Slanghoek
Opstal
Dexter Grenache
RaspberryRipe MulberryCocoaSmooth Operator
Meet Opstal →Details
Variety
Grenache Noir
Style
Red
Region
Slanghoek
Appellation
Slanghoek
Producer
Opstal
Country
South Africa
Trade Materials
The Inspiration
The Grenache Noir vineyard was planted in 2020 as part of a renewed focus on Mediterranean varieties finding a home at Opstal. This special site is planted as a raised bushvine system on ridges - manually intensive to farm. The clone here has compact bunches and berries, packing in intense color and tannin. The result is a wine that is both fresh and aromatic on the nose with red fruit dominating, then punchy on the palate showing tension without weight or excess. Served lightly chilled at 12-15°C, the wine reads as one of the most exciting expressions of Cape Grenache today. 100% Grenache Noir from the Dexter range - the wines that grew up alongside the cattle now grazing the vineyards.
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.
