Kanonkop
Kanonkop Wine Estate is situated at the foot of the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch and is one of South Africa's best-known red wine producers. The family-run winery is now managed by the fourth generation of the Krige family. Its name comes from a hill on the Simonsberg from which cannon shots once announced the arrival of sailing ships in Table Bay.
The history of today's estate is closely linked to Paul Sauer, who took over Kanonkop in 1919 and planted vineyards there. The first wines under the Kanonkop name came from the 1973 vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage played important roles from the outset.
Pinotage remains one of the estate's defining grape varieties. Kanonkop was among the early producers to recognise the potential of this South African crossing and develop long-lived, structured red wines from it. Estate Pinotage is traditionally fermented in open concrete fermenters and then matured in French oak barrels.
Alongside Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon is another major focus. Together with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it forms Paul Sauer, a classic Bordeaux blend and one of the estate's best-known wines. The Estate range is completed by single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and the strictly limited Black Label Pinotage from an old vineyard planted in 1953.
The Kadette range offers a more approachable introduction to the Kanonkop style. It includes Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage Rosé and a Cape Blend. The grapes come from selected vineyards around Stellenbosch and are handled in the cellar using the same basic methods as the Estate wines.
Kanonkop stands for powerful, clearly structured red wines that combine ripe fruit, spice and good development potential. Discover selected Kanonkop wines at Vin Africa and explore different expressions of Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon from Stellenbosch.