An approachable, fruit-led South African red offering succulent dark plums, juicy red berries, and a subtle touch of savoury oak spice.

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Pours a bright ruby with purple tints around the rim. The nose is immediately inviting and fragrant, leading with ripe red cherries, dark plums, and crushed mulberries, backed by faint nuances of milk chocolate, dried oregano, and gentle sweet spice.

On the palate, this is a delightfully modern, fruit-focused take on Pinotage that steers well clear of the heavy smoke or hard tannins historically associated with the variety. Juicy red fruit and plum compote take centre stage, supported by supple, rounded tannins and fresh acidity that keeps the wine lively and refreshing. The finish is tidy, clean, and dry, leaving lingering notes of savoury baking spice and cocoa.

Food Pairings:

A perfect match for comforting, unfussy food. It is brilliant alongside a slow-baked beef lasagne, penne all'arrabbiata, or proper butcher-made pork sausages with creamy mash. For weekend cooking, it holds up effortlessly to barbecue beef brisket, venison burgers, or a plate of charred halloumi and roasted Mediterranean vegetables.

About the Producer

Old Road Wine Co. is based in Franschhoek, right in the historic heartland of South Africa's winelands. Founded by a passionate collective of wine veterans led by Tim Hutchinson the outfit takes its inspiration from the characters, stories, and tradespeople who walked the town's original main road and built its rich wine heritage.

Rather than chasing fleeting cellar trends or charging overinflated prices, Old Road Wine Co. focuses on honest craft, ethical farming, and championing prized pockets of older vines across the Western Cape. Their winemaking team, headed by Ryan Puttick, produces unpretentious, terroir-driven bottles made to be enjoyed around a bustling dinner table rather than left collecting dust on an ornamental shelf.

Their "Originals" collection takes direct inspiration from Franschhoek village history. "The Fat Man" pays homage to a well-known local institution from the early days of the valley railway. Stationed daily by the platform with his loyal hound at his heel, he was famous for greeting arriving trains and welcoming passengers with an easy smile and a lively yarn. This Pinotage carries that exact same spirit—generous, warm, and thoroughly unpretentious.

Vineyard & Winery

Viticulture & Terroir:

The grapes are sourced from selected vineyard sites situated across the coastal pockets of Stellenbosch and Paarl in the Western Cape. The vines are rooted in weathered shale soils layered with an underlying clay bed. This soil composition is vital: the clay retains valuable moisture from cool winter rainfalls, sustaining the bush vines through the dry, sun-drenched summer months without relying on heavy irrigation. This gentle, steady ripening helps the Pinotage grapes build concentrated fruit flavours while naturally preserving balanced acidity. All parcels are harvested by hand in the cooler hours of the morning at optimum ripeness.

Winemaking & Maturation:

Winemaker Ryan Puttick employs a gentle cellar regime specifically designed to showcase Pinotage's vibrant, primary fruit. Following destemming, the grapes undergo a 48-hour cold soak at 14°C to extract pure colour and bright fruit aromatics without harsh astringency. Fermentation takes place under temperature control with French oak staves to weave subtle spice into the wine early on. The wine is then matured for 12 months in seasoned 3rd- and 4th-fill French oak barrels. This period in older wood softens the tannins and rounds out the texture without masking the purity of the plum and berry fruit. The finished wine is fined using vegan-friendly methods and bottled in compliance with South Africa's certified sustainable wine guidelines (IPW and WIETA accredited).