Robertson Pinotage
£12.39
£16.52 per litre · incl. 20% VAT
Out of Stock
Pinotage at its friendliest: juicy, ripe and ready to pour. This Robertson red leads with strawberry, plum and a splash of cherry, wrapped in soft, well-integrated oak. No cellaring required, no fuss demanded. Just an easy-drinking South African red that slots straight into midweek dinners, Sunday roasts and Friday-night pizza with equal ease.
Not for sale to persons under 18. Adult signature required on delivery.
UK wide delivery
Expert curated
Sourced direct
Our Verdict
We list a lot of Pinotage, and Robertson's version earns its spot by being the one we hand to nervous first-timers. It's the friendly face of South Africa's own grape: no rustic edges, no smoky curveballs, just ripe fruit and soft oak in an easy, generous package. Perfect for the customer who wants a reliable weeknight red under £15, or as a gentle introduction for someone who's only heard Pinotage's reputation and never actually poured a glass. If you like this one, our other Robertson reds are cut from the same welcoming cloth.
Tasting Notes
Pours a deep youthful purple with a bright rim. The nose leads with ripe strawberry and juicy plum, joined by red cherry and that trademark Pinotage hint of banana that signals easy, fruit-first drinking. On the palate it's soft and generous, with rounded tannins and gently integrated oak that adds warmth rather than grip. The finish is smooth, fruity and unfussy, leaving you ready for another sip rather than reaching for the water jug.
About This Wine
If you've been curious about Pinotage but weren't sure where to start, this is exactly the bottle to reach for. Robertson has been making wine since 1941, and their house Pinotage shows the grape at its most welcoming: ripe strawberry and juicy plum up front, a lick of red cherry, a hint of banana, all held together by soft tannins and oak that's been kept firmly in the background. The fruit comes from the Breede River Valley, a sun-baked stretch of the Western Cape sheltered by the Langeberg Mountains. Hot days ripen the Pinotage fully; cool nights, thanks to breezes drifting inland from the Indian Ocean, keep the wine bright rather than heavy. It's that day-to-night swing that gives this red its juicy character and easy-drinking charm. Pour it with a Sunday roast (beef or chicken both work beautifully), a slow-cooked lamb stew, or a proper Friday night pizza. It's equally happy alongside a plate of pasta with a rich tomato sauce, or a bowl of something spicier from the takeaway. We deliver across the UK, usually within a couple of working days. It's also a lovely, low-risk introduction for a friend who's never tried Pinotage: gentle enough to win them over, characterful enough to make them want another glass.
Food Pairing
This is a genuine midweek all-rounder. It's brilliant with a Sunday roast, especially beef or lamb, and just as happy alongside a Friday-night pizza or a bowl of ragu. The soft tannins and juicy fruit mean it won't fight with tomato-based sauces, and it has enough weight to handle roast chicken, guinea fowl or a slow-cooked winter stew.
- —Sunday roast beef with all the trimmings
- —Slow-cooked lamb and rosemary stew
- —Roast chicken with thyme and garlic
- —Pepperoni pizza or a rich beef ragu
- —Sticky pork ribs off the barbecue
How to Serve
Decanting
No decanting needed. This is a fruit-forward, ready-to-drink style that shows its best straight from the bottle. If you like, a quick swirl in the glass is all it asks for.
Ageing & Cellaring
Built for early drinking rather than the cellar. The soft tannins and forward fruit are at their most charming right now, so pull the cork whenever the mood strikes. There's little to gain from holding bottles beyond a year or two.
The Land
The valley floor is a patchwork of alluvial river soils and lime-rich chalky ground, both well suited to red varieties. Mountain slopes catch the sun for concentration; the river-valley blocks give plenty of ripe, fleshy fruit. It is a landscape built for approachable, fruit-forward reds.
The Winemaking
Made in an early-drinking style, which shapes every decision in the cellar. Gentle pressing keeps the fruit bright and the tannins soft, letting that ripe strawberry, plum and cherry character stay front and centre. Oak plays a supporting role rather than a leading one, well integrated so you get a whisper of warmth and structure without any smoky heaviness. The result is a Pinotage that hits the glass smooth, juicy and ready to drink, no cellaring required.
About the Producer
Robertson Winery
Robertson Winery has roots that reach back to 1941, when a group of local growers took over a disused stone missionary church on the edge of town and turned it into a cellar. That little church still anchors the operation today, a reminder that this is a winery built by community rather than corporate ambition. The William Robertson range nods to the man the town itself is named after, a Scottish minister who arrived at the Cape in 1822 and gave his name to one of South Africa's most productive valleys. Decades on, Robertson works with grower families whose relationships with the cellar stretch back generations, picking from mountain slopes and river-valley vineyards alike to make wines that punch well above their price.