Oracle Pinotage 2012 750ml

Winery: Oracle

Varietal: Pinotage

Although most commonly associated with South Africa, where it has become something of a symbol of the country's wine industry, Pinotage is grown in several countries around the world and is favored by vintners due to its vigorous nature and hardiness, and the fact that the grapes produce high yields of reliable quality. Pinotage grapes are also very versatile, and are often used to make sparkling and fortified wines, as well as the more common still red wines which are enjoyed across the globe. The Pinotage varietal grape is actually a cross-breed, first made by crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut varietals in the early 20th century, in an attempt to capture the finer points of both grapes. The results are often splendid, with Pinotage commonly holding flavors of dark hedgerow fruits, with a smoky and earthy character.

Region: Coastal Region

The coastal parts of South Africa, and in particular the region around Cape Town, have been important wine regions for a surprising length of time. Indeed, viticulture first began at the tip of the African continent back in the mid 17th century, when European settlers first began experimenting with the cooler and windier terroirs near the ocean, and recognizing the potential the area had for growing grapes of real character and distinction. Those early experiments slowly but surely led to a powerful wine industry, and South African wines became famous throughout Europe for their quality and big, fruity, bold flavors Today, the coastal regions of South Africa produce a huge amount of wine, made in sparkling, still and fortified styles, and utilizing a wide range of grape varietals.

Country: South Africa

As geographically diverse country, with everything from lush green valleys to areas of arid desert, mountainsides and river estuaries, South Africa unsurprisingly produces a huge range of excellent wines. Regions such as the Breede River Valley consistently impress with their Semillon wines and the lush, fruity Ruby Cabernets grown and processed here, and the cooler region of Overberg is attracting much attention as a result of their silky Pinot Noir bottles. However, all over the oceanic tip of this fascinating country, traditional methods dating back over three hundred years are combining with modern technologies to produce some of the finest examples of New World wines to be found anywhere on the globe.