Boplaas wins double gold and six golds at Michelangelo International Awards – The Gremlin | Klein Karoo News
October 5, 2017 southcapenetOudtshoorn Business News
For many South African wine and spirits producers, winning a medal at the annual Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards represents a rare pinnacle of the craft. On Friday night, Boplaas Family Vineyards collected seven – including a sought-after Double Gold.
Daniel Nel en vriendin Victoria
It was a momentous occasion for the family-owned and run farm. Compared to the industry monoliths with whom Boplaas submitted its entries, the Little Karoo operation is tiny. With the small budgets of smaller farms, there can be no margin for error. Plus, in spite of being located far from the Cape’s frontline wine regions, Boplaas has built an unrivalled reputation for tenacity and excellence.
Last week, it again showed its mettle in a way that was rare among entrants of its size: it collected a haul of medals in both wine and spirits divisions, at one of the Michelangelo’s toughest events in its 21 years. There were over 1600 entries this year, judged by panels comprising a mix of local and international wine and spirit professionals.
“We are very honoured by this result,” says Boplaas patriarch Carel Nel. “The Michelangelo Awards are internationally recognised as a measure of excellence. For a producer to make the grade in one category, is hard enough. Doing so for wines, fortified wines and spirits is off the charts.”
Undergoing one of the most comprehensive evaluations, Boplaas wines and spirits firmly stood their ground at the milestone event this year.
The Michelangelo Double Gold was awarded to Boplaas Gamka 2015, a red blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca, Touriga Francesa and Shiraz. This outstanding wine recently scored 91/100 by influential UK-based Master of Wine Tim Atkin; won Double Gold at the 2017 National Wine Challenge/Top 100 SA Wines; and, named a Top 10-wine at the CAPPA Challenge.
Another CAPPA Top 10-wine, the Boplaas Touriga Nacional 2015 was awarded Gold. The accolade was especially significant to Margaux Nel, co-winemaker with father Carel, because the variety had been the subject of her MSc degree.
Michelangelo Golds were also awarded to three Boplaas Port-style wines – the Cape Vintage Reserve 2013, a SA Young Wine Show Champion and favourite of the Wine of the Month Club; the Cape Vintage Reserve 2014; and the Boplaas Tawny, class winner at the CAPPA Challenge and a Platter’s Guide 4½ star wine.
Rounding off Boplaas’ achievements at the auspicious event were another two gold medals – one for the 20 Year Old Potstill Brandy; and, another for Boplaas Craft Gin. The occasion was a proud moment for a farm with a long history of distillation. From November, the distillation of Boplaas’ world-class whisky, brandy and gin falls under the care of Carel’s son Daniel, who is named after his great great, grandfather and 1880 exporter of brandy to London.
Boplaas wines and spirits are available nationwide at selected outlets due to the small volume that is produced every year. They are also available for purchase through the Boplaas website, www.boplaas.co.za, which provides more information about the Boplaas range of fine wines, fortified wines and brandy.
BOPLAAS BEHAAL DUBBEL GOUD EN SES GOUD BY MICHELANGELO INTERNASIONALE TOEKENNINGS
Om ’n medalje by die jaarlikse Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards te wen, is vir baie Suid-Afrikaanse wyn- en spiritusprodusente die toppunt van die bedryf. Vrydagaand het Boplaas Familie Wingerde sewe medaljes – waarvan een ’n gesogte Dubbelgoud – ontvang.
Dit was ’n blye geleentheid vir die plaas in familiebesit en -bestuur. Dié Klein Karoo-besigheid is klein in vergelyking met die bedryfsreuse saam met wie Boplaas ingeskryf het. Met die klein begrotings van kleiner plase, is daar nie plek vir foute nie. Boplaas het ’n ongeëwenaarde reputasie vir hul deursettingsvermoë en uitmuntendheid gebou, ten spyte van hul ligging vêr van die Kaapse wynstreke.
Verlede week het Boplaas weer sy slag gewys op ’n raar manier vir inskrywers van sy grootte: dit het ’n gros medaljes in die wyn- én spiritus afdelings ingepalm, by een van die strafste kompetisies in Michelangelo se 21 jaar. Vanjaar was daar meer as 1600 inskrywings, wat beoordeel is deur panele wat uit plaaslike en internasionale wyn- en spirituskenners bestaan het.
“Ons is geëerd deur hierdie uitslae,” sê Boplaas se patriarg, Carel Nel. “Die Michelangelo-toekennings word internasionaal gereken as ’n maatstaf van uitmuntendheid. Vir ’n produsent om sukses in een kategorie te behaal, is uitdagend genoeg. Om dit te behaal vir wyne, gefortifiseerde wyne en spiritus, is heeltemal ongehoord.”
Die Michelangelo Dubbelgoud is toegeken aan die Boplaas Gamka 2015, ’n rooi versnit van Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca, Touriga Francesa en Shiraz. Hierdie uitsonderlike wyn het ook onlangs 91/100 by die invloedryke VK-gebaseerde Master of Wine (MW) Tim Atkin ontvang; die Dubbelgoud by die 2017 National Wine Challenge/Top 100 SA Wines verower en is aangewys as ’n Top 10-wyn by die CAPPA Challenge.
’n Ander CAPPA Top 10-wyn, die Boplaas Touriga Nacional 2015, het Goud ontvang. Hierdie toekenning is veral belangrik vir Margaux Nel, mede-wynmaker saam met haar pa, Carel, omdat dié variëteit die tema van haar MSc-graad was.
Michelangelo Goud is ook toegeken aan drie Boplaas portstyl wyne – die Cape Vintage Reserve 2013, ’n SA Jongwynskou-kampioen en ’n gunsteling by die Wine of the Month Club; die Cape Vintage Reserve 2014 en die Boplaas Tawny, klaswenner by die CAPPA Challenge en ’n Platter’s Guide 4½ ster-wyn.
Om Boplaas se prestasies by die spog-geleentheid mooi af te rond, is nog twee goue medaljes – een vir die 20 Year Old Potstill Brandy en nog een vir die Boplaas Craft Gin – toegeken. Die funksie was ’n trotse geleentheid vir die plaas, wat spog met ’n lang distilleringsgeskiedenis. Van November sal die distillering van Boplaas se wêreldklas whisky, -brandewyn en -jenewer onder die sorg van Carel se seun, Daniel, val, wie na sy agter-oupagrootjie vernoem is, wat reeds in 1880 brandewyn na Londen uitgevoer het.
Boplaas se wyne is landwyd net by uitgesoekte winkels te kry, omdat die volume wat jaarliks produseer word, so klein is. Dit kan egter deur die Boplaas webwerf, www.boplaas.co.za, bestel word, waar daar ook meer inligting oor die volledige Boplaas wyn-, gefortifiseerde wyne- en brandewyn reekse is.
Kontak Boplaas by +27 (0)44 213 3326 of epos: info@boplaas.co.za. Boplaas is op Twitter @Boplaas1880 en Instagram @Boplaaswines.
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