About ~ The Pinotage Family Tree
(Afrikaans: Stamboom)
This truly South African blend was first produced in 2004 by Conrad when he was still working in Stellenbosch. He relocated to the Elim region in 2005, setting out to conquer the wild Strandveld with his young family and 4 barrels of Familytree wine. He has since produced the Familytree / Stamboom blend in 2015 and his latest release is the 2017 vintage.
This unique red blend pays tribute to the family tree of Pinotage. Two great French cultivars: Pinot Noir (50%) and Cinsaut (17%) blended with its South African offspring - Pinotage (33%).
Today Conrad finds himself, much as the painting by old Master Jan Steen depicts on their label, gratefully frolicking under the Southern stars with Family , Friends and Fine wine.
Rijksmuseum, The Merry family, Jan Havicksz. Steen, 1668
2019 Stamboom Vintage
The summer of 2018 was the driest in 50 years. So much so that we saw most of our wetlands in the Agulhas Plain dry up completely. It was like living in a strange new world seeing Marié on a full canter with her horse over the dry cracked mud in a vlei that is normally the home of the local hippo pod. The winter started only late in May, and it was only towards the end of September that we saw our wetlands full again.
The cool dry spring with less wind than normal resulted in a moderate healthy crop. February was dry with cool southeast winds, the perfect ripening conditions! We harvested the Pinot Noir in early February and the Pinotage and Cinsaut in early March.
2019 Stamboom Vintage
The summer of 2018 was the driest in 50 years. So much so that we saw most of our wetlands in the Agulhas Plain dry up completely. It was like living in a strange new world seeing Marié on a full canter with her horse over the dry cracked mud in a vlei that is normally the home of the local hippo pod. The winter started only late in May, and it was only towards the end of September that we saw our wetlands full again.
The cool dry spring with less wind than normal resulted in a moderate healthy crop. February was dry with cool southeast winds, the perfect ripening conditions! We harvested the Pinot Noir in early February and the Pinotage and Cinsaut in early March.