Boplaas Family Vineyards’ Alvarinho white wine has been rated overall best at a South African show just months after the release of its maiden vintage.
The Boplaas Alvarinho 2023 was singled out just days ago by a panel of experienced tasters, including two Cape Wine Masters, at the South African Niche Varieties Challenge in Cape Town. They used the international 100-point system, with all wines evaluated blind and in the presence of an auditor. At the show’s conclusion, four wines were awarded Gold medals with the highest score going to the Alvarinho from Calitzdorp.
“We’re especially happy about this result because it’s so unexpected,” says Boplaas winemaker Margaux Nel. “Whenever you launch a new wine, you temper your expectations because you don’t know how it will be received. Even more so when it’s a variety such as Alvarinho that is less well-known in South Africa.
“To be voted Best Wine by such an authoritative panel is a wonderful recommendation to wine-lovers.”
Alvarinho hails from Portugal, which made an obvious consideration for Boplaas. The winery has proven through its portfolio of consistently awarded port and table wines to be among the undisputed South African specialists of Portuguese grape varieties.
Boplaas planted the white wine grape at its Calitzdorp farm where the drier, warmer climate ensures top quality. Calitzdorp has a similar Mediterranean climate where the variety ripens early during harvest season.
The quality achieved with the first vintage guaranteed its place in the winery’s Family Reserve range.
In making the wine, all fruit was hand-harvested, crushed and allowed skin contact prior to a gentle pressing. It was left to cold-settle overnight. During the process, the wine also spent four months on the lees prior to bottling.
The result was a wine that shows green citrus, nectarine, and pomelo with a chalky
saline finish. The wine team recommends serving the wine slightly chilled. It pairs particularly well with seafood.
The Alvarinho is available at R135/bottle, along with Boplaas’s other many award-winning wines, from the winery’s online shop at www.boplaas.co.za and its various tasting outlets.
