Have you ever wondered how wine grapes are grown in what seems like difficult climates like South America, Germany, South Africa, and Canada? The answer lies in mitigating factors such as choice of grape, proximity to bodies of water, currents, winds, altitude, aspect, mountain ranges, and even types of soils.
Pinotage is a red wine grape whose origins lie in South Africa. The grape is the result of a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, which are both the species Vitis vinifera. The crossing was created in 1925 by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University, with the hope of creating a grape with the vigor of Cinsault and the finesse of Pinot Noir.
The Petit Verdot (PV) grape’s origins in France date back to the 16th/17th century. The grape is believed to be the child of a grape called Balisca, which originated in Albania, and it was believed to have been brought to France by either the Romans or Greeks.
South Africa has a long history of wine making and it is said that their wines are a combination of New World and Old World styles.
