The wines of Boplaas and Calitzdorp were on full show this past long weekend during another successful hosting of the Calitzdorp ExPRESSed winter wine festival.
The event started out as the Calitzdorp Port Festival in 1993 until it was decided to widen its scope to highlight the excellence of all the region’s vinous creations.
Today, the festival remains concentrated around the wine cellars in Calitzdorp. It continues to draw thousands of visitors from across the province who come to enjoy not only the wines, but country hospitality in a unique Klein Karoo setting.
“This year’s festival was a great success and an important milestone for many local businesses,” says Boplaas marketing manager Rozanne Nel.
“Drought and the pandemic took its toll over the past few years, but this festival really felt like Calitzdorp and the Klein Karoo has come back with a bang!”
“It was truly wonderful to see the streets full of life again.”
Events that featured over the three days this year included a trail run, master classes, food and wine pairings, organ recitals in the historic Dutch Reformed church, and the involvement of numerous local restaurants.
The Boplaas perspective
As a beloved distillery and one of the country’s leading producers of wines from Portuguese varieties, Boplaas participated on a handful of occasions.
Winemaker Margaux Nel presented a masterclass showing the Portuguese cultivar wines of Boplaas. These included Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional and the famous blends Ring of Rocks and the Gamka Red. She also showed the different styles of Cape Ports - the Cape Ruby, Cape Tawny, 2005 Colheita Cape Tawny, 1980 Cape Tawny and the 2020 Cape Vintage Reserve, a Platter’s guide Wine of the Year.
Showcasing Boplaas distilling, 6th generation distiller Daniel Nel highlighted the Boplaas Single Grain Whisky and Single Malt Whisky, as well as the 8 YO Single Casks.
It was however, the 6YO Single Grain that won a popular vote, echoing the panel at the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards, which named it best overall in 2018.
The distillery’s gins were also a crowd-pleaser during Calitzdorp Expressed, especially the Boplaas 8 Citrus gin. It was among a range of Boplaas cocktails - some designed by the Cape-based mobile bar service Sip Exclusive.
Not all was about beverages. Outstanding food was also on offer, including veteran winemaker and Boplaas cellarmaster Carel Nel’s famous oxtail-and-port potjie.
Enjoying the view at Stoepsit Bistro
The Boplaas Stoepsit Bistro, located at the winery, was a destination in itself. Here, visitors enjoyed a Stoepsit cheese-and-charcuterie platter with freshly-made roosterkoek and live music.
The fare is on offer throughout the year with cheese locally sourced from Guy’s Cheesery in Prince Albert, the charcuterie from the German Smoke House in Mossel Bay and local preserves from the region.
Keep a look out for next year’s festival dates by following Boplaas on social media. Boplaas is on Facebook and Instagram.
For more information about Boplaas wines and spirits, email admin@boplaas.co.za or call 044 213 3326.