Bovlei Winery

Bovlei – Quality wines to enjoy

About Bovlei Winery

At the foot of the majestic Hawekwa mountain range, a wondrous vinous jewel is positioned

Its name discloses a great deal of its recipe for success because it is certainly the case that the secret nestles in the soil – and that the difference lies in the valley.

Yes, Bovlei Wine Cellar, or Boven Valley Wine Cellar as it used to be known, knows full well how to spoil the wine lover with the fruit of its labour from its valley! But then, how could it do anything else?

Since the cellar was founded in 1907, it has many times produced the glory of this region – a region that truly can be called not only “the cradle of the South African wine industry” but also received the nomination as the “Top Terroir region” of the industry in 2010.

Bovlei has 32 members and produces on average 8 000 tons per annum.

In its more than 103 years of existence, there have been only eight chairmen and descendants of the original families still serve on the board or are still members of the cellar.

Its ability to use classic wine making skills, combined with modern, innovative techniques to produce wines of outstanding quality and lingering memories, is at the core of Bovlei’s award winning red and white wines.

BOVLEI Winery is built at the foot of the Hawequa mountain range which rises steeply from the plains like a massive gateway into the African continent.

On either side, almost as far as the eye can see, are vineyards sloping down into the Waggonmaker’s Valley (Le Val du Charron, named by the French Huguenots who settled here at the beginning of the 18th century).

Today the area is known as Wellington, renowned for its spectacular scenery, its dried fruit industry and its superlative wines.

BOVLEI wine cellar is an impressive building designed in the traditional chevron pattern.

Here between the months of January and April 10,000 tons of grapes are delivered from 73 farms in the area.

Cultivars such as Sauvignon Blanc, Bukettraube and Weisser Riesling come from the cool valleys of Bovlei and Leeurivier (Lion River, once the natural domain of lion and antelope), while Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Pinotage and Shiraz come from the warm north facing slopes of Agter Groenberg.

It is no idle boast to call Wellington the cradle of South Africa’s wine industry – their vine nurseries have been in existence for over a hundred years and they now produce 92% of the country’s planting material.

This is due to the fact that the coarse, sandy soils of the area optimum heat early in the springtime and the young vines always strike well.

BOVLEI produces 22 wines – White wines include dry blended Blanc Imperial, an excellent Chardonnay, a typical Riesling and a dry, grassy Sauvignon Blanc.

There is a medium sweet Gewürztraminer and a Special Late Harvest made from full ripe grapes.

The sweet dessert wine, Muscat D’Alexandrie, has also proved extremely popular, either child as an aperitif or for drinking after dinner.

Red wines range from Grand Rouge, a dry Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet and Merlot, to red varietals such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinotage, a popular cultivar unique to South Africa.

These wines have won many gold and silver medals locally and have also been awarded a selection of international medals in recognition of the quality and character of Bovlei wines.

BOVLEI produces New World Wines with a definite South African identity. Today wines are being exported to the UK, Europe, the North American Continent, Africa and the Far East.

Local and international market trends are monitored in order to ensure the planting of suitable varietals for future growth.

This is all part of the philosophy of caring – from soil to the grape, from the grape to the wine to the discerning wine lover – worldwide.

MERGER 01.04.2013

The shareholders of the 2 major wineries in the town of Wellington, i.e. Wellington Wines and Bovlei Winery, have voted in favour of a merger of the 2 Companies.

Bovlei Hvidvine

Bovlei Rødvine

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