Slanghoek
Opstal
Estate Chenin Blanc
Yellow AppleCitrus ZestPeachEasy Drinking
Meet Opstal →Details
Variety
Chenin Blanc
Style
White
Region
Slanghoek
Appellation
Slanghoek
Producer
Opstal
Country
South Africa
Trade Materials
The Inspiration
Our family has farmed with Chenin Blanc for generations and it forms the cornerstone of our estate, comprising a third of our vineyards. This wine shows the classic Chenin character of freshness and concentration, which makes it such an attractive and versatile player both on the farm and in the winery. We have the variety planted on various sites on our farm and this is a blend of these sites including a 1982 block representing Slanghoek valley. Chenin blanc is the most widely planted variety on Opstal and very much our cultivar of choice – both on the farm and in our glasses.
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.
