WeeklySA_AdminCRAFTSMANSHIP: The historic Calitzdorp estate has become the first South African producer to be crowned champion in Cape Port, brandy and whisky within a single year, underlining nearly 150 years of craftsmanship and innovation…
By WSAM Reporter
Boplaas Family Vineyards has etched its name into South African wine and spirits history after becoming the first producer to claim champion honours in Cape Port, brandy and whisky within a single 12-month period…
The remarkable achievement places the Klein Karoo estate in a league of its own, demonstrating an extraordinary breadth of expertise across three of the country’s most demanding beverage categories.
For the Nel family, whose farming heritage on the Calitzdorp property dates back to 1880, the unprecedented treble is the culmination of generations of dedication to traditional craftsmanship while continually refining quality.
The estate’s latest success began with its fortified wines, where the Boplaas Cape Tawny NV was crowned Best South African Port at the 2026 National Wine Challenge.
Matured for a decade in seasoned oak barrels, the wine impressed judges with its rich mahogany colour, complex nutty aromas and flavours reminiscent of Christmas cake, dried fruit and spice.
Boplaas reinforced its dominance in the fortified category by securing Best Cape Port in the Museum Class at the Trophy Wine Show with its 1996 Cape Vintage Reserve Port. The estate also topped the 2026 Wine Magazine Fortified Report, where its entry achieved an outstanding 97-point rating.
The accolades extended beyond wine into premium spirits.
The estate’s 20-Year-Old Pot Still Brandy was named Champion Brandy at the prestigious 2025 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards.
Produced from Colombar grapes grown in the deep red soils surrounding Calitzdorp, the brandy is double-distilled in traditional copper pot stills before spending two decades maturing in French Limousin oak casks.
The intense Klein Karoo climate accelerates the ageing process, producing a spirit layered with ripe stone fruit, honey, kumquat and subtle oak spice before finishing with exceptional smoothness.
Completing the historic clean sweep was the Boplaas 12-Year-Old Rum Cask Whisky, which claimed the title of Best South African Grain Whisky at the 2026 World Whisky Awards in London.
The whisky spends its early years in Bourbon and brandy casks before receiving a distinctive finish in South African and Colombian rum barrels, creating a rich profile featuring notes of vanilla cream, toffee, tropical fruit and lingering mocha.
While the spotlight has fallen on its Cape Port and spirits, Boplaas has continued to demonstrate its credentials as one of South Africa’s leading producers of premium still wines.
Its Ring of Rocks 2022 has enjoyed an exceptional run, collecting a Double Gold Medal at the Veritas Awards, a place among South Africa’s Top 100 wines and Double Platinum honours at the National Wine Challenge.
The estate’s Merlot has also added to the trophy cabinet with a Veritas Gold Medal.
The unprecedented success reflects the growing international recognition of South Africa’s premium wine and spirits industry, with producers increasingly earning top honours on the global stage.
For Boplaas, however, the achievement is especially significant because it spans three distinctly different disciplines requiring unique skills, techniques and decades of patient maturation.
Few producers anywhere in the world have successfully built reputations across fortified wines, premium brandies and whisky simultaneously.
Now, with champion titles in all three categories within a single year, the Calitzdorp estate has set a benchmark that may prove difficult to equal.
Nearly 150 years after the Nel family first established Boplaas in the heart of the Klein Karoo, the estate’s latest achievements affirm its place among South Africa’s most accomplished wine and spirits producers—one equally at home crafting world-class Cape Ports, fine brandies, exceptional whiskies and award-winning table wines.
EVENTS
Franschhoek Readies for Bastille Festival
The picturesque Franschhoek Wine Valley will once again celebrate its rich French heritage when the Franschhoek Bastille Festival returns on July 11 and 12 for its 34th edition.
One of South Africa’s most popular winter wine events, the festival combines exceptional wines, gourmet food and vibrant entertainment in the heart of the historic village. Visitors can enjoy tastings from some of Franschhoek’s leading wine estates inside the iconic Bastille marquee, alongside artisanal food stalls, live music and festive entertainment throughout the weekend.
The much-loved best-dressed competition also returns, with guests encouraged to embrace the occasion by wearing the traditional French colours of blue, white and red, while gumboots are a practical choice for the valley’s winter weather.
Beyond the marquee, restaurants, cafés and boutiques throughout the village will add to the celebratory atmosphere, making it an ideal weekend getaway for wine lovers.
The festival runs from 11am daily, with tickets priced at R450 per person, available through Webtickets.
