Celebrating a century of Pinotage: 2025 Absa Top 10 Pinotage winners announced

The charismatic Johan Badenhorst from Voetspore was the master of ceremonies. Jak De Priester and die Kaapse Lawaaimakers entertained the audience, filling the room with a typical South African jovial atmosphere.

This year’s competition drew 120 entries from 68 producers nationwide, reflecting the enduring pride and innovation that continues to shape South Africa’s signature grape. The judges selected an exceptional Top 20, from which the Absa Top 10 have now been named.

The 2025 Absa Top 10 Pinotage winners

Each of these winners received the newly minted gold-plated Pinotage Medallion, which they personally overstruck with the engraved “engel piepie.” In addition, a 1kg Silver Medallion, containing actual Grand Pinotage wine, was unveiled – a unique piece designed to embody the aging potential and timeless quality of the Pinotage wines being made today.

A world first.  The 2025 Pinotage Pure Silver 1 kilogram medallion is the first medallion that literally holds wine in a glass as part of the medallion. Pinotage has stood the test of time, and now it has been captured in this exquisite rarity. Only 100 pieces will be created worldwide as part of the Pinotage Centenary Heritage. This treasure was created as part of the Pinotage Centenary celebration and developed by our very own Mint in Cape Town: The Cape Mint. This precious metal series consists of silver and gold 1 oz medallions and now minted in a kilogram of silver.

Similar to the Pinotage cultivar developed over a period of time - these timeless medallions capture the history and spirit of Pinotage , not only in the content and imagery, but now also by preserving actual Pinotage for generations to come. We can all be proud that  this  is another international first for South Africa and our wine industry.

Runners-up: Completing the 2025 Top 20

Each runner up received a silver pinotage medallion.

A century of Pinotage

The celebrations this year carry particular weight, as it has been 100 years since Professor Abraham Izak Perold developed Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut). Appointed in 1917 as the first Professor of Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch and later its first Dean of Agriculture, Perold planted the very first seedlings at Welgevallen. Nearly lost when he joined KWV in Paarl in 1928, those vines were saved by Dr. Charlie Niehaus and entrusted to Professor Chris Theron at Elsenburg, who multiplied and selected them. Together, Perold and Theron chose the name “Pinotage,” now inseparable from South Africa’s winemaking identity.

One hundred years later, Pinotage has become more than an experiment in crossing grape varieties; it has grown into a pillar of South African heritage and a symbol of innovation with global recognition. The results of the 2025 competition show how producers with decades of experience stand proudly alongside newer names, all contributing to a vibrant future for the cultivar.

A positive future

Reflecting on this centenary milestone, Beyers Truter, chairman of the Pinotage Association, commented: “Pinotage is no longer the underdog. It is a grape that has proven its place in the world, and its future is brighter than ever. The wines we celebrate today – powerful, elegant, and age-worthy – are proof of the extraordinary potential Pinotage still holds for the next 100 years.”

So many legends of the wine industry dedicated their lives to building the success story of Pinotage. They sacrificed more than we may ever truly know. Their work paved the way for today’s custodians, who continue to protect that legacy and inspire the next generation of legends and history makers. Pinotage is a uniquely South African success story. Just as sport unites us, agriculture is the heartbeat of our heritage. Together, we must ensure that South Africa’s jewels in the crown shine brighter than ever. This is how we honour our past, celebrate our present, and pursue our future.

Consistency and rising talent

Since the competition’s inception in 1997, producers such as Kanonkop (22 Top 20 appearances), Beyerskloof (21), Diemersdal (19), Windmeul (16), Wellington (15), Simonsig (12), Flagstone (12), and KWV (10) have built enviable track records. At the same time, newer names like Bruce Jack Wines, Warwick, Le Grand Domaine, and Leopards Leap signal a new era of Pinotage producers, reinforcing the cultivar’s evolution and enduring appeal.

"Congratulations to the winners and runners up of this year's Absa Top 10 Pinotage awards, you have a responsibility to help develop the next generation of winemakers, and those entrepreneurs in your industry", said Stonie Steenkamp, Absa executive.

As Pinotage enters its second century, the 2025 Absa Top 10 embodies both tradition and renewal, a true celebration of a grape that is as deeply rooted in history as it is poised for the future.

For more information, contact brand@pinotage.co.za, visit pinotage.co.za for more info on the winners.

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