Provenance Pinotage

With an alluring sweet spiciness that is unique to Pinotage, this wine pairs well with a mild Indian curry, as well as the popular Cape Malay dish bobotie.

The 2021 Stellenbosch vintage was moderate with no unexpected heat spikes or rain and was in many ways similar to the celebrated 2017 vintage. Winemaker Dirk Coetzee noted that the cooler vintage resulted in elegant wines with a fine tannin structure and impressive fruit intensity. A selection of the finest Pinotage vineyards on the northern slopes of L’Avenir Estate. Soil types include Glenrosa and Oakleaf - known for the production of magnificent Stellenbosch reds, with notable ageing potential.

Upon completion of malolactic fermentation, the wine was matured in steel tanks, as well as 300 litre French barrels for 10 to 14 months, using a combination of new, second and third-fill French oak. The final blend was based on a meticulous barrel selection.

Grapes were harvested by hand at optimal ripeness. Each vineyard was individually vinified. Once the grapes were crushed, the mash was cooled and fermentation took place for 5-10 days at 24-26°C.

L’Avenir’s rich history dates back to the late 1600s when the estate was one of the very first sites identified for grape growing by the Cape’s earliest European settlers. The estate was renamed L’Avenir in 1992 by Mark Wiehe a Mauritian businessman who left a career of trading sugar in London to purchase the farm. This was the start of specialisation of this unique boutique winery. Wiehe appointed former pharmacist Francois Naude as winemaker and the estate swiftly gained recognition for its distinctive Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. In 2005 L’Avenir was acquired by the owner of the prestigious Chablis property Laroche Chablisien Michel Laroche.