Pinotage
Synonym: none.
Commonly mistaken for: none.
Origin: South African variety, created
in 1925 by Stellenbosch University Professor A. I. Peroldt by crossing Cinsaut
(called, rather misleadingly, Hermitage) with Pinot Noir, and this explains the
origin of its name (pino+tage). It was ignored until 1961, when it won
the Grand Championship at The Cape Young Wine Show. This variety is cultivated
not only in South Africa but also in Zimbabwe, New Zealand, California, Canada,
USA and now it has arrived in Australia.
Agronomic and environmental
aspects:
It can be adapted to different types of soil with good results, prefers hilly
places, with a good percentage of clay and grows well in foothill regions, but
the soil must be friable. The yield is abundant and constant. In South Africa the “bush-vine”
training system was used, recently new experimental plantings are adopting wide
training systems with good results. The most important thing is to plant
virus-free vines to improve the Pinotage reputation.
Diseases, pests and disorders: Shows a good resistance
to most common diseases, especially for botrytis, thanks to its relatively
rot-resistant skin it grows well in humid locales. Medium resistance to the
spring frosts.
Description:
Growing tip: half open, cottony, of
yellowish green colour with slightly pink edges.
Leaf: medium size, cordate, 3-lobed
or 5-lobed. Has a wide opened V-shaped petiolar sinus, often limited through
nerves at petiole end; lateral superior sinuses are sometimes very deep and V-U
shaped. The profile is flat with medium-weak density of prostrate hairs in
lower side of mature leaf.
Bunch: medium size, compact, of cylindrical-conical
form, with short wings.
Berry: medium size and spherical or
round; skin is thick and strong, of blue-black colour, covered with a lot of
bloom. [average weight: 1.96 g].
Vegetation growth habit:
|
erect
|
Vigour:
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medium
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Average bunch weight:
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small-medium (100-180.)
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Average bunches per shoot:
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1 or 2
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Growth Stages:
Time of budburst:
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early
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Time of flowering:
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medium-early
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Time of veraison:
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medium
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Time of harvest:
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early or medium-early
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Available Clones:
-
SBC 1:
Clone selected in British Columbia, Canada; it is characterized by
bunches of medium dimension, sometimes winged, of cylindrical-conical form and
good density of berries. Good resistance to botrytis.
Maturity results:
Vintage 2005
SBC 1
|
11/02/05
|
20/02/05
|
27/02/05
|
Baumè
|
11.45
|
12.70
|
13.80
|
pH
|
3.50
|
3.55
|
3.67
|
T.A.
|
6.08
|
5.85
|
5.10
|
Wine characteristics:
The wine can be made in several
different styles: deep, rich in colour, full bodied and tannic (like Zinfandel
style); or young, light, and fruity (like Beaujolais style); or elegant, sophisticated
and restrained (like a Bordeaux style); or red sparkling; but always difficult to vinify like
its mother Pinot Noir. A good winemaker can obtain a unique varietal fruity
wine, with a strong note of banana, always with a good level of
alcohol and acidity.
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