Contract crush

Contract crush and custom winemaking in Cape Agulhas

Access winemaking expertise from grape to bottle

At the Black Oystercatcher Wines, we offer premium contract crush and custom winemaking services from our cellar in Cape Agulhas.

Whether you’re an established producer, boutique wine brand or emerging winemaker, our experienced team provides the facilities, technical expertise and support to take your wine from grape to bottle.

With a focus on quality, consistency and collaboration, we help our clients produce wines that reflect both their vision and the exceptional character of their grapes.

A trusted partner in winemaking

The Black Oystercatcher combines local winemaking experience with the strength of a strategic partnership between founder and winemaker Dirk Human, internationally acclaimed winemaker Bruce Jack, and business leaders Mulalo Colin Tshivhase and Kgomotso Gantsho.

Together, they bring expertise in premium winemaking, business growth, market development and transformation, creating a partnership that strengthens our production capabilities while remaining committed to producing exceptional wines.

For our contract crush clients, this means access to experienced winemakers, modern cellar infrastructure and a team dedicated to helping every wine reach its full potential.

Our contract crush services are ideal for:

– Boutique wine brands
– Private label producers
– Vineyard owners without cellar facilities
– International wine entrepreneurs
– Emerging and black-owned wine businesses
– Government and donor-supported development projects

Premium custom winemaking services

Our role is to help you bring your wine story to life.

We offer tailored winemaking solutions

To achieve that, we offer tailored winemaking solutions to suit your production requirements and market goals, including:

– Grape reception and processing
– Fermentation management
– Barrel maturation
– Blending
– Bottling coordination
– Packaging support
– Regulatory compliance and record-keeping

Whether you’re producing a small boutique vintage or a larger commercial release, we deliver the same attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Supporting transformation in South African wine

As a BBBEE Level 2 certified company, the Black Oystercatcher is committed to expanding opportunities within the South African wine industry by providing production support to emerging winemakers and black-owned wine businesses.

For government departments, funders and development agencies, our facility offers a practical way to support transformation in the South African wine sector by giving new entrants access to:

– Accredited cellar facilities
– Experienced winemaking mentorship
– Compliance systems
– Market-ready production infrastructure

This model reduces barriers to entry and helps turn entrepreneurial ideas into commercially viable wine brands.

WIETA and IPW certified | SAWIS accredited

The Black Oystercatcher is committed to producing wines responsibly and to the highest industry standards.

Our WIETA and IPW certification confirms that our farming and cellar practices meet independently audited ethical and labour standards throughout the wine value chain. Our WIETA membership reflects our commitment to responsible wine production, fair working conditions and ethical trade.

SAWIS accreditation ensures full compliance with the South African wine industry’s certification and traceability systems, giving clients confidence that every wine can be accurately tracked from vineyard to bottle.

Together, these accreditations provide assurance to clients, funders and trade partners that production is handled to the highest professional and ethical standards.