<p>South Africa&rsquo;s claim to fame is this unique red. Venture off the beaten path and sample it. Roasted lamb won&rsquo;t ever be the same after you&rsquo;ve paired it with this wine.</p><hr /><p>Bright ruby in color, this Pinotage has characteristics of vanilla, coconut, plums, and raspberries on nose. This wine spent 10 months on American oak and brings layers of ripe fruit and oak flavors on the palate. Pair it with strong cheeses or your favorite spicy meat entr&eacute;e.<br /><br />This wine was commended by &quot;Decanter&quot; magazine at the World Wine Awards.</p><hr /><table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="126"><p><em><strong>Pronunciation</strong></em></p></td><td valign="top" width="450"><p>&ldquo;PEE-noh-taj&rdquo;</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="126"><p><em><strong>Blend</strong></em></p></td><td valign="top" width="450"><p>100% Pinotage</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="126"><p><em><strong>Color, Body, Nose, Flavors</strong></em></p></td><td valign="top" width="450"><p>COLOR: deep red; BODY: medium; NOSE: earthy, oak; FLAVORS: plum, red berries</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="126"><p><em><strong>Region Description</strong></em></p></td><td valign="top" width="450"><p>South Africa&#39;s famous red wine, Pinotage dates back to 1925 when Professor Perold successfully developed the varietal. Pinotage first appeared on a wine lable in 1961 as the 1959 Lanzerac Pinotage. This was right after the Morkels from Bellevue caused a sensation when they won the prize for the best wine at the Cape young wine show with this virtually unknown varietal.</p><p>The Stellenbosch region is the second largest area for plantings in South Africa. Pinotage is 8th on the list of rankings of total wine plantings in South Africa.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="126"><p><em><strong>Details</strong></em></p></td><td valign="top" width="450"><p>Pinotage is a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut, which was previously known as Hermitage. Hence the name Pino &ndash; tage. This Pinotage is crafted to be accessible to Americans.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="126"><p><em><strong>Vintner / Wine Maker</strong></em></p></td><td valign="top" width="450"><p>This wine hails from the Bellevue winery and was produced under the guidance of the Morkel family. The Morkels literally invented Pinotage at this winery. It is their intention to give back to the workers who have made their success possible. Forty percent of the winery is owned by the winegrowers.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="126"><p><em><strong>Awards</strong></em></p></td><td valign="top" width="450"><p>This wine was commended by &quot;Decanter&quot; magazine at the World Wine Awards.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" width="126"><p><em><strong>Food Pairings</strong></em></p></td><td valign="top" width="450"><p>Roasted and barbecued meats are the ultimate pairings with South African Pinotage. Be sure to have it on hand in the colder months for serving with game dishes and soups.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>