2021 Kumusha Pinotage

Kumusha in the Zimbabwean Shona language translates to 'your home', 'your roots' or 'your origin'. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Tinashe's career in the hospitality industry began as a waiter at the Roundhouse Restaurant in Cape Town, followed by a position as a wine steward at One & Only Cape Town's contemporary Asian restaurant Nobu, where he was soon promoted to sommelier. After receiving the Reaching for Young Stars Best Wine Steward Award in 2013, Tinashe was in the spotlight as the one to watch. His next career was head sommelier at the famous Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, followed by five years at Africa's finest restaurant, The Test Kitchen. It was at this acclaimed fine-dining restaurant that the 'wine whisperer' won the 2016 Eat Out Wine Service Award.

After a formidable career in the South African hospitality industry, working at some of Africa's finest hotels and restaurants, respected sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka was ready for a new start. Since moving to Johannesburg, Tinashe - an accomplished master blender - is poised to anchor his own wine brand, Kumusha Wines, in the South African market and beyond.

Tinashe is a wine judge at the Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards, Germany, a wine panelist for Wine Of The Month Club, a resident judge in South Africa, tasting of the Michelangelo wine and spirits awards, the Chenin Blanc top 10 Challenge and is part of the very select Platter Awards Five Star panel.

Tinashe met Attie Louw from the Opstal estate a few years ago and it has grown into a relationship where he makes the fruit from the Breedekloof Valley wines that he not only likes to drink himself, but has put in more of his incredible sommelier and gastronomic past. Minimal intervention in winemaking and natural fermentation aims to let the wine "talk" freely

The Kumusha Pinotage is a beautiful South African wine. A wine with depth, balance and delicious aromas reminiscent of dark cherries and mulberries on the nose. Notes of ripe plums and hints of spice on the palate with a savory aftertaste. This is an elegant pinotage and not the full fruity versions that we see too often. Goes well with game, turkey, spicy dishes and curries.

This wine is made from bush vine Pinotage from the Swartland, planted in the early 1990s and grown on dry soil. 80% was destemmed and 20% left the whole bunch through fermentation and maceration. Only gentle actions through fermentation so as not to extract too much tannins and rather create an elegant and fine example of Pinotage. Aged for 12 months in large French barrels and old neutral barrels of 500L. No additions and minimal intervention is the philosophy here.