Iconic Centenarian Strikes Gold Medallion Commemorating 100 Years OF South Africa’s Pinotage

The Cape Mint™, Sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest private mint, in collaboration with the Pinotage Association, held an event during which centenarian Madame May-Eliane de Lencquesaing overstruck a gold medallion to mark one hundred years of Pinotage, South Africa’s signature red cultivar.

De Lencquesaing (fondly known as ‘Lady May’) was born in 1925 into one of Bordeaux’s oldest and most respected wine families, the Miailhe. The iconic winemaker’s life journey has been punctuated by numerous challenges and milestones, leading to France’s highest award of recognition, Officer of the Legion of Honour.

Struck by the tremendous potential of South Africa and the beauty of the country and its people, the Grande Dame decided in 2003, at the age of seventy-eight, to relocate and start a new adventure in winemaking. Her pursuit of excellence led her to founding the magnificent Glenelly Estate in Stellenbosch, going on later to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at International Wine Challenge (IWC) Awards 2017, among several other accolades.

“What an honour for Glenelly [wine] Estate to host such an important event celebrating the Centennial of Pinotage!” said de Lencquesaing. “By crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsault, Professor Perold created a South African cultivar – Pinotage. You can be incredibly proud of the specificities and high qualities of Pinotage Varietal.”

“It gives us immense pride to commemorate South Africa’s rich winemaking heritage through these limited-edition gold medallions,” commented Natanya Van Niekerk, award-winning numismatist and Managing Director of The Cape Mint. “Gold’s enduring qualities and value make it the ideal preserver of history, and together with Lady May’s striking of the first medallion, nothing could be more fitting for the celebration of Pinotage’s centenary.”

The launch of the ‘Pinotage Centenary Collection’ is part of a year-long celebration of South Africa’s proudly homegrown cultivar. The commemorative pieces feature Professor of Viticulture Abraham Izak Perold, who developed Pinotage in 1925 by combining the French varietals Pinot Noir and Cinsault (which was known as Hermitage in South Africa, hence the name Pinotage).

“Pinotage is a uniquely bold, multifaceted wine that is intrinsically linked to South Africa’s history, land, and its people – it is a national point of pride,” said Beyers Truter, Chairman of the Pinotage Association. “These centenary celebrations pay tribute to the resilience and innovative spirit of our nation that will forever be etched in gold – and in our collective memories.”

The one troy ounce, 24-carrat (999.9 Au) gold medallion also features Perold’s signature, a wreath of grapes, and a crystal glass with burgundy-colored filling representing the Pinotage (with overstrike of an angel). Each medallion comes in a premium hardwood box and a numbered certificate of authenticity from The Cape Mint™.

To acquire any of these commemorative medallions, visit www.pinotage.co.za.