PINOTAGE TURNS 100

Pinotage, the red wine that was first produced in South Africa, has recently celebrated its 100th birthday.

As part of the celebrations, The Cape Mint has crafted a limited-edition gold medallion in the wine’s honour.

The coin features an image of Abraham Perold, the man who created the truly unique red wine, along with a special stamp from the legendary winemaker Lady May.

A century ago, Perold combined two French cultivars, Pinot Noir and Hermitage, to form a new grape variety called Pinotage.

What Pinotage means to South Africa has been described as what Champagne means to France and port to Portugal.

Natanya van Niekerk, Managing Director of The Cape Mint, said the decision to use 24 carat gold for the coin was an easy decision to make as the country’s history with gold is just as important and rich, so it was an obvious choice.

Every year, the top 10 Pinotage finalists are chosen. In 2024, the Beeslaar winery’s 2022 Pinotage was awarded the top spot. This year’s winner is still to be announced.

Image credit: Landbou