The Pinotage King: Gerhard Swart The Award Winning Winemaker of Flagstone

Hot on the heels of Flagstone’s Time Manner Place Pinotage (2014) achieving a 5-star rating in the 2017 Platter’s Guide comes a 5-star rating for Flagstone’s Writers Block Pinotage (2015) in the 2018 guide. These premium expressions of South Africa’s signature variety have achieved extensive recognition across wine competitions and Writer’s Block consistently features in the annual ABSA Top 10 Pinotage awards.

This is largely due to Flagstone’s Head Winemaker, Gerhard Swart’s obsessive passion for the varietal. Pinotage is a demanding grape, almost volatile in temperament, it can smell fear on a winemaker so if you’re serious about producing premium Pinotage that’s going to be life changing for the drinker you need a deep well of dedication and bold vision. Gerhard’s mantra is to ‘remain true to the wine,’ achieved through his meticulous attention to detail coupled with a conversant understanding of Pinotage applied in the vineyard and continuing through the cellar. It’s this understanding of the grape that allows him to craft some of the most delicious, complex wines imaginable.

Flagstone Writers Block Awards

5 stars in the Platters South African Wine Guide for 2018

Double Gold at the 2017 Veritas Wine Awards

One of the Top 10 at the ABSA Pinotage Association Awards

One of Top Pinotage’s at the SA Terroir Wine Awards.