The short list of 20 wines for the annual ABSA Top 10 Pinotage Awards have been released and confirm that Pinotage reflects terroir as fully 90% of the finalists are wines of origin. Only two are blends from bought-in grapes: KWV Mentors 2011 and Moreson 2011 which also confirms Franschhoek as a home for terroir by truck.

Producer Name Vintage Description WO

Anura 2011 Anura Pinotage Reserve Simonsberg/Paarl
Baarsma 2012 Lyngrove Platinum Pinotage Stellenbosch
Black Elephant Vintners 2012 The Back Roads Pinotage Wellington
Diemersdal 2012 Diemersdal Pinotage Durvanville
Diemersdal 2012 Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve Durvanville
Fairview 2011 Primo Pinotage Paarl
Kanonkop 2010 Kanonkop Pinotage Simonsberg/Stellenbosch
Kanonkop 2009 Kanonkop Pinotage Simonsberg/Stellenbosch
KWV SA Pty Ltd 2011 KWV The Mentors Pinotage Kusstreek
L’Avenir 2011 L’Avenir Pinotage Stellenbosch
Manley Private Cellar 2011 Manley Pinotage Tulbagh
Moreson 2011 Moreson Pinotage Kusstreek
Rijk’s Cellars 2009 Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage Tulbagh
Rooiberg Winery 2012 Rooiberg Winery Pinotage Reserve Robertson
Simonsig Landgoed 2011 Simonsig Pinotage Redhill Stellenbosch
Springfontein Wine Estate 2010 Jonathan Ridge Pinotage Walker Bay
Waboomsrivier Wynkelder Edms Bpk 2010 Wagenboom Pinotage Breedekloof
Wildekrans Wine Estate 2011 Wildekrans Pinotage Botrivier
Windmeul Kelder 2012 Windmeul Pinotage Reserve Paarl
Windmeul Kelder 2011 Windmeul Pinotage Paarl

Nearly half the wines (45%) are from the 2011 vintage, one third (30%) from 2012, 15% from 2010 and 10% from 2009. The Top Ten will be announced at a glittering lunch on Friday 30 August.