A South African Pinotage pairs best with barbecued beef, roasted pork, bacon, venison burgers, and Chorizo sausage.
Pinotage is a wine that is a cross between the Cinsault Grape and Pinot Noir Grape. Loaded with rich black cherry, blueberry, plum, raspberry and blackberry flavours, this full-bodied red wine loves grilled, barbecued or roasted meats. In addition, you’ll also find flavours of red licorice, menthol, black pepper, and savoury meat flavours, which are followed up by a sweet, smoky finish.
Best Food with Pinotage
Chorizo Sausage and Pinotage Pairing
Chorizo is spicy sausage with smoky flavours, that is full of flavour as it is packed with fat and salt. The rich raspberry, cherry and plum flavours of Pinotage are refreshing against the salt and fat content in Chorizo Sausage. Meanwhile, the meaty and smoky notes of Pinotage complement the meaty and earthy flavours found in the sausage.
Barbecued Beef and Pinotage Pairing
The sweet and smoky nature of Pinotage loves anything barbecued, particularly if it is slathered in Barbecued Sauce. Showcasing flavours of meat, game, herbs, earth, smoke and black pepper, Pinotage gets along amazingly well with anything beefy.
Chewy, rich and round, the texture, along with the medium-high tannin found in Pinotage allows Pinotage to hold up to the meaty flavours of any type of barbecued beef, including, hamburgers, ribs or steak.
Roasted Pork and Pinotage Wine Pairing
Roasted Pork at a pig roast is packed full of flavour, however, that succulent and hard-earned flavour is subtle and can be crushed by a heavier Cabernet Sauvignon or full-bodied Bordeaux.
A medium-bodied Pinotage, with medium tannin and acidity, is the perfect match with roasted pork as it will not overpower the savoury pork flavours, but rather enhance them with the wine’s notes of game, herbs, smoke, black pepper, tobacco, and meat. In addition, Pinotage showcases velvety flavours of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, red currant and plum that keep you refreshed throughout your meal.
The meat you cut off at a pig roast, while fatty, just does not play well with heavy red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon or a full-bodied Merlot. Yes, the pairing will still be enjoyable, but you won’t be able to appreciate that succulent roasted flavour. That’s why we’d suggest Pinotage.
Keep in mind that you must have a medium-bodied Pinotage, as a full-bodied Pinotage, when pitted against Roast Pork, will drown out the pork flavours, meaning that you’ll only taste the wine.
Bacon and Pinotage Pairing
Pinotage’s medium to full body and moderate acidity complement the smoky and savoury qualities of bacon exceptionally well. The rich and slightly spicy notes in Pinotage are a perfect match for the saltiness and umami of crispy bacon, creating a memorable culinary experience.
The pairing of Pinotage with bacon also benefits from the wine’s moderate tannins, which help cut through the fatty richness of the bacon, cleansing the palate and leaving you ready for another delicious bite.
I wouldn’t pair Pinotage with bacon and eggs, however, for heavier dishes such as beef tenderloin wrapped in bacon, or a hamburger topped with bacon, Pinotage makes for an excellent wine pairing.
Donut Burger and Pinotage Wine Pairing
A donut burger is a juicy hamburger with glazed donuts as its bun. The burger delivers vibes of sweet and savoury, making it incredibly delicious, but also rich, and most likely bringing you one step closer to a heart attack.
While not a sweet wine, Pinotage has a perceived sweetness to it, as it delivers flavours of blueberry, blackberry, cherry and raspberry that add a little bit of ‘jelly’ or jammy flavour to your donut. Meanwhile, the meat, black pepper, and smoke flavours complement the grilled flavours of your hamburger.
With lots of acidity and tannin, Pinotage can tackle most acidic condiments, while whisking away the greasy flavours of the donut and hamburger meat.
You don’t have to go out of your way to pair Pinotage with a Donut Burger. Pinotage will pair amazingly well a regular hamburger that you have grilled at home. I think just added some extra flair with this pairing to appeal to the Instagram/TikTok crowd.