Proudly SA Pinotage and sunny Chenin Blanc
- 21 September 2023
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Proudly SA Pinotage and sunny Chenin Blanc
Proudly SA Pinotage and sunny Chenin Blanc
Celebrating our heritage is about more than Braai Day! South Africa also have a remarkable winemaking heritage.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is believed to be amongst the first vine cuttings that arrived in the Cape in 1655 during the time of Governor Jan van Riebeeck. Chenin Blanc was also one of the first young vines of which grapes were pressed on 2 February 1659. The fourteen and a half litres of wine produced were from steendruif, now known to be Chenin Blanc, and hanepoot, or Muscat d’Alexandrie then called Spaanse druiven, or Spanish grapes.
By 1988, Chenin accounted for 33.2% of the national vineyard in terms of the area covered and probably higher than that in terms of volume of wine produced. High yields, over-production and being used as base wine in the distillation of brandy, made it the workhorse of the SA wine industry. Since then, Chenin has become the most widely uprooted variety each year, with the area under Chenin now a stable 18% of South African plantings. It remains the most widely planted variety in South Africa.
South Africa is considered to have pioneered a new generation of original and versatile styles, inspiring others across the world to find their own unique expressions.
Leopard’s Leap offers three styles of Chenin Blanc – the fresh and fruity Classic Chenin Blanc, elegant and intricate Culinaria Chenin Blanc and a 100% Chenin Blanc Culinaria MCC.
Pinotage
The story of Pinotage starts in 1925, with Professor Perold successfully crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut, then known as Hermitage. From here this truly South African variety's name: Pino – tage. Prof. CJ Theron succeeded in rescuing and producing original seedlings, of which there were only four, and undertook the considerable task of evaluation. Sixteen years later in 1941, Charl Theron de Waal produced the first barrel of Pinotage wine in Stellenbosch.
Why Professor Perold decided to cross Pinot Noir, the prince of French red grape varieties, with the humble Hermitage is unknown as he didn't leave any explanation in his notes. The results of the early commercial plantings of Pinotage vines did however lead to excitement as the grapes ripened early and easily achieved high sugar levels with vines staying healthy and vigorous. The early wines also showed a deeper, more intense ruby colour than either parent varietal.
At Leopard’s Leap you’ll find the easy-drinking Classic Pinotage and a more complex Special Edition Pinotage.
During September, get 10% off when you buy any 6 bottles of our selection that includes the fresh and fruity Leopard’s Leap Classic Chenin Blanc, the acclaimed Culinaria Chenin Blanc, the 100% Chenin Blanc Culinaria Cap Classique, our Classic Pinotage or Special Edition Pinotage! Offer available from our Tasting Room or leopardsleap.co.za.
Celebrating our heritage is about more than Braai Day! South Africa also have a remarkable winemaking heritage.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is believed to be amongst the first vine cuttings that arrived in the Cape in 1655 during the time of Governor Jan van Riebeeck. Chenin Blanc was also one of the first young vines of which grapes were pressed on 2 February 1659. The fourteen and a half litres of wine produced were from steendruif, now known to be Chenin Blanc, and hanepoot, or Muscat d’Alexandrie then called Spaanse druiven, or Spanish grapes.
By 1988, Chenin accounted for 33.2% of the national vineyard in terms of the area covered and probably higher than that in terms of volume of wine produced. High yields, over-production and being used as base wine in the distillation of brandy, made it the workhorse of the SA wine industry. Since then, Chenin has become the most widely uprooted variety each year, with the area under Chenin now a stable 18% of South African plantings. It remains the most widely planted variety in South Africa.
South Africa is considered to have pioneered a new generation of original and versatile styles, inspiring others across the world to find their own unique expressions.
Leopard’s Leap offers three styles of Chenin Blanc – the fresh and fruity Classic Chenin Blanc, elegant and intricate Culinaria Chenin Blanc and a 100% Chenin Blanc Culinaria MCC.
Pinotage
The story of Pinotage starts in 1925, with Professor Perold successfully crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut, then known as Hermitage. From here this truly South African variety's name: Pino – tage. Prof. CJ Theron succeeded in rescuing and producing original seedlings, of which there were only four, and undertook the considerable task of evaluation. Sixteen years later in 1941, Charl Theron de Waal produced the first barrel of Pinotage wine in Stellenbosch.
Why Professor Perold decided to cross Pinot Noir, the prince of French red grape varieties, with the humble Hermitage is unknown as he didn't leave any explanation in his notes. The results of the early commercial plantings of Pinotage vines did however lead to excitement as the grapes ripened early and easily achieved high sugar levels with vines staying healthy and vigorous. The early wines also showed a deeper, more intense ruby colour than either parent varietal.
At Leopard’s Leap you’ll find the easy-drinking Classic Pinotage and a more complex Special Edition Pinotage.
During September, get 10% off when you buy any 6 bottles of our selection that includes the fresh and fruity Leopard’s Leap Classic Chenin Blanc, the acclaimed Culinaria Chenin Blanc, the 100% Chenin Blanc Culinaria Cap Classique, our Classic Pinotage or Special Edition Pinotage! Offer available from our Tasting Room or leopardsleap.co.za.
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