Black Oystercatcher Wines
Winery Description
Location and History
The Black Oystercatcher is a family-run wine farm at the cool southernmost tip of Africa, less than 10 minutes’ drive from the small town of Elim and 20 minutes from Bredasdorp. This unique region crafts their cool-climate wines, creating penetrating fruit flavours and a distinctive minerality.
Dirk Human is the Black Oystercatcher’s owner, winemaker and viticulturist. The Human Family has farmed successfully on the Moddervlei farm, where the Black Oystercatcher winery is housed, for generations. In 1998, Dirk and his family decided to live their dream – by planting vineyards on the property and in 2003, the first wines were bottled. Dirk named the wines after the rare Black Oystercatcher birds, which like the grapes, also thrive along the coastline around the cool tip of Africa.
Wine Tasting
The grapes, grown in the cool tip of Africa winds, are smaller than usual – with more intense flavours as a result. Once the grapes are ripe, they are handpicked and worked with in the softest possible way. Premium quality grapes at lower yields, with crisp yet fruit flavours. Today, around 80,000 bottles of Black Oystercatcher boutique wines are produced a year – making them truly exclusive. Black Oystercatcher produces Sauvignon Blanc, a White Pearl (Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc), Rosé, Cabernet Merlot and a Shiraz. Also available is a Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Blanc Fumé, Wild Ferment, Noble Late Harvest and a Méthode Cap Classique.
Enjoy the Black Oystercatcher wine in their venue on the farm, which captures country chic. Exposed brickwork, wooden beams and large glass doors and windows right round the room open on to expansive Overberg views and landscapes.
The Standard Tasting includes 5 wines. Tutored or Reserve Tastings are possible – please enquire with the farm in advance or on arrival.
Restaurant
The Black Oystercatcher offers local crafts and products in their shop, build your own cheese & charcuterie platters as well as pre-booked platters, which you can enjoy on their veranda or inside the venue, plus self-catering cottages overlooking the biodiversity-rich Agulhas Plain.
Accommodation
Four semi-detached One Bedroom Cottages are beautifully furnished with either a King size bed or two Singles. Each self-catering cottage has a semi-equipped kitchenette, braai, lounge, private bathroom with shower, free wifi and a shared verandah to enjoy wonderful views of the Agulhas Plain. Two of the cottages feature an inside fireplace, for the chilly winter months.
Relax and unwind with the perfect country getaway. Breathe in the fresh air, savour the wonderful fresh herb and vegetable garden (you can even pick them to spice up your meals), bring your bicycle to explore and soak up beautiful views.
For Dec and Jan (peak season), a minimum 2 night stay applies. Contact us to negotiate rates for group bookings. Please refer to www.blackoystercatcher.co.za/bredasdorpaccommodation/ for more details.
Tours and Activities
The Black Oystercatcher ‘Venue’ is full of country charm and is rightly popular for private events. Whether it’s a birthday party, office get-together, a kitchen tea or even a bachelor’s, the function venue can be transformed to meet your needs.
The farm also forms part of the Nuwejaars Wetlands special management area (SMA). Aimed at sustainably overseeing protection of the precious wetlands and their indigenous populations, this unique conservation model has already seen some 46,000 hectares of critically endangered habitat on the Agulhas Plain now being used sustainably. This ensures protection of endangered plants and animals whilst ensuring food security. This collaborative community is the first of its kind in Southern Africa. For information about the guided wildlife tours in the Nuwejaars Wetlands, please refer to www.nuwejaars.com/guided-tours/.
The Agulhas Plain is also a renowned birding destination, with 235 species recorded. The Black Oystercatcher farm is home to a number of these, including Red-chested Flufftails. The Nuwejaars Wetlands are also home to an increasing number of African Marsh-Harriers. Other exciting birds found in the area include the Hottentot Buttonquail, the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, the Montagu’s Harrier, the African Goshawk, the Amur Falcon and the Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk. Please refer to www.blackoystercatcher.co.za/birding/ for more information.
For budding cyclists, the Black Oystercatcher also boasts 5 cycling routes, all of which begin at the Black Oystercatcher Wines. Please refer to www.blackoystercatcher.co.za/cycling/ for more details.
