Kanonkop Wine Estate, situated at the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountain, is known globally as the First Growth of the South African wine industry. Since bottling its first wine in 1973, the estate has built a reputation for producing wines of exceptional quality, shaped by iconic soils and grounded in a rich and enduring history.
Origins of Pinotage on Kanonkop
Pinotage has played a pivotal role in the reputation Kanonkop has garnered over the decades, a story that began even before the first Pinotage was bottled under the Kanonkop label in 1973.
Paul Sauer, one of South Africa’s great wine legends, became the first owner of Kanonkop in 1919. The farm originally formed part of a larger property owned by his father, J.W. Sauer, known as Uitkyk.
When Paul Sauer became the owner of the farm and named his inheritance Kanonkop, there were no vineyards planted on the land. As a student of viticulture and oenology under the famed Abraham Izak Perold (the Father of Pinotage) Sauer was inspired to establish vineyards on the farm, with Pinotage among the very first plantings.
At the time, planting Pinotage was considered a leap of faith. When the varietal was first introduced in the 1940s, it was largely unknown to wine drinkers. Sauer’s close association with A.I. Perold played a significant role in shaping his understanding of, and belief in, the grape’s long-term potential.
Initially, Kanonkop sold its Pinotage and other wines to the Stellenbosch Farmers Winery (SFW), where they were blended into some of the most respected wine labels of the era. This changed in 1973, when, under the leadership of Sauer’s son-in-law, Jannie Krige, together with Kanonkop’s second winemaker, Jan Boland Coetzee, the estate bottled and released its first wines under the Kanonkop label, with Pinotage featuring prominently in the debut vintage.
The process of producing Kanonkop Pinotage
The high esteem in which Kanonkop Pinotage is held today can be attributed to a combination of factors. The vineyards are rooted in the weathered granite soils of the Simonsberg foothills, with vines planted facing north-west to benefit from the gentle afternoon sun. This orientation allows for optimal ripening, with grapes hand-picked and vinified according to the traditional Kanonkop philosophy established in the estate’s earliest vintages.
Fermentation takes place in open concrete vessels, where the Pinotage grapes undergo manual punch-downs every two hours to ensure optimal extraction of colour, flavour and tannin. This labour-intensive process typically takes three days to complete.
Following malolactic fermentation in large steel tanks, the wine is transferred to French oak barrels, 80% new and 20% older, where it matures for 18 months. This period of barrel ageing builds structure and softens tannins, resulting in a wine that balances elegance with power.
Pioneering Pinotage at Kanonkop
As one of South Africa’s pioneers of Pinotage, Kanonkop produces a range of wines from this distinctive varietal, including a rosé. The Kadette Pinotage is crafted from bush-vine grapes sourced from the surrounding Stellenbosch area. These younger vines yield an approachable, fruit-forward wine that is matured in older French oak barrels for 12 months.
The Kanonkop Pinotage is made from bush-vine grapes grown on the estate itself. This complex and structured wine is matured for a full 18 months in 80% new and 20% older French oak barrels before bottling.
Kanonkop Pinotage is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most renowned wines. In 1991, international attention was captured when the 1989 vintage was crowned Wine of the World at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London. With Beyers Truter serving as winemaker at the time, this achievement focused global attention not only on Kanonkop, but also on Pinotage — the crown jewel of the South African wine industry.
It was a defining moment: a South African winery receiving the highest international recognition for a grape varietal that was largely unknown beyond the country’s borders. This breakthrough elevated Pinotage onto the global stage and placed South African wine firmly in the international spotlight.
The Pinnacle of Pinotage
At the pinnacle of Kanonkop’s Pinotage range stands the Black Label Pinotage, regarded as one of the great red wines of the world. Selling out before the conclusion of its debut release, the wine is made from 100% Pinotage harvested from dry-land bush vines planted by Paul Sauer himself in 1953.
These old vines produce compact grape clusters of exceptional concentration. After 18 months of maturation in 100% new French oak barrels, the Black Label Pinotage is bottled as a wine that fully honours Pinotage’s potential, a true South African masterpiece.
This latest Black Label Pinotage 2023 launched, as it normally does, on 1 November of 2025. The 2023 vintage followed a late, relatively dry winter with good June rainfall. Cold spells and a dry spring encouraged even budding, with minimal disease pressure. A very wet December brought larger berries, resulting in softer tannins. Harvest commenced as usual in early February.
The distinct Black Label Pinotage is deep, dark and intense in colour. Bursting with dark cherry, plum and floral notes, layered with liquorice, dark chocolate and vanilla spice. The palate is elegant, with abundant black fruit, hints of umami and lavender. Tannins are soft and chalky, seamlessly integrated into a long, refined finish marked by a sweet liquorice lift. Classic in style, yet youthful and vibrant.