Neil Ellis, the proprietor of Neil Ellis Wines, chaired the team of experienced palates who deliberated at the judging venue of Nederburg in Paarl, with the other panellists including wine educator Nomonde Kubheka, winemaker Francois Haasbrook, wine writer Samarie Smith and Francois Rautenbach, wine buyer for Singita Premier Wine Direct.
The Top 20 in the main competition included seven wines from Stellenbosch cellars, with two of others made in Franschhoek using grapes from Stellenbosch. All four wineries, including Diemersdal of Durbanville, Kaapzicht as well as Kanonkop of Stellenbosch and Môreson of Franschhoek have excelled with each having two of their wines selected for the final round of judging.
Museum Class wines have also been introduced in recent years, which include finalists bearing the names of producers famous for top class Pinotage.
Willie Zastron, Absa’s Provincial Head Business Banking, Western Cape wishes the finalists all of the best and says that Absa is proud to have been part of the Pinotage journey for the last 22 years. “We have confidence in the new generation of South African winemakers who are working hard to increase the prestige and sophistication of wines produced in South Africa”.
Visit the Pinotage Association for the full list of Absa Top 10 Pinotage finalists and Museum Class finalists.
