Opstal Estate and Restaurant

In the heart of the breathtakingly beautiful Slanghoek Valley, where towering mountains rise on all sides and the Breede River threads through ancient farmland, Opstal Estate has been family owned and run since 1847. The current operational duo of Attie and Zak Louw are the seventh-generation descendants of JC 'Lang Jan' Rossouw, the first owner of 'De Opstal bij de Fonteine,' and they have transformed this historic property into one of the Breedekloof's most compelling destinations.

Opstal is known first and foremost for Chenin Blanc. The Carl Everson Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc, named after the visionary fourth-generation farmer who kept the estate alive through tough post-war years, has won multiple awards and earned a reputation as one of South Africa's finest expressions of the grape. Crafted from old vines planted in 1982, naturally fermented in old French barrels with minimal cