South Africa has a long history of producing quality fortified wines including those styled on Portuguese Ports. As demand for red wine grew in the 20th century, Port went out of favour, until, around mid-1980s, the Calitzdorp Nel families of Boplaas and De Krans revived interest in it.
Calitzdorp became known as the Port capital and has attracted many new producers over the years.
‘We have warm, dry summers and cold, frosty winters, similar to the Douro. Only Portuguese varieties vinified in the traditional way in open concrete fermenters are used, but it’s the dedication and attention to detail that ensures Calitzdorp produces excellent Port-style wines.’ Boets Nel, owner of De Krans summarises the area’s renown for these wines.
Peter Bayly and his wife, Yvonne, relative newcomers to Calitzdorp (Peter Bayly Wines was established in 2002), continue to uphold the area’s reputation. Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca and Souzao, joined in 2022 by Tinta Roriz make up the blend in their fortified and dry table wines. There’s Tinta Amarela at De Krans rather than Souzao. Each adds different qualities to the blend: Touriga is the finest of the Port grapes bringing spice and complexity, Tinta Barocca is important for ageing, Tinta Roriz delivers high tannins, Tinta Amarela has fragrance and superb acid and Souzao deep colour.
Blending these produces quality, long-lived wines. Cape Vintage Reserve or Cape Vintage are at the peak of the triangle, though other styles like Cape Late-Bottled Vintage, Cape Tawny, Cape Ruby, Cape White & even Cape Pink add to consumer choice. The word ‘Port’ is no longer used, an agreement with the Portuguese.
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