THERE ARE FEW surprises among the winners of the Pinotage Association’s 2014 Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition… Delheim Vera Cruz is better known for its prowess in the Shiraz category – the Vera Cruz Pinotage is a maiden vintage. And it’s suspected that certain Pinotage heavyweights including Kanonkop didn’t enter on this occasion – there is also no Kaapzicht Steytler, Golden Triangle (Stellenzicht) or Diemersfontein Carpe Diem among the judges’ favourites this year. But otherwise, six of the latest Absa Top 10 have distinguished track records in terms of the SA Wine Classification, with three knocking at the door for top gun status, such has been their consistently high standard over a spread of vintages in the recent past.

Perennial Pinotage flag-bearers Beyerskloof, Rijk’s and Simonsig were on the podium again – as was Windmeul, whose Pinotage Reserve is one of South Africa’s best value reds at under R100 a bottle.