The Bellevue Pinotages, wines steeped in the history of Pinotage in South Africa…
Bellevue Wine Estate in the Bottelary Hills in the Stellenbosch Wine Appellation first planted a commercial planting of Pinotage in 1953. Little did the owner, Mr P K Morkel, know that he would be responsible for the first wave of Pinotages which were released in the late 1950s and 60s. Using the now 6-year-old vines, he made his Pinotage on the Estate and was contracted to sell his production to Stellenbosch Farmer’s Winery.
The company put the wine on the Cape Young Wine Show, and it won the General Smuts Trophy for the best wine. It went onto the market in 1961. The rest, using the well hammered cliché, is history.
The Estate with Dirkie Morkel as Vineyardist and Wilhelm Kritzinger as wine maker continues to produce top notch wines, both red and white, and their Kukumakranka Gin. Well worth a visit, as they say in the Michelin Guide, Bellevue offers casual dining, a play area for children and wine tastings and sales.
About Michael Oliver:
As a young aspiring chef, Michael laid a solid foundation for his career at the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in London. Over the next 30 years he had a series of high profile hospitality management posts, was the Public Relations Manager for Boschendal and ran three successful restaurants in the Cape, one of which, Parks, featured in the national top 10 restaurants.
Michael is a family man, author and broadcaster.
A lifetime devoted to the promotion and appreciation of the South African wine and food industry has earned him many accolades, including the Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 Eat Out Awards.
Michael continues to be prolific, informative and entertaining on his wine and food website, michaelolivier.co.za