Boplaas’s outstanding excellence was again highlighted on Saturday at this year’s Veritas Awards – South Africa’s most prominent wine and spirit competition. In front of one of the event’s most auspicious gatherings in years, the Calitzdorp winery received 12 medals that brought its tally of accolades at Veritas since the prestigious competition’s inception to no less than 265.
Even more impressive is that 105 or 40% of these medals bestowed over the years comprised Double Gold and Gold awards.
This year, Boplaas received Double Gold for Boplaas Nel Family Reserve Ring of Rocks 2022 as well as its Cape Tawny NV and Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009 among only eight fortified wines to receive the award. Gold was awarded to the Boplaas Touriga Nacional 2024, Cape Tawny 20 Year Old Colheita 2005, and Cape Vintage Reserves of 2023, 2022 and 2021.
This record ensured Boplaas became Veritas’s top producer in the category of fortified wines again this year.
“Recognition at the Veritas Awards is always an honour, but it’s especially meaningful when our medals span wines of different styles and price points,” says winemaker Margaux Nel of Boplaas. “It once again reaffirms that excellence runs through every tier of our portfolio - from everyday favourites to our most celebrated bottlings.” Margaux have been winemaker of Boplaas since 2009 and have completed her MSc at Stellenbosch University specializing in Touriga Nacional.
The 35th Veritas Awards were held at a gala dinner on Saturday night, hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. In addition to the attendance of producers from across the country, guests included Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuizen, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Veritas is the awards season’s most widely supported highlight of the South African wine industry and was launched in 1990, initially as the National Bottled Wine Show. It was the first show of its kind, at a time that Boplaas was already showing its prowess with wine, port and brandy. At the time, the winery had become a co-founder of the Klein Karoo Wine Association’s own annual challenge for wines of the region. Its Ruiterbosch Chardonnay 1991 was named Best of Show at an international competition held in Germany.
Subsequently at Veritas, Boplaas has dominated with brandy and port achievements, and maintained an outstanding showing with muscadel and red and white wines. It’s Ring of Rocks Double Gold winner this year emerged victorious in what turned out to be the competition’s most keenly contested category, with 149 red blend wines vying for glory.
In 2021, Boplaas’s Carel Nel was recognised as a “Living Legend” of the South African wine industry. The accolade is presented to individuals who have made an indelible contribution to the integrity and quality of wines in South Africa.
The panel of judges at Veritas this year comprised six international and 77 local specialists, which highlights Boplaas’s international benchmark of quality.
The Boplaas Double Gold and Gold winners will be among those at public tasting hosted in Durban on October 28 and in Johannesburg on November 5. Details are available at veritas.co.za. The three Double Gold winners will also be part of a special tasting in London.
Boplaas wines, ports and spirits are available at fine retailers across South Africa, and can also be ordered online from www.boplaas.co.za. Shipping is free on all orders over R2 000, and only available in South Africa. Get maximum benefits on Boplaas releases when you sign up – via the website – as a member of its wine and whisky club.