Bush Vine Pinotage is not from irrigated, over-cropped vines shackled to wires in horrifically hot and stressed out vineyards. The wine is from coastal, dry-farmed bush vines which have had time to adapt and find their happy place.

Wild yeast fermentation, low yielding bush vines and ageing in large French oak foudre inform this richly-fruited, yet savoury and satisfying Pinotage. Plummy aromas with a faint hit of barbecued meat. The palate is full and rich with slightly rustic yet moreish tannins and an impressively long finish.

Established by Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards is a company that has grown out of many years of involvement in South Africa, which began at a time when their wines and potential was just being recognised. With knowledge and respect within the South African wine industry, Paul Boutinot has been able to source top quality grapes for the re-launch of False Bay. First discovered by sailors confusing it for Table Bay to the north, False Bay has long been a haven for those navigating the treacherous Cape of Good Hope. The cool coastal breeze which sweeps off the Indian Ocean temper the ripening process, extend the growing season and produce expressive wines with more precise varietal characters and purity. These lifted aromas make the wines accessible, perfectly balanced and full flavoured.

Since the 1960s Pinotage has had its ups and downs but currently it is on the ascent, being more widely planted now than its Cinsault sire. The notion of combining cultivars with elegant, cool climate characteristics (Pinot Noir in the cooler Burgundy areas) with those suited to hot climates (Cinsault in the Languedoc), is fairly novel. The frequently found rustic quality is part of its charm and it retains both the hot, country wine character of Cinsault, with some of the delicacy and elegance of Pinot Noir. Extensive experience in working with the Pinotage grape, provided us with the knowledge to bring out the best in the varietal and that is to work with low yielding, old untrellised bush vines. This approach seems to change a grape that is more beast than beauty into something special. We know that Pinotage will never be a sleek sauve international red, but it allows us to get that very authentic flavour that smacks of the earth, from grapes that will deliver that taste to you in the way that no other will. Those stunted plantings that look like twisted bonsai proved to have the stuff of greatness. Fruit so dense that it needs the tough love of open fermenters to dispel the volatile esters compliments. Since there is no old-world style to emulate, our journey with Pinotage has very much been an adventure. Although we are aware of the fact that Pinotage seems to do equally well in cooler areas, our own experience has been more positive, working in the warmer areas of the Coastal Region. We have identified a few 30 year and older blocks of unirrigated bush vine in the Paarl region for our False Bay Pinotage. What attracted us to these vineyards were the very small berries with a great degree of concentration.

The grapes for False Bay Bush Vine Pinotage stem from a single vineyard of unirrigated bush vines in Stellenbosch. The attraction to this mature (planted in 1996), coastal, bush vine vineyard were the cooler temperatures and small, naturally balanced and concentrated berries. Made by Waterkloof's talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with wild yeast and then raised in large wooden casks (or 'foudre' en Francais). The resulting wine therefore, is perhaps more 'Pino' than 'Tage'. No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa. Vegan friendly wine. False Bay - Real Wine, Coastal Vineyards, Sustainably Farmed, Hand Picked, Naturally Crafted, Wild Ferment, Cask Aged.

Perfect with pork belly dish or barbecued meats, boerwurst, game or good, old fashioned sausage and mash.