To celebrate Boplaas’s patriarch Ouma Roeline’s 90th vintage, her love of Sauvignon Blanc, the innumerable afternoons she’s entertained friends and family on her “stoep” and the joy this has brought her, it is only apt that from this vintage the Boplaas Sauvignon Blanc will be henceforth be bottled as the Boplaas Stoepsit Sauvignon Blanc.

The first Sauvingon Blanc crafted at Boplaas was in 1982 and since then Roeline’s son, Carel Nel, has each vintage attempted to craft the ideal “stoep” companion for his mother and her friends.  Along the line, Boplaas were the first to craft Sauvignon from high up in the Outeniqua range at Ruiterbosch; experimenting with the Blanc Fumé wine style; crafting site specific Sauvignon’s from exceptional coastal vineyards and have also managed to craft back-to-back South African National Young Wine Show Champion Sauvignon Blanc in 2009 and 2010.

The Boplaas Stoepsit 2013 is an entirely affable Sauvignon with its zippy citrus, tropical fruit flavours and low alcohol level making it the ideal partner to light fare, canapés, lazy sunny afternoon gatherings on the “stoep” or simply sipped on its own while enjoying another glorious African sunset.  The Stoepsit Sauvignon 2013 is available from the Boplaas cellar door in Calitzdorp and the Cool Bay tasting room in Groot Brak River just off the N2 near Mossel Bay, for a pocket pleasing R35 per bottle.

For more information about the Boplaas range of table wines, award winning Cape fortifieds and brandy please visit www.boplaas.co.za; give us a call on 044-2133326, send us a mail info@boplaas.co.za, tweet us @Boplaas1880 or simply come visit us at our cellar door in Calitzdorp.

Boplaas Family Vineyards in Calitzdorp are proud to announce that a wine once again has been included in the “Top 100” South African wines of 2013.  The host of international and local judges, award Boplaas a spot in the “Top 100” for the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2010.

Crafted from a quartet of Douro varietals and in the traditional drier Vintage style; the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2010 with its inky black colour, heady aromatic bouquet, intense spice and grippy tannins, will evolve in bottle over the next three decades or more – for those who are willing to exhibit restrain.  A part from being nominated in the “Top 100” 2013, this youthful Cape Vintage Reserve received a double gold at Veritas in 2012 and 4 ½ stars in Platter Guide 2013.

Best enjoyed decanted with a selection of charcuterie, hearty venison dishes or after a meal accompanied with cheeses, dried fruits, nuts and preserves.

Apart from the stellar performance of Boplaas’s Cape Ports, the table wines produced from the traditional Douro varietals offer a glimpse into the future of this exceptional terroir, especially the Ring of Rocks (newly released 2011 vintage, an innovative blend of Touriga Nacional, Merlot and Cabernet), the Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 (rated as best red wine at the Cape Port & Wine Challenge 2012) and Woolworth’s Boplaas Portuguese Connection red blend.

For more information please visit our website www.boplaas.co.za, visit our cellar door in Calitzdorp, give us a call on 044 2133326 or alternatively email marketing@boplaas.co.za or winemaker@boplaas.co.za

The Nels of Boplaas can trace back their vinous heritage to their very first export of potstill brandy to London in 1880 and have become synonymous with the crafting of arguably the finest Cape “Port”-styled wines and fortifieds. Their all-round vinous ability has also been proven by the crafting of back-to-back SA Young Wine Trophy winning Sauvignon Blanc in 2009 & 2010; while in 2005 they were crowned overall top producer at the Veritas awards.

