Pinotage isn’t for the faint hearted, that is how Jan Boland Coetzee describes the challenge Pinotage poses to viticulture. When you accept the challenge and find luck on your side, the correct terroir and amazing grapes from old vines that bear this unique fruit, no other wine will reward you as much as this will. Abrie Beeslaar is the viticulturist at Kanonkop. Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage is his own brand, so to speak. He employs the same approach and methods to Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage has he does with the famous Kanonkop Pinotage. Kanonkop Kadette Pinotage 2012 is the maiden vintage passionately produced by Abrie Beeslaar. Total production of this vintage was limited to 4700 bottles.

Kanonkop Pinotage is traditionally fermented in open tank fermenters with the only difference being that the fermenters used at Kanonkop are broader and shallower so allowing for maximum skin contact. Grapes are manually punched down every 48 hours to intensify the skin contact. Once pressing is complete, malolactic fermentation is completed in 50% new and 50% second fill French oak barrels. The Pinotage is allowed to mature for 17 months in barrel. Abrie has been producing Kanonkop Pinotage for many years and has incorporated all his skill and energy to improve Kanonkop Pinotage.

Abrie was named Winemaker of the Year in 2008. His wines have received numerous high ranking praise since taking over the production of Kanonkop Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cape Blend and the famous Paul Sauer Bordeaux.