Certified Old Vines

Heritage Pinotage

A special wine with a profound sense of place from one of the oldest commercial Pinotage vineyards in the world, planted in 1953. When the maiden 1959 vintage won trophies galore, Pieter Krige Morkel was crowned South Africa’s new ‘king of wine’. His hands-off approach then is replicated now to let the grace and wisdom of the vineyard shine through.

72 year old vines | 1.85 ha

Let’s Get Technical

Unpack what goes into producing an old vine wine of this calibre at Bellevue Wine Estate.

In The Vineyard

Planted in 1953 by P.K. Morkel, the second oldest vineyard block on Bellevue lies on a cool southern slope with Cartreff soil and is supported by drip irrigation. Covering 1.85 hectares, this low-yielding vineyard is registered as a single vineyard.

In The Cellar

The grapes are cold soaked for three days before inoculation. During alcoholic fermentation, there were three aerated pump-overs daily. After fermentation, the wine was racked off the lees, the skins pressed, and the wine allowed to settle before being transferred into 300-liter French oak barrels (50% new, 50% second fill), Spontaneous malolactic fermentation took place in barrel, where the wine matured for a total of 22 months.

Uncork It

The scent of rosewater adds to the enchantment of bright raspberry, strawberry, maraschino cherry and pomegranate flavours, with dark plum and earthy beetroot notes too. Beautiful purity and poise in the silky mouthfeel and on the long finish. Exceptional maturation potential.

Raspberry
Strawberry
Pomegranate
Cherry
Dark Plum
Beetroot

About The Vines By The Winemaker

The grapes from this vineyard hold a truly special place in our hearts. Every bit of Pinotage expertise we’ve cultivated over the years is poured into crafting this wine.

For over two decades, I’ve had the privilege of working with the grapes from this cherished old vineyard. In 2025, I will celebrate my 24th vintage, and it’s incredible to witness how this vineyard continues to evolve with time.

As the vines mature, so do we, and each season presents new challenges and opportunities. It’s a dynamic, ever-changing process that requires constant adaptation—tweaking and adjusting to the vineyard’s unique rhythm.

This work is never monotonous; each vintage offers a fresh challenge and a renewed sense of excitement. It’s a profound privilege to create wine from these extraordinary vines and share their story with you.

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