In 2012 the awards continued to steadily roll in, the latest being the fact that the Boplaas Cape Tawny Port 1997, achieved the highest overall score at the inaugural Classic Wine “Port” tasting and was included in this year’s “Top of the Top 6”. This rare Colheita – dated tawny – was crafted solely from Tinta Barocca and the single barrel was aged for 12 years before bottling unfined & unfiltered.  Amongst this latest accolade, this very same wine was included in the South African “Top 100 wines” 2012, Platter’s 5 Star awardee, Veritas double gold in 2011 and being crowned top “Port” in the Musuem Class at CAPPA’s 2012 Port & Wine Challenge.  This exceptional Cape Tawny epitomizes the dedication to the art of crafting fine fortifieds.

Veritas 2012 resulted in two double gold medals achieved for the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2009 and Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2010; while three gold medals were achieved for the gold medals for the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2007, Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1995 and Boplaas Cape Vintage
Reserve 2002.  This impressive haul resulted in Boplaas firmly positioning itself amongst the top producers in the Cape’s largest and longest running wine competition.
A brace of golds and a prestigious Grand d’Or were won at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2012.  One of only 44 Grand d’Ors went to the luminary Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2006; while golds were scooped up by the Boplaas Cape Tawny N/V, Boplaas “The Chocolate” Cape Vintage Port 2010 and the
Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011. While the Boplaas Cape Ruby N/V claimed a silver medal, to add to its title of Cape Ruby category winner at the CAPPA Challenge 2012.
The innovative and immensely popular Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 – a dry red crafted from Tinta Barocca – also managed to take top honours at the inaugural CAPPA “Port & Wine Challenge” 2012 outscoring all Portuguese led blends and varietal wines. Boplaas’ stable of Portuguese varietal table wines claimed an impressive three spots in the CAPPA “Top 10” – with the Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 joined by the Boplaas Tinta Barocca 2009 in 3rd and the “Top 10” rounded out by Woolworths’ Boplaas Portuguese Collection 2011.

At the SA National Young Wine Show 2012, Boplaas faired admirably clinching the only gold medal for a fine Touriga Nacional and took the top honours as best performing private cellar in the Klein Karoo.  The Boplaas Merlot 2011 and Boplaas Hanepoot 2012 clinched spots amongst the 549 wines included in Ultra Liquors’ BestValue Guide 2013 chosen from the 1114 entrants all retailing below R80 a bottle – with the judges extremely surprised by the quality and value offered by the Merlot in particular.
Continuing their strong showing in the fortifieds category, the Boplaas White Muscadel 2011 received one of only three gold medals for White Muscadel at the South African Muscadel Association & Enartis Muscadel Awards 2012 and was the only Muscadel from the Klein Karoo to walk away with a medal. At this
year’s Terroir Awards – the first time, wines from the district of Calitzdorp could enter – the Boplaas Muscadel 2011 managed to receive the highest score of Muscadel in the district.

This year has also seen the up-dating of packaging and launch of Boplaas’ new white wine labels by Stellenbosch design impresarios Fanakalo; coupled with the launch of the Klein Karoo’s very first low-alcohol Muscat table wine, the Boplaas Moscato Light 2012 (Veritas bronze 2012), as well as the Carel Nel 15 Year Old Reserve Brandy and the Nel’s Heritage Muscat both of which are exclusively available from the cellar door. While 2012 also resulted in the release of only the 3rd ever, Cool Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc. The Cool Bay Reserve was crafted from old dry-land farmed bush-vines within earshot of the icy Atlantic Ocean in Darling and garnered a 4 Star rating in Platters’ 2013.

For more information on these stellar award winning wines and our extensive range, please visit our website www.boplaas.co.za, send us a mail to info@boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044 – 2133326, follow us on Twitter @Boplaas1880 or come visit our cellar door.

At the 22nd annual Veritas wine awards held this past weekend, Boplaas Family Vineyards amassed an impressive haul of three gold medal and two double gold medals entered at South Africa’s longest running premier wine competition.  This year’s Veritas awards attracted 1 744 wines and brandies, which were judged by panels of local and international experts, with an impressive total of 58 double gold and 147 gold medals being awarded.

