Paarl, Wellington wine tourism celebrates International Pinotage Day

©Mark de Scande via 123RF.com

"Abraham Perold has left an indelible mark on the winemaking industry and is widely considered as the pioneer of modern South African viticulture. As the father of Pinotage, he richly deserves his place in the South African winemaking industry and we are very proud of this local icon. It is therefore quite natural that Pinotage has become one of our region’s most successful varietals with producers receiving scores of accolades for their magnificent Pinotages," says Annelize Stroebel, general manager of Paarl and Wellington Wine & Tourism.

Perold matriculated from the small town of Wellington and received a bursary to study in Germany. After completing a doctorate in Chemistry, he returned to lecture at the University in Cape Town before going on a government mission to explore other grape varietals that might be suitable for planting in the Cape.

On his return with 177 potentially suitable varietals, he was appointed as the first professor of Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch and later became Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. His groundbreaking work resulted in the successful crossing of Pinot Noir with Cinsaut, then known locally as Hermitage, which culminated in the indigenous varietal Pinotage.

Several producers in Paarl and Wellington are offering special activities to celebrate International Pinotage Day.

These include:

• Landskroon,
• Mellasat,
• Painted Wolf Wines, and
• Rhebokskloof.