Carl Everson Chenin Blanc

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About Opstal

7th generation family farm since 1847

Opstal represents seven generations of family stewardship in South Africa's Slanghoek Valley within the Breedekloof (Slanghoek translates from Afrikaans as "Snake's Corner"), dating back to 1847. Owned and managed by the Louw family, the estate has built its reputation on warm hospitality, beautiful surroundings and quality winemaking in this cooler wine-growing climate that produces fruit-forward wines due to a slower ripening of the vines. The operation centers on collaboration and continuity. Cellar Master Attie Louw and his brother Zak, who manages production, work alongside their parents, sixth-generation Stanley and Ria Louw. The team is bolstered by farm staff representing three generations of workers, with thirty families residing on the property. This stability creates institutional knowledge that shapes every vintage. The estate's philosophy blends tradition with gratitude. The pocket-friendly Sixpence range honors both a legendary shepherd and the countless workers whose dedication built the estate's legacy, while the Carl Everson heritage range celebrates the family's winemaking lineage. Rather than viewing winemaking as a solitary pursuit, Opstal explicitly celebrates it as collective achievement: every family member, past and present, plays a vital role in their story. Under Attie Louw's stewardship, Opstal has leant into regenerative farming with a herd of Dexter cattle and an active Cape Nature partnership to preserve the surrounding fynbos, and the estate has earned a growing reputation with many global accolades.