Boplaas’s commitment to producing the finest Cape fortifieds from traditional Portuguese varietals and the dominance of this category was once again affirmed by the Veritas gold medals for the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2007, Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1995 and Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2002.  Top-honours were taken by the impressive Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009 and Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2010, both wines with cellaring potentials well in excess of three decades.

The Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2002 – a previous Platters’ 5 Star nominee and double gold medal winner at Veritas 2004 – was the only gold medal awarded in the Museum Class.  The Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1995 – a rare Colheita or Vintage Tawny – crafted from Calitzdorp Tinta Barocca exhibits
all the traits of a fine drier-styled Tawny Port with its golden amber hue and complex spicy palate.  A previous 5 Star Platters’ luminary and gold medal winner at the 2012 CAPPA “Port & Wine Challenge”, the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2007 capped off this year with a gold Veritas 2012.

The double gold medal awarded to the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2009 caps off its 5 Star Platters’ rating, inclusion in the SA Top 100 Wines  list of 2012 and Top 6 in the inaugural Classic Wine Cape Port tasting; while the Veritas double gold Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2010 topped its CAPPA Port & Wine Challenge 2012.  Both these wines were crafted from a quartet of Portuguese varietals, in true Vintage style and can be cellared with confidence in excess of three decades or more.

A limited number of cases of the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2009 & 2010 will be made available to the public from the cellar door for a limited time period; while the Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1995 and Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2002 is exclusively available from our cellar door in Calitzdorp.

The Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 – a gold medal winner at the Michelangelo CCL Label International Wine Awards 2012 and overall top scoring wine at the CAPPA “Port & Wine Challenge” 2012 Top 10 – was awarded a silver medal; while the maiden vintage of the Boplaas Moscato Light 2012 achieved a bronze to bring Boplaas’s medal tally to seven from the eight wines entered.

The gold medal Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2007 and our entire range of table wines, Cape fortifieds, Muscats and brandies are available for tasting and purchase from our cellar door in Calitzdorp and the Cool Bay tasting room along the N2 in Groot Brak River.

For more information about us or enquires visit our webstie www.boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044-2133326, send an email to info@boplaas.co.za, find us on Facebook or simply follow us on twitter @Boplaas1880
Wine enthusiasts interested in our older Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Ports or wines, can direct any queries to winemaker@boplaas.co.za

With the wine awards’ season in full swing Boplaas Family Vineyards in Calitzdorp are making it another good harvest, judging by their recent haul of five medals at the Michelangelo CCL Label International Wine Awards 2012 including a prized Grand d’Or.  This year’s Michelangelo awards attracted 1432 entrants with a mere 44 Gran d’Or medals awarded.  The luminary Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2006 amongst its long list of awards can now add a Michelangelo Gran d’Or to the tally.

A firm favourite and winter staple in many a South African household, the fine Cape Ports Boplaas craft according to traditional methods from Portuguese varietals also dazzled the Michelangelo’s judges.  The Boplaas Cape Ruby Port N/V – a category winner at this year’s CAPPA “Port & Wine Challenge”- managed to garner a silver medal; while the Boplaas Cape Tawny Port N/V and Boplaas “The Chocolate” Cape Vintage Port 2010 both struck gold.  ”The Chocolate” Cape Vintage originates from a particularly old Tinta Barocca vineyard.

The exceedingly popular Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 was awarded a Michelangelo gold adding to its stellar performance at the inaugural CAPPA “Top 10” earlier this year – where it received the highest score of all entrants and topped the “Top 10”.  The Tinta Chocolat is crafted from hand-harvested Tinta Barocca from a selection of the best blocks on Boplaas.  The impressive Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2006 added a Michelangelo Gran d’Or to its already extensive tally of awards, which include a Platters’ 5 Star rating, a 5 Star from WINE, Veritas double gold and being crowned overall Champion at the CAPPA “Port Challenge” 2011.

