maurice Close the farm was bought in 1956, but unable to justify the investment required for a new winery they focused on just growing grapes for local co-operatives. Marie died in 1988 and the farm was sold in 2003.

The female heritage continues today with production being run by an all-woman winemaking team. Cellar master Elize Coetzee started at the winery in 2005, Kelly-Marie Jacobs the white wine maker joined in 2016 and red winemaker Bonny van Niekerk has two decades of experience, including time in California.

Origin: Stellenbosch, South Africa

Grapes: Pinotage

Tasting Notes: Deep plum colour with elegant aromas of dark fruits with undertones of mocha and oak spice. A full-bodied wine with dark cherry and plum flavours elegantly balanced with well-integrated tannins and a rich palate of cherry, mocha and oak spice. The finish is long with lingering fruit.

ABV: 13.5%

Vintage: 2024

Attributes: Vegan, oaked

Closure: Cork

Vineyards & Terroir: The grapes are sourced from trellised, dry land and irrigated vineyards in the Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch Kloof, Devon Valley and Somerset West areas. Some of the vines are grown under dryland conditions while others are irrigated. Mostly south-west facing, they derive the maximum benefit from cooling maritime breezes that contribute to the slow ripening of the grapes and concentrated fruit flavours.

Winemaking: Harvested by hand when fruit and tannins were fully ripened but the berries and skins still firm. Each vineyard block was individually vinified. After fermentation for 10 to 13 days, the wine was aged in a combination of first and second fill 300 litre American, French and Hungarian oak barrels (55%) and in stainless steel tanks (45%).

Farming:

Sustainability info:

Ageing potential: 5-8 years

Food pairing suggestions: with poultry, game or red meat dishes. Also goes well with dark chocolate desserts and roasted pecan nuts.

Winery / Winemaker: Isabel Habets (Viticulturist); Elize Coetzee (Cellar Master) / Bonny van Niekerk (Winemaker)

Winery link:

Awards: