A South African independent wine merchant in the UK has spoken about his fascinating family connection to the Pinotage grape variety at the launch of the webinar series My Story. My Life. My Business!
“Wine is in his blood!” was facilitator Dawn Denton’s most appropriate introduction to Gerhard Perrold who was recently invited to address an online audience from around the world at the first South African Chamber of Commerce (UK) series of Lightning Talks. The series of micro presentations, introduced by Sharon Constancon, the driving force and chairman of the respected business network, aims to offer exciting insights into the lives and careers of diverse professionals.
Gerhard explained his distinguished roots in the viticulture of South Africa at the start of his talk: “I am the great-grandson of a true legend of the wine world: Abraham Izak Perold.” The independent wine merchant’s incredible ancestor, the son of a wine farmer from the Western Cape, was born in 1880. He went on to become of the most important figures in South Africa’s wine history.
Abraham is described by the Pinotage Association in South Africa as having a ‘unique skill set’ that included degrees in mathematics, physics and chemistry. After completing a PhD in chemistry travelled across Europe and developed his language skills. He returned to South Africa where he played a significant role in giving South African viticulture and wine making a scientific basis through research and publishing.
The father of South Africa’s modern viticulture and winemaking, however, is best remembered for one remarkable creation: Pinotage. “Our unique grape variety from South Africa is really what I want to talk about,” explained Gerhard, “It’s a grape variety that my great-grandfather in 1924 developed for us [all] to enjoy.” The story begins in 1906 when the Cape government sent Abraham abroad to explore international grape varietals. These included the classic Pinot Noir of Burgundy in France and Cinsault (also known as Hermitage) that was comparatively easy to grow and resistant to diseases. Gerhard then revealed the next part of the story: “My great-grandfather took [the] two plants from Europe back to Cape Town and he pollinated them.” Abraham created this ‘baby’ in the garden of his official residence at the Welgevallen Experimental Farm at Stellenbosch University. “This little combination makes Pinotage. Pinot from Pinot Noir and –tage from Hermitage” says Gerhard, “From four little seedlings in his garden we have all the Pinotage in the whole world.”
The seedlings were left in the garden by Abraham when he moved away to become chief scientist at KWV (The Co-operative Wine Farmers’ Association of South Africa). Dr Charlie Nieuhaus from Stellenbosch University, however, ‘rescued’ the seedlings that eventually ended up with Professor C J Theron at Elsenburg Agricultural College in Stellenbosch, South Africa’s first agricultural institution. During one of his periodic visits to the college some years later, Abraham encouraged Professor Theron to reproduce the original seedlings. Finally, the first Pinotage wine was made at the college by the lecturer and renowned winemaker Charl Theron De Waal in 1941 when sufficient vines had been propagated.
(Credit: Ashim D’Silva)
Gerhard describes the Pinotage story as one of ‘highs and lows’ with connoisseurs in the early days of the wine describing it as having the taste of rusty nails and an unappealing aroma: “For many years I don’t think winemakers truly understood how to work with the grape,” says Gerhard, “But over the years many winemakers have truly found a way to work with the grape in the vineyards as well realising its potential in the winery.”
Gerhard’s story of his amazing ancestor, however, does not stop with the celebrated South African grape: “It was not only Pinotage that made my great-grandfather a legend in wine. He also introduced South Africa to 177 different grape varieties. That makes South Africa a real melting pot for delicious wines.” These varieties are the remarkable result of Abraham’s epic expedition that began in 1906 and which greatly extended the variety of grapes in South Africa.
Abraham’s great-grandson Gerhard continues the distinguished family link with South African wine. The young Gerhard did not always dream of following in his ancestor’s footsteps. He was born in Cape Town and moved to the city of Pretoria for school. During his formative years he fell in love with cooking and rugby. His first experiences of wine were confined to having a ‘snifter’ with his Sunday roast dinner or participating in occasional wine tastings on family visits to the Cape Winelands. Later years, however, has seen Gerhard develop his passion for the grape varieties his great-grandfather introduced to South Africa. As an independent wine merchant he now offers British customers the opportunity to ‘taste’ the dedication and passion of South African winemakers.
“The UK has shaped me into the business person that I am today,” says Gerhard who emigrated to the UK in 2003 and now runs Perold Wine Cellar in Somerset, south-west England. This wine and tasting room provides the base for Gerhard to offer an exciting range of red, white, rosé or sparkling wine from his homeland.
Gerhard should indeed be proud of his great-grandfather Abraham Perold, the intellectual giant who left an amazing wine legacy to his homeland and the wider world.
For more inspirational Lightning Talks from the South African Chamber of Commerce (UK) visit www.southafricanchamber.co.uk
