There is some argument regarding the age of South Africa as a wine region. While we have evidence of vines dating back to the 17th century, the winelands did not really come into their own until the early 20th century. And of these older commercial vineyards, Kanonkop Paul Sauer is perhaps the leading light.

Four generations of Sauers have been running the family estate for over four decades. Today run by the team of brothers Johann and Paul Krige (Paul Sauers great-grandsons), this steady vision has meant that Kanonkop is today a benchmark for South African fine wines, notably the SA special, Pinotage. Focused on making high-quality fine wines with clear character from endemic grapes, Kanonkop’s Pinotage is considered to be among the best in the world. Kanonkop has gone a long way to change the market opinion of Pinotage, often considered as “lacking in elegance, clumsy and tasting like varnish”.

Much of Kanonkop’s success has to do with winemaker Abrie Beeslaar, who has been with the Sauer/Krige family since 1973. Beeslaar’s arrival at Kanokop coincided with the decision to begin bottling their own wine. A meticulous man who controls the wines from the 140-hectares estate “from pruning vines to the shipping” in order to ensure the highest possible quality, regardless of the prestige of the wine. “They all get the same treatment, whether they are volume wines or a black label vintage”.

Kanonkop has a bright future ahead of it. Described by “those in the know” as being the South African equivalent of a Premier Cru or First Growth, the estate was the first South African to receive 100-points for its 2015 vintage. Made of a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 is “a perfect golf-swing”, and is paving the way for South African fine wines to come into the light.