The outstanding legacy of excellence associated with Boplaas was the focus of a very special tasting, recently hosted in Cape Town. Among several highlights, it showcased the importance of consistent custodianship through the 45 vintages under industry veteran, Carel Nel.
Carel will again share his journey with a similar tasting on 16 June 2024 at the Calitzdorp Expressed Festival.
A member of the Cape Winemakers Guild and maker of, amongst others, the country’s most awarded range of port wines, Carel undertook his first harvest in 1979. This was shortly after completing his BSc Viticulture and Oenology degree.
When asked which vintages stood out to him Nel answered that there were many great vintages. “I especially remember 1986, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2004 and more recently the outstanding 2006, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2020 and 2023.”
Apart from many good years there were difficult years too. “In 1981 the year was marred by floods; 1996 had a lot of rain too and another very big flood, possibly the biggest in 150 years in 2000. From 2016 – 2018 we had the longest drought in 100 years.”
What he has enjoyed most in life about making wine is the people he has met! From winemakers, producers, owners, and people in wine. Many from abroad and living in South Africa.
When he was invited to become a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild in 1988, he became acquainted with many members past and present, and formed lifelong friendships along the way. The same applied when he passed his Cape Wine Masters exam in 1991.
A passion for wine runs in the family from way back with Guilliaume Nel (1688) who owned Blaauwklippen in Stellenbosch and Nel’s grandmother, Jeanette Cloete, an early Constantia winemaking family.
As for Nel, he has been fortunate to first work with his father, Danie Nel, who loved wine and winemaking. “Now, I’m equally blessed to have this history with my wife Jeanne and our children, Rozanne in marketing, Margaux as winemaker and Daniël as our distiller.” The current generation of Nels at Boplaas is the seventh.
Over many years they have found that Portuguese cultivars do very well in the Calitzdorp terroir, but also Muscat and Colombar, which are used in making Boplaas brandy.
“To us, the awards we’ve won is recognition of this very special place.”
Boplaas has won the SA Champion Port trophy 8 times; 25 Veritas Double Gold medals; 20 Platter’s guide five-stars; been voted Best Cellar in South Africa at Veritas (2005) and Best South African Cellar at the Michaelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards (2019).
Other accolades include Master of Wine Tim Atkin choosing a Boplaas port as his best in SA for three years running (2021 – 2023) and The Wine Advocate giving their ports top scores on several occasions.
Boplaas is very involved in conservation and knows that the future relies on a healthy planet. Nel has found many stone axes occasionally, ancient tools dating back many years, and this reminds him that life still needs to be sustained for hundreds of years to come.
“I believe that we’re all responsible on this journey; to leave the land in better shape than when we arrived,”
Boplaas has included the acquisition of 5 000 ha of land to keep for conservation purposes. The porkbush (spekboom) that is abundant in the region and on this land too, binds three times more CO2 than what is produced through our regular farming activities.
Nature has responded beautifully and a camera-trap on their land recently captured a photograph of a beautiful leopard!
“One thing I learned in the past 45 years is that if you don’t have a passion for wine, do not choose a career as a winemaker.”
In closing Nel says that so far, his journey has been fantastic, blessed and that he cannot wait to see what the next part will bring!
Follow Boplaas on Facebook or contact the farm on 044 213 3326.
A blessed wonderful journey
Carel Nel from Boplaas has been at the helm of this excellent family wine farm for 45 years. Photo supplied