Boplaas Family Vineyards is based in Calitzdorp on the foot of the Swartberg Mountains in the Southern Cape of South Africa. Current owner Carel Nel, a descendant from the original founders, is a Cape Wine Master, a member of the Cape Winemaker's Guild and has been cellar master since 1980. Grapes have been grown on Boplaas for the making of wine and brandy for more than 150 years.
Port and red wine are the flagship wines of Boplaas and have on various occasions been crowned as SA Champion Port and red wine. The Boplaas port has been chosen at various wine shows, such as Platter Wine Guide, Veritas, Peter Shulz Challenge, Wine Magazine and SA National Young Wine Show as the best port in SA, and for the past six years has been chosen for first class flights on SA Airways. An Italian Magazine regards the 1989 Port as SA best port and one of the top 150 wines of the world. Only traditional Portugese cultivars are used. The range includes Cape White Port, Cape Ruby Port, Cape Vintage Port, Cape Vintage Reserve Port and Cape Tawny Port.
Although port and brandy made a name for Boplaas, a modern cellar operates which produces a range of outstanding table wines. Boplaas has long been regarded as among the leaders in premium wine production. Boplaas won the SA Champion Sauvignon Blanc at the SA National Young Wine Show in 2009 and 2010. At the 2006 SA National Young Wine Show, a Cabernet/Shiraz of Boplaas won the Trophy for the best red blend table wine. Internationally Boplaas Touriga Nacional 2003 received 86 points rating by The Wine Advocate Robert Parker in the US.
Great attention is paid to environment friendly farming practices. A great number of birds, guineafowls, partridges and even otters and wild buck are seen on the farm.
A wide range of quality table wines including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage are produced.
Boplaas is a front-runner in Nature Conservation and a Carbon Negative Winery, with 2230Ha of land that are left as a nature preserve and rehabilitated for the past 10 years. The area around Calitzdorp contains more plant species than the entire Europe and many only occur here.
Boplaas also produces a range of tasty dry fruit chips (titbits). Cellar tours and lunches for groups can be arranged. We are open for tasting and wine sales from 08h00 to 17h00 weekdays and 09h00 to 15h00 on Saturdays.
LOCATION
Boplaas is situated in a small picturesque village in the Southern Cape Province, surrounded by the Swartberg, Rooiberg and Kleinberg Mountains - approximately 450 km from Cape Town, South Africa.
CLIMATE
Cold winters with snow on the nearby Swartberg Mountains. Warm summer days with a cool breeze every afternoon, with a mean February temperature (MFT) of 23.7 degrees C and a low annual rainfall of 233 mm, the district of Calitzdorp has a similar climate to that of the Douro Demarcated Region. The vineyards are irrigated.
SOIL & VINEYARD SITES
The vineyards of Boplaas are located at superior sites along the Gamka River, Nel?s River and the slopes of the Gamka Valley to maximise the considerable diversity that exists in micro-climates and soil types. The different sites provide nuances of aroma and flavour, bringing complexity to the wines. Poor soil, but well drained. A mixture of sedimentary and alluvial soil ? rich in lime with a high pH.
CULTIVARS
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franseca, Souzao, Muskadel / Muscat de Frontignan, Shiraz, Merlot, Colombar, Hanepoot/Muscat d?Alexandrie
PRODUCTION
An area of 75 hectares is planted in Calitzdorp, with contracts in Stellenbosch, Durbanville and Darling.
HISTORY
The Nel family, French Huguenots descendants, emigrated to the Cape in 1688 and is today part of a rich legacy that reaches back for more than150 years in the South African wine industry. Danie Nel, great grandfather of Carel Nel had exported brandy in vats to London way back in 1880. After new distillation licenses were granted, Boplaas became the first private cellar in the country to release a certified portstill brandy.