Braai Pinotage 2021 – South Africa’s Signature Red, Made for the Flame

🔥 Pinotage with a Purpose

If Cabernet is the king of the braai, Pinotage is its wild little brother—smokier, juicier, and unapologetically South African. And Braai Pinotage 2021 leans into all of it.

This wine was made for fire. Grown in the Western Cape, fermented in stainless steel, and lightly aged in oak, it brings smoke, spice, and deep fruit in a way only Pinotage can. It’s the kind of bottle that wants ribs. That needs fire. That laughs at delicate glassware and fancy pairings.

🧑🌾 About the Producer

Braai Wines was built on a mission: to create bold, accessible wines that capture the spirit of South Africa’s most beloved tradition—the braai. That’s not just barbecue, it’s a lifestyle. Community, fire, food, and stories told around the coals. Their Pinotage channels all that into one bottle.

"Braai" is South African slang for barbecue—but it’s more than just grilling meat.

It’s a cultural ritual, a social event, a way of life. 🔥
In South Africa, when you say "let’s have a braai", you're inviting people over for:

• fire-grilled food (meat, mostly),

• a cooler full of booze (yes, wine included),

• and a long afternoon of stories, music, and good chaos.

It’s got Afrikaner roots, but it’s embraced by all South Africans—across cultures, backgrounds, and languages. A braai isn't a meal. It’s a vibe.

So when Braai Wines name their Pinotage after it, they’re not just going for a pairing—they’re bottling that entire mood.

💬 Critic Insight

While no formal critic scores are published yet for the 2021 vintage, past releases from Braai have consistently scored between 88–90 points with major reviewers for offering serious value and approachability. Think big flavor without big price tags.

🍷 Tasting Notes

• Color: Dark ruby, nearly opaque

• Nose: Smoked plum, blackberry, mocha, and a hint of cured meat

• Palate: Medium-full body with plush tannins. Flavors of black cherry, roasted coffee, and cracked pepper with a distinct smokiness.

• Finish: Earthy, smoky, and persistent—like the last wisp of firewood smoke on your sweater

🍽️ Perfect Pairings

• BBQ pork ribs, pulled lamb, or grilled boerewors

• Portobello mushrooms with soy glaze

• Fire-roasted peppers and smoky lentils

• Anything off a charcoal grill

📦 Wine Specs

• Variety: 100% Pinotage

• Region: Western Cape, South Africa

• Vintage: 2021

• ABV: 13.5%

• Farming: Sustainable

• Serve At: 15–17°C

• Style: Bold, smoky, and fruit-forward

🔥 What the Hell is Pinotage?

Pinotage is a South African original, a hybrid grape born in 1925 when a clever (read: slightly mad) professor crossed Pinot Noir with Cinsault (then called Hermitage in South Africa). The idea? Combine the elegance of Pinot with the heat-handling toughness of Cinsault.

What he got instead was a grape that gives zero fucks about being subtle.

🎨 The Flavor Vibe

Pinotage can go two ways:

1. Fruit-Forward & Smoky: Think ripe blackberries, cherry liqueur, plum jam, and a campfire edge. Great for BBQs and chill nights.

2. Wild & Funky: Sometimes it brings this bold, earthy, rubber-meets-coffee madness. Polarizing? Absolutely. Boring? Never.

💥 Why It Slaps (When It’s Done Right)

• Handles Heat: This grape thrives in hot, dry climates—aka the Western Cape. It ripens fast, keeps its color, and brings big personality.

• Grill Wine Royalty: That natural smokiness? A match made in heaven for ribs, brisket, charred mushrooms, or just open flame anything.

• Age or Not: Some Pinotage is made to drink young, fresh, and fun (like Braai). Others? Deep, intense, age-worthy beasts.

👀 Why Some People Flinch

• That Funk: Cheap Pinotage can smell like bandaids, burnt rubber, or asphalt. No, really. But higher-quality bottles ditch the drama and double down on richness and spice.

• Misunderstood AF: For decades, it got a bad rap internationally. But a new gen of winemakers is giving it a serious glow-up.

🥂 The Bottom Line?

Pinotage is South Africa’s wine with a soul—and a little attitude.
If you’re into bold reds with edge, BBQ pairings, and flavor that doesn’t whisper… Pinotage is your new problem child.

Turn your next cookout into a braai—grab a bottle of Braai Pinotage 2021 and let the fire do the talking 🔥🍷