The Boplaas Cape Ports and wines are available from most leading retailers and from our cellar door in Calitzdorp and the Cool Bay tasting room along the N1 near Little Brak.  For more information on these and our range of wines, visit www.boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044-2133326, drop us a line at info@boplaas.co.za or follow us on Twitter @Boplaas1880
Queries and requests for the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2006 can kindly be issued to winemaker@boplaas.co.za

In these tumultuous economic times, it is reassuring to know that it’s still possible to enjoy a quality local wine without having to break the bank, such as the Boplaas Merlot 2011 and Boplaas Hanepoot 2012, which were among the 549 wines included in Ultra Liquors’ BestValue Guide 2013 chosen from the 1114 entrants.  The price criteria for this year’s Guide was increased to include all local wines available to the public at a price below or equal to R80 per bottle – a price point reflecting a substantial  portion of the local wine market – and wines had to score a minimum of 2 ½ stars to be considered.  The Boplaas Merlot 2011 is available from the cellar door in Calitzdorp at R48 a bottle, while the Hanepoot 2012 comes in at an astonishingly pocket-friendly R41.

Boplaas Merlot with its opulent red fruit, black plum, subtle spice and smooth tannin structure has been a perennial favourite amongst visitors to the cellar door and local consumers alike.  Crafted from hand harvested fruit and fermented in traditional “kuipe” (open-fermentors) with manual pigeage, result in a versatile red with a friendly 13.5% alcohol and the potential for further cellaring.  All of Boplaas’s wines are crafted from hand-harvested fruit and in the case of the red & fortified wines, are fermented in traditional “kuipe” (open fermenters) with manual pigeage to coax the colour and flavour from the skins in order to craft wines of elegance and utter drinkability.

Calitzdorp has always been associated with the quality of its fine Cape fortifieds crafted from traditional Portuguese varietals and its Muscats, with the Boplaas Hanepoot 2012 rightly continuing this heritage.  Crafted from Muscat d’Alexandria vines ranging in age from 10 to 40 odd years, the fruit is allowed a day of cold soaking to coax those defining ripe melon, pineapple, citrus and lovely grapey Muscat flavours from the skins prior to fortification.  This year was a particularly dry harvest season resulting in Muscats with more complexity and lighter, less cloying wines which, when served chilled make an ideal partner to spicy Indian dishes, exotically aromatic Thai cuisine, comforting Cantonese dishes or your favourite dessert.

The recognition garnered by these wines is reward not only for the efforts of our vineyard team who tirelessly toil to ensure only the very best fruit makes it to the cellar, but are also a reflection of the versatility of this family cellar and the dedication to the crafting of exceptional quality and value throughout the range.
Both the Boplaas Merlot 2011 and Boplaas Hanepoot 2012 are widely available from reputable retailers, as well as from our cellar door in Calitzdorp and the Cool Bay tasting room in Groot Brak.  For more information about these and our other award winning wines please visit www.boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044-2133326, send an email to info@boplaas.co.za / marketing @boplaas.co.za or send us a tweet @Boplaas1880

Boplaas’s efforts in the betterment of Portuguese varietal table wines and Cape “Ports” are bearing fruit with the four gold medals received for the young wines crafted from these varietals in this vintage.  The two golds were achieved by wines in the Vintage (including classwinner in the Vintage Class) and one in the Tawny class – these fine fortifieds were crafted utilising traditional Portuguese methods and varietals. These wines will find their way into Boplaas’s fine Cape Vintage and Tawny’s in the years to come.  Boplaas’s Touriga Nacional won gold in the unusual varietal class and this wine with its intense purple colour, floral aromatics and savoury flavours shows incredible potential.  This Touriga Nacional, as well as the Tinta Barocca, Touriga Franca and Souzão from this vintage will form the components for the Boplaas’s Tinta Chocolat, Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional and Ring of Rocks blend in the years ahead.  Boplaas received more gold medals in the Cape “Port” category than any other producer, once again affirming the cellars reputation as one of the finest producers of this style in the Cape.

