This deeply personal work, which offers a vivid account of Nel’s life, family, and extraordinary career in farming and winemaking, was officially unveiled at an exclusive private function in Calitzdorp last week.
The event, a celebration of Nel's achievement, was attended by a select group of close friends, family, esteemed colleagues, and the dedicated publishing team. Notable figures from the South African wine community were among the guests, including Danie de Wet of De Wetshof Estate, Carl Schulz, and Bartho Eksteen.
The book itself is a rich collection of stories, personal history, and a detailed recounting of Carel’s pioneering farming and winemaking experiences spanning decades. It offers readers an intimate look into the history of Boplaas and the passion that has driven one of the industry's most respected figures.
The book is titled ’n Reis – Familie, Vriende en Wyn, ‘n dankbare terugblik op ‘n geseënde lewe (A journey – Family, Friends and Wine, a grateful reflection on a blessed life). It is published exclusively in Afrikaans.
Speaking at the launch, Danie de Wet praised his friend for taking up the pen. He said the book makes a valuable contribution in that Carel’s first-hand account of farming through the dramatic emergence of South African wine from years of isolation to the international stage has rarely been documented.
Danie wrote the foreword to the book with other contributors, including Dr Winnifred Bowman, Dr Willie Marais, Loftie Ellis and the Nel children – Rozanne, Daniel, and Margaux. It also features Michael Fridjhon, who writes: “Carel's drive and dedication were matched only by his clarity of purpose, his willingness to learn from the custodians of the Anglo-Portuguese tradition and his ability to transform this most unlikely proposition – namely, that Calitzdorp and the Cape could produce world-class port-style wines – into a reality. Boplaas today, together with its international reputation as a source of some of the finest fortified wines in the world, is his achievement.”
The book is not available for sale and Carel says he never set out with this in mind. “Inspired by the earlier work by my friend Piet Beyers, I simply wanted a way to preserve my experiences and the lessons I’ve learned for the next generation. Hopefully, it also makes a small contribution to the history of Calitzdorp and events in a way that will encourage future writers.”
The book is, however, available at a handful of libraries and has, as such, become part of the canon of South African wine history.