Jean and Carel Nel with the Port Wine of the Year award. Photo supplied
BOPLAAS Family Vineyards from Calitzdorp has received the coveted title of Port Wine of the Year in the latest edition of the Platter’s South African Wine Guide. Boplaas was also awarded its 19th five-star rating from this highly regarded publication, printed since 1980.
The latest edition of the guide was unveiled in Cape Town on Friday at a gathering of South Africa’s top wineries. This 40th anniversary edition of Platter’s features a total of 125 wines and one brandy that received the envied five-star rating. Among them was the Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2017, which also shares the title of Port of the Year with Upland Winery.
As with many of its predecessors, the 2017 vintage is no stranger to the winner’s podium. It received a rating of 95/100 from UK Master of Wine Tim Atkin, a gold medal at Veritas, platinum at Michelangelo and double platinum at the NWC/SA Top 100 competition.
The wine was crafted from four old vine Portuguese varieties – Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca, Touriga Franca and Souzão. The fruit was hand-harvested at optimal ripeness.
Portuguese grape varieties thrive in the Calitzdorp region because they are hardier and well-adapted to warmer climates. It is anticipated that they’ll play a bigger role as global warming increases.