The Klein Karoo has long been famed for its fine Muscats and Boplaas continues this with the gold medal Muscat de Frontignan at the SANYWS 2012.  This gold medal is another feather in the cap with the golds achieved at the SA Muscadel Association and Enartis Muscadel Challenge 2012 and the Novare Terroir Awards 2012 by the Boplaas Muscadel 2011.  This gold medal Muscat originates from a block planted back in 1976, which is cropped to a meagre 5 tons per hectare in order to craft a complex Muscat with excellent ageing potential.

Unfortunately, these young wines have not yet made their way to bottle, but our range of table wines, sparkling wines, fine Cape “Ports”, luscious Muscats and potstill brandies are available for tasting and purchase from our cellar door in Calitzdorp and our tasting room in Groot Brak River. For more information, visit www.boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044 213 3326, send us a mail at info@boplaas.co.za /marketing@boplaas.co.za or simply follow on Twitter and ask us about our wines @Boplaas1880.

The fine Cape Port-styled wines of Boplaas dominated the inaugural Port tasting in the June issue of Classic Wine.  The Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1997 rating 4 ½ stars, while four other Ports earned 4 Star ratings and the stalwart Boplaas Cape Ruby N/V earned a 3 Star rating.  A most pleasing result for the Nel family of Boplaas’s continued dedication in crafting fine Cape fortifieds from traditional Portuguese varietals.

The fine Cape Ports of Boplaas continued to reaffirm their position as some of the very finest produced in the country, garnering a 4 ½ Star, four 4 Stars and a 3 Star rating in Classic Wine’s inaugural Port tasting in their June issue.  The Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1997 – a rare Colheita or dated Tawny – received one of only two 4 ½ Star ratings; while 4 Star ratings were received by the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009, Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2006, Boplaas Cape Vintage Port 2009 and the Boplaas Cape Tawny N/V.  The stalwart comforter of many a cold winter’s evening and hunting trip, the Boplaas Cape Ruby N/V received a 3 Star rating to round out Boplaas’s excellent showing.

The Nel family of Boplaas’s dedication to the crafting of authentic Cape fortifieds from traditional Portuguese varietals grown in the deep red soils of Calitzdorp and painstakingly sourced from vineyards spread across the Cape’s finest terroir, as well as the adherence of traditional wine making techniques continues to be rewarded by the ever increasing levels of quality, complexity and excellent ageing potential of these wines.

The Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve Port 1997, crafted from a single barrel of Tinta Barocca aged for 12 years prior to bottling, has previously received a double Gold medal at Veritas 2011, a 5 Star rating from Platter’s and recently awarded a spot in the “South African Top 100 Wines 2012” list.  The Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2006, crafted from a trio of Portuguese varietals, is a previous 5 Star Platter luminary, as well as being crowned overall winner of the Cape Port Producer’s Association “Port Challenge 2011”.  The Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009, a 5 Star Platter wine as well as SA Top 100 Wine 2012, crafted from a quartet of Portuguese varietals.  The Boplaas Cape Vintage 2009 and Boplaas Cape Tawny N/V both received double gold medals at Veritas 2011; while the stalwart Boplaas Cape Ruby N/V received a 4 Star rating in Platter’s 2012.

The Boplaas Cape Vintage Port 2009, Boplaas Cape Tawny N/V and the Boplaas Cape Ruby N/V are available nationwide from all fine retailers and from our cellar door in Calitzdorp.  The Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve 1997, Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2006 and Boplaas Cape Vintage 2009 are exclusively available from our cellar door in Calitzdorp and a select few fine wine retailers.  For more information on these and our other wines visit www.boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044-2133326, send us a mail at info@boplaas.co.za / marketing@boplaas.co.za or visit us for a tasting at our cellar door in Calitzdorp or Cool Bay tasting room in Little Brak, Garden Route.

