OUR 2019 HARVEST IS UNDERWAY
And you’ll feel that buzz in the vineyards right now. Every day, for the next few weeks, the teams head out into the vineyards. They’ll select and handpick the best grapes, which are then transported back to the cellar.
HERE’S WHAT MAKES OUR BLACK OYSTERCATCHER HARVEST DIFFERENT:
- HARVEST PROGRESS 33%
13 days
That’s how many days it rained last January. We’ve had a lot less rain so far this year. Dirk manages the grapes accordingly, based on rainfall and rainfall predictions.
13 km
That’s how far we are from the coast, as the crow flies. That means those cool ocean south-easters and south-westers easily reach us.
#WeighInWednesday
5 days
Our harvest started 5 days later than usual. That’s down to the really cool summer we’ve had (we’re in one of the coolest wine-making regions in South Africa).
60km/h
The area experienced some windy days so far this year. In Agulhas, wind speeds up to around 60km/h have been recorded so far. On average wind speeds have been higher than this time last year. That’s important, because the ocean winds engrave flavour in our berries.
That’s our mean temperature – again determined by the cool ocean winds. And this also helps our berries retain their intense flavours.
Why this matters to you?
For any wine lover, the harvest is a defining moment. It’s the start of something – of an entire vintage (in a wine-producing area and even a country). For Dirk and Willem Pietersen (Assistant Winemaker), they use a combo of science and instinct to decide when harvest starts.
Be part of our Black Oystercatcher 2019 Harvest
– join us here.
Follow the #BOCHarvest2019 on Instagram
WELCOME TO THE
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER
Important info and dates:
Wine & Craft Beer Tasting & Sales: Mon – Fri from 9:00 – 17:00. Sat from 10:00 – 14:30. Closed: Sundays.
Restaurant: Tue to Sun from 11:00 – 14:30. Closed Mondays. From Monday 17 December: Open 7 days a week.
Book a Table
Phone +27 (0) 28 482 1618
Booking essential
Please note that should you book by telephone, we will confirm your booking immediately.
For email, online and social media booking requests, we will get back to you as soon as possible to confirm your reservation.
The Black Oystercatcher is a family-run wine farm at the cool southernmost tip of Africa.
Our unique region crafts our cool-climate wines, creating penetrating fruit flavours, and a distinctive minerality. But we’re more than a winery: we’re a destination. That means we offer quality meals – served in our Restaurant, and prepared as the seasons dictate. Enjoy a wine tasting and shop for local crafts and produce in our Tasting Room & Gift Shop. And stay over in our Self-Catering Cottages overlooking the biodiversity-rich Agulhas Plain.
Join our Black Oystercatcher Wine Club.
There are loads of reasons to join – like access to exclusive wines, pre-releases and early bird access to our event tickets.
As a #BOCWineClub member, you’ll also join an exclusive gathering of wine lovers. Together you’ll accompany founder and winemaker Dirk Human on his winemaking journey, crafting our cool-climate favourites here at the cool tip of Africa
How to spend a day at the Black Oystercatcher
Taste our cool-climate wines
BOUTIQUE WINES
The boutique Black Oystercatcher Wines are made from the intensely fruity grapes, formed in Cape Agulhas’ extreme growing conditions. The constant coastal winds, marginal soils and unique geology create our compact berries, and ultimately our wines.
Find out more.
Don’t forget the craft beer
CRAFT BEER
Fraser’s Folly craft beer is brewed on the Black Oystercatcher Wine Farm. We converted an old shed into the brewhouse – where we brew the only English-style craft beer in South Africa, under the watchful eye of brewmaster, Fraser Crighton.
Find out more.
A fresh dining experience
RESTAURANT
Enjoy a fresh dining experience, set in a relaxed country atmosphere at our Restaurant. Here fresh food, complimenting our boutique wines, is prepared to order and enjoyed at leisure. We serve produce straight from our own garden that grows as the seasons dictate. Booking essential: +27 (0) 28 482 1618.
Mon – Fri from 9:00 – 17:00. Sat from 10:00 – 14:30.
Closed: Sundays
Our historic Tasting Room
TASTING ROOM
Taste our Black Oystercatcher wine and Fraser’s Folly craft beer in our Tasting Room – including our unique reserve range. The building forms part of the original farmstead, dating back to the early 1900s. And it still retains its exposed original brickwork.
Find out more.
Open Tue to Sun from 11:00 – 14:30.
Closed Mondays.
A wedding to remember
WEDDING VENUE
We know and understand how to celebrate true love and the beginnings of a new and exciting journey – as partners. Like our Black Oystercatcher birds that pair for life, we also believe in partnership. Together we’ll create a truly unforgettable day for you.
Local crafts and produce
GIFT SHOP
In our Gift Shop (in the Tasting Room), you’ll find a variety of local products and crafts – like home-made crockery, stylish leather bags, and a range of sensuous beauty products. Our products are carefully selected – showcasing the region’s quality goods.
Find out more.
Cottages in the countryside
ACCOMMODATION
The cottages overlook our veggie gardens and the striking shades of green of the Agulhas Plain. Each cottage is fully equipped. Enjoy activities like birding, hiking or cycling; or simply settle down to revel in the fresh air and country lifestyle found on a working farm.
Make a booking.
Connecting with nature
CONSERVATION
Our philosophy is to work the land with the least possible interference, in the most natural way. So we’re a founding member of the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area – the first conservation venture of its kind in South Africa.
Find out more.
Latest News
Waterscapes: Our journey takes us to Arniston
Now we travel a little bit east from De Mond, along the coast, to the small town of Arniston (or Waenhuiskrans).
We’re hiring: Tasting Room Manager
The Black Oystercatcher Wine Farm is looking for a focused, energetic, passionate and self-driven candidate to join our team as Tasting Room Manager.
Summer Festival at the Black Oystercatcher
The Black Oystercatcher brings old and new friends together during our summer holiday season.
Upcoming Events