Slanghoek
Opstal
Carl Everson Chenin Blanc
William's PearStone FruitGrippy QuinceSite Specific
Details
Variety
Chenin Blanc
Style
White
Region
Slanghoek
Appellation
Slanghoek
Producer
Opstal
Country
South Africa
Trade Materials
The Inspiration
Named in honor of fourth-generation farmer Carl Everson, this wine celebrates the vision and perseverance that helped shape Opstal into the family estate it is today. Sourced from a single vineyard of certified Old Vine Chenin Blanc planted in 1982, it is a tribute to both the man and the remarkable vineyard that has quietly matured on the slopes of the Slanghoek Valley for over four decades. Each vintage tells a different story, but the vineyard remains the constant - its deep-rooted vines producing fruit of exceptional depth, balance and character.
Crafted with minimal intervention, spontaneous fermentation and gentle maturation in seasoned oak and concrete, the focus remains firmly on expressing the vineyard rather than the cellar. The result is a Chenin Blanc of purity, texture and quiet confidence - an authentic reflection of Slanghoek's unique terroir and the enduring legacy of the Louw family. Incredibly generous in character and value.
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.
