Chamonix Greywacke Pinotage

The historical Huguenot Estate, which goes back to 1688, previously included the Cape Chamonix Wine Farm. Chamonix has sprung into the international wine scene during the past 20 years as a well-respected winery in its own right, now operating under the guidance of German-born businessman Chris Hellinger. Under his leadership, the estate has experienced significant development and now provides tourists with a wide range of dining and entertainment options in breathtaking settings. Every aspect at Chamonix is performed with affection, passion, and an unwavering dedication to quality, from the sheltered Forest Lodge overlooking the picturesque Franschhoek Valley to the reputed Arkeste restaurant, the various facilities to the broad range of fine wines, spirits, and other delights on offer.

Pinotage,

Whole bunches are hand-selected on sorting tables and fermented in stainless steel tanks (carbonic maceration) for 10 days on the skins. The repasso technique is used where partly dried grapes are added whole for a second fermentation for 10 days on the skins. After malolactic fermentation the wine is matured for 18 months in 228ℓ French oak barrels with 30% new wood.

The name Greywacke comes from the type of soil found in the Pinotage vineyard, a variety of sandstone generally characterized by its hardness (6–7 on Mohs scale), dark colour, and poorly sorted angular grains of quartz, feldspar, and small rock fragments or sand-size lithic fragments set in a compact, clay-fine matrix. It is a texturally immature sedimentary rock generally found in Paleozoic strata. The larger grains can be sand- to gravel-sized, and matrix materials generally constitute more than 15 percent of the rock by volume.

Chamonix Greywacke Pinotage is a premium red wine produced in the heart of the Franschhoek Valley in South Africa. It is made from the Pinotage grape, a unique South African hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. The wine has a deep ruby colour and a complex aroma of dark fruit, (wild berries and cherries), smoky oak and spice. It is medium-bodied with a silky texture and flavours of black cherry, plum and mocha. The tannins are well-integrated, and the finish is long and smooth.

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled meats, stews and strong cheeses.