On a recent road trip to Wellington, I tried the new Diemersfontein Pinotage called The Prodigy, a new style of Pinotage added to their existing Pinotage portfolio. So what makes Diemersfontein The Prodigy different? Well, at R75 a bottle (compared to the The Original Chocolate Coffee Estate Pinotage at R127 a bottle and the Carpe Diem Pinotage at R230 a bottle) this is a great wine for every day enjoyment – and it’s fruity too!
“the lighter fruit-driven style of The Prodigy perfectly ticks the box for everyday enjoyment,” says Francois Roode, cellarmaster and winemaker at Diemersfontein.
Grapes for The Prodigy 2018 were sourced primarily from younger vineyards in the Wellington area, with only a small portion brought in from the Breede River valley.
“That was simply due to lower yields following the drought, and we plan for all future vintages to be sourced from Wellington vineyards, to showcase the beautiful fruit we have here and the wonderful versatility of Pinotage,” says Roode. “Pinotage is a grape that’s just so well suited to Wellington. It loves the sun and the soils, and gives good colour, structure and fruit character.”
To preserve that character, after harvest the grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks, with minimal oak influence.
The musical reference of Diemersfontein’s Pinotage releases also ties in with the charitable works of the estate’s Excellence Out of Africa Trust.
Founded in 2010 with a focus on classical music and opera, the Trust has provided financial and logistical support to launch the careers of a number of gifted young artists, who are making stellar international careers.
Diemersfontein has also supported the careers of a number of popular music groups through appearances at the enormously popular Pinotage on Tap festival held on the estate each year. Over the years the Trust has also hosted musical masterclass programs on the estate for young opera singers, and further supports youth education via scholarships to Wellington Preparatory School and College, a respected private school situated on the property, that was founded by David and Sue Sonnenberg, along with local parents.
The landmark release of the new Pinotage has further provided a unique opportunity to refresh the estate’s wine labels, which have changed little over the last 20 years.
Across the portfolio the eye-catching Diemersfontein logo has been given greater prominence, with the estate’s portfolio of premium red wines enjoying the most striking evolution. The logo of burnished gold now stands proudly atop an elegant line drawing of the historic estate.
“With the redesign we wanted people to continue to recognise the logo, but also realise that we’re a vital, innovative estate that is constantly changing,” explains Hannelize Mouton, Diemersfontein’s National Sales and Marketing Manager.
Alongside a revamp of the labels the estate has also refreshed its online presence, with a new website improving wine-lovers’ ability to engage with the farm.
Diemersfontein wine estate is situated at Jan van Riebeeck Drive (R301), Wellington. For more information call 021 864 5050, send an email to welcome@diemersfonten.co.za, visit www.diemersfontein.co.za or make contact via @diemersfontein.