The victory marks a remarkable 12th SA Champion Port title for Boplaas over the past 40 years, with the first coming in 1986 – exactly four decades ago.
When Boplaas claimed its first national championship in 1986, the Cape Port was made primarily from Tinta Barocca. Today, Boplaas’ Cape Vintage is a carefully crafted blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca and Souzao, reflecting both the evolution of South African Cape Port and the Nel family's commitment to traditional Portuguese varieties.
The 1986 victory also came at a very different time in the South African wine industry. The SA Young Wine Show was then the country's leading major wine competition. Today, South African wines compete across a much broader landscape, including prestigious competitions such as Veritas, Michelangelo and numerous international judging platforms.
At Boplaas, the production of Cape Port remains firmly rooted in tradition. Grapes are hand-picked at optimal ripeness of approximately 26.5° Balling and fermented in traditional open lagars. Fermentation lasts no more than five days, with intensive pump-overs and regular cap plunging to extract maximum colour, flavour and structure. Fermentation is stopped at around 10° Balling through the addition of aged grape spirits.
Boplaas has a further advantage in producing its own spirits, distilled from Colombar grapes, giving the winemaking team complete control over an important component of the Cape Port-making process.
The unique Calitzdorp terroir, with its dry climate and soils, shares important similarities with the Douro Valley in Portugal, the historic home of Port. The Nel family has maintained close relationships with leading Portuguese Port families, including the Symington and Guimaraens families, and regularly visits the Douro Valley and its famous Port lodges.
This expertise also extends into academia. Carel Nel completed his Cape Wine Master thesis on South African and Portuguese Ports, while current winemaker Margaux Nel completed her MSc focusing on Touriga Nacional, one of the key varieties used in Boplaas' Cape Port.
The latest championship adds to an extraordinary record of success. Over the years, Boplaas Cape Ports have earned 12 SA Champion Port trophies, 39 Double Gold medals at Veritas and 30 five-star ratings from Platter. The winery has also been named Tim Atkin's Port of the Year for four consecutive years, alongside numerous top ratings in Wine Magazine.
“This award is particularly special because it connects two generations of our history,” says Carel Nel of Boplaas Family Vineyards. “Forty years ago, in 1986, our family won its first national Port championship. To win it again in 2026, with the next generation now involved in making these wines, is a wonderful reflection of the continuity of our family, our vineyards and our passion for Cape Port.”
From the first championship in 1986 to the latest triumph in 2026, Boplaas' record demonstrates that the tradition of Cape Port remains firmly rooted in the Klein Karoo — while continuing to evolve with each generation of the Nel family.
Boplaas also won the trophy and class winner for the Souzao red wine. The wine is part of the Ring of Rocks blend which won a double Gold medal at Veritas.
Boplaas wines are available for purchase and door-to-door delivery, from boplaas.co.za.