Black Oystercatcher Wines
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In Their Words
Black Oystercatcher History & Location
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. Our unique region crafts our 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.
The Black Oystercatcher offers local crafts in our shop, build your own cheese & charcuterie platters which you can enjoy on our veranda or in our venue, plus self-catering cottages overlooking the biodiversity-rich Agulhas Plain. We’re popular for weddings and events and look forward to welcoming you.
Black Oystercatcher Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open Tue to Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 11am-3pm.
Shop: open Tue to Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 11am-3pm.
Wildlife & Wetlands Tours: please refer to www.nuwejaars.com/guided-tours/ (operated by a third party).
Black Oystercatcher Wine Tasting
Our 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. We produce Sauvignon Blanc, a White Pearl (Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc), Rosé, Cabernet Merlot and a Shiraz. We also have a Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, Blanc Fumé, Wild Ferment, Noble Late Harvest and a Méthode Cap Classique.
Taste our Black Oystercatcher wine in our venue, 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.
Wine Tasting Prices
Our Standard Tasting costs from R50pp and includes 5 wines. Tutored or Reserve Tastings are possible – please enquire with the farm in advance or on arrival. To accompany your tasting, it is possible to build your own cheese or charcuterie platter with items purchased from our shop, subject to availability.
Black Oystercatcher Restaurants
Please note there is no restaurant at Black Oystercatcher Wines however you can build your own cheese or charcuterie platter using items on sale from the shop (please contact the farm for details in advance of arrival, as offerings are subject to change). Alternatively, lunch options are available in Bredasdorp, approximately 20 mins’ away.
Black Oystercatcher Tours & Activities
The Black Oystercatcher ‘Venue’ is full of country charm and is rightly popular for private events. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday party, office get-together, a kitchen tea or even a bachelor’s, our function venue can be transformed to meet your needs. Contact us for more information: www.blackoystercatcher.co.za/bredasdorpwedding/ or www.blackoystercatcher.co.za/function-venue/.
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. Our 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.
Black Oystercatcher Accommodation
Our 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 our 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.
Pricing
Cottages from R990 per cottage per night, based on 2 sharing on a room only basis. From R700 per night based on single occupancy. It is possible for children under 12 to share with adults, at a cost of R250 per night. 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.
When Lucy Visited
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