Boplaas Family Vineyards, Calitzdorp – Crafting wines & tending vines, since 1880

An unashamedly modern styled wine – crafted from hand-harvested fruit fermented in open-fermenters with a combination of oak, intense pigeage and barrel maturation in French barrique -the Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 accentuates the varietals black plum, bramble, black berry, spice and cocoa notes, while creamy oak notes flesh out the pallet.  The Old World inspired Boplaas Tinta Barocca 2009 – crafted in traditional open fermenters with manual pigeage, barrel matured of 8 months in 3rd fill French barrique and moderate 13.5% alcohol – took the hotly contested third spot; while the Boplaas Portuguese Connection 2011 – a blend of Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional and Cabernet Sauvignon – specially produced for Woolworths rounded out this year’s Top 10.
The Boplaas Cape Ruby N/V and Boplaas Tinta Chocolat 2011 are widely available from all fine retail establishments; while all the award winners and many more fine wines are available from our cellar door in Calitzdorp.  For more information about our range of Portuguese varietal wines, fine Cape fortifieds and all other queries please visit www.boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044-2133326, send us a mail at info@boplaas.co.za or marketing@boplaas.co.za, alternatively stop by our cellar door in Calitzdorp and come and sample our range.
Boplaas Family Vineyards, Calitzdorp – Tending vines & Crafting wines, since 1880©

The Boplaas White Muscadel 2011 joined the luminaries at the SA Muscadel Association Enartis Awards with a well deserved gold. Boplaas’s White Muscadel was the only award winner from the Klein Karoo and one of only three gold medals for White Muscadels.
As the cold fronts lash the Cape with wet weather and the rest of the country enjoys frosty white mornings, it’s time for a glass of Muscadel to warm the heart and the toes! And what better to keep the chills away than the gold medal Boplaas White Muscadel 2011. The Boplaas White Muscadel 2011 received one of only three gold medals for White Muscadel at the South African Muscadel Association and Enartis Muscadel Awards 2012.

At the informal awards ceremony on Thursday night at Noop Restaurant in Paarl, Sweepie Le Roux – patriarch of Muscadel – waxed on lyrically about the marvels of Muscadel and how we as South Africans should realize the outstanding quality, value, ageability and versatility offered by these wines. This was highlighted by each of the courses including Muscadel and the incredible 1930 Muscadel which walked away with the top accolade.

The Boplaas White Muscadel 2011 was crafted from optimally ripe, hand-harvested Muscat de Frontignan grown in the picturesque Klein Karoo hamlet of Calitzdorp. In the cellar, the Muscat is allowed a period of skin contact prior to pressing and immediate fortification to capture the full fruit essence of the varietal. The final blend consists of parcels from vineyards ranging in age from five to 35 years in age – this ensures that a level of complexity is achieved which is the hallmark of a fine Muscat and ensures its ability to age well over a decade or more.

The Nel’s of Boplaas have endeavoured to create Muscadel brimming with melon, citrus, fresh fig and hints of spice, all encased in luscious sweetness. Served well chilled this Muscadel is perfect as an aperitif or partner to spicy Indian dishes, comforting Cantonese cuisine, aromatic Thai dishes or traditional Cape fare such as bobotie with yellow rice, sultanas and sambals. Alternatively, pair this Muscadel with decadent desserts or simply enjoy along the fire side.

The Boplaas White Muscadel 2011, as well as our Hanepoot and fine Cape fortifieds are available from most fine wine retailers nationwide. For more information about this Muscadel and our range of fine fortified Muscats please visit our website at www.boplaas.co.za, send us an email to info@boplaas.co.za / marketing@boplaas.co.za, give us a call on 044 213 3326 or drop in at our cellar door in Calitzdorp to taste our extensive range of wines.

Boplaas Family Vineyards, Calitzdorp – Tending vines and Crafting wines, since 1880.