Guild unveils pre-auction tastings
The 2026 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction will usher in a new era when it takes place at Strauss & Co’s Brickfield Canvas in Woodstock, Cape Town, on October 2 and 3, offering wine collectors an enhanced experience in one of the city’s most vibrant creative spaces.
Renowned for showcasing rare, small-batch wines crafted exclusively for the annual Auction, the event will once again combine live bidding with online participation via Strauss & Co, making South Africa’s premier fine wine auction accessible to buyers around the world.
Leading up to the Auction, the Guild will present two exclusive Masterclass Tastings at The Westin, Cape Town (August 20) and Strauss & Co, Houghton, Johannesburg (August 26). Hosted by the winemakers themselves, these intimate sessions provide the only opportunity to taste the complete collection of 2026 Auction wines before bidding opens.
A new walk-around final pre-auction tasting on the morning of October 2 will replace the traditional seated format, allowing guests to sample wines while engaging directly with the winemakers.
The Guild also confirmed that tickets for its popular Pretoria Country Club tasting and dinner have already sold out. Tickets for the remaining pre-Auction events and Auction attendance are available through Quicket from R800.
Cape’s Finest Reds Showcase
Wine lovers, collectors and industry professionals will once again have the opportunity to sample some of South Africa’s finest flagship red wines when Caroline’s 2026 Red Wine Review takes place at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town July 30.
Now in its 38th year, the prestigious tasting event, hosted by renowned wine retailer Caroline Rillema of Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar, has become one of the highlights of the South African wine calendar.
The annual showcase will feature 90 of the country’s most acclaimed red wines, with each invited producer presenting just one flagship wine. The tasting line-up spans South Africa’s leading Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz/Syrah, Merlot, Pinotage, Cinsault and Grenache wines, alongside a selection of niche varietals and acclaimed Bordeaux-style, Rhône-style and Cape blends.
The event will be staged in the Members’ Lounge on the fourth floor of the DHL Stadium.
Guests will receive a crystal tasting glass and a catalogue listing all wines available for sampling. Wines may be purchased on the evening at a 15% discount off the normal retail price.
The tasting runs from 17:00 to 21:00. Tickets cost R550 per person, while secure undercover parking is available for R70 per vehicle.
Lesotho raises a glass
Wine enthusiasts from across Southern Africa will gather in Maseru October 10, for the 13th edition of the Lesotho Wine Festival, one of the kingdom’s premier wine and lifestyle events.
Hosted at the Maseru Club, the festival promises a day of tasting, entertainment and socialising, featuring more than 240 wines from over 45 producers. Since its launch in 2012, the event has grown into a celebrated showcase of wine culture, attracting both seasoned connoisseurs and curious newcomers.
Organised by Station Off Sales (Liquor City Group), the festival operates on a non-profit basis and is dedicated to promoting a refined wine experience while supporting local talent and celebrating an elevated Lesotho lifestyle.
Beyond the extensive wine selection, visitors can expect live entertainment, quality food offerings and a vibrant social atmosphere designed to bring together lovers of wine, culture and good company.
Running from 11am, the event offers an ideal opportunity to discover new favourites, meet producers and enjoy a memorable day in the Mountain Kingdom.
Tickets are available online via lesothowine.co.ls.
European fine wines on auction
Collectors and wine enthusiasts have until July 20 to bid on an exceptional selection of fine wines from Italy, Spain and Portugal in Strauss & Co’s latest online auction.
Featuring 233 lots, the sale is headlined by wines from the private collection of the late David Brice, the respected wine connoisseur and co-founder of Brice and Burnett – The Fine Wine Specialists.
His carefully curated cellar showcases some of Europe’s most celebrated producers, many of whose wines are rarely available in South Africa.
Italy dominates the catalogue with sought-after labels including Sassicaia, Tignanello, Fontodi, Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino, spanning both classic and collectible vintages. Spain offers outstanding examples from Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Toro, with acclaimed producers such as La Rioja Alta, López de Heredia, Marqués de Murrieta and Vega Sicilia’s Alion. Portugal completes the line-up with elegant Douro Valley wines from Niepoort, alongside mature Ports and a rare 15-year-old Madeira Malvasia.
Most of the wines were professionally imported under refrigeration and cellared under ideal conditions, ensuring exceptional provenance.
The online auction closes on July 20, from 6pm, with lots ending at one-minute intervals, offering collectors a rare opportunity to secure some of Europe’s finest wines at a range of price points. – Compiled by Len Maseko: lenmaseko@weeklysamirror.news
