The history of Pinotage always makes for a fascinating story, since it is such a unique grape, but perhaps the more interesting side note here is that Jeremy Borg learned his winemaking skills at Rosenblum Cellars in California, making Zinfandel and he continues to apply this same level of expertise and TLC to his love of Pinotage. The den wines are social wines to be enjoyed with friends and family, named for the den, the heart of all African wild dog communities.

Grapes for this wine were harvested from farms in Paarl, the Swartland and Breedekloof over four weeks, beginning in late January. Once in the cellar the grapes were destemmed and fermented in tanks with a combination of French and
American oak staves. Cold soaking lasted 4-6 days before malolactic fermentation took place in these same tanks. There is a small barrel component which was hand plunged in small fermenters and then pressed off in a basket press, before being run directly into barrel. In order to broaden the flavor profile of the wine, 15% Shiraz was added to the blend.

Painted Wolf Wines supports the conservation of the highly endangered painted wolf (African wild dog) and the protection of the diminishing wild spaces of Africa, through its donations to the EWT (www.ewt.org.za) and Tusk (www.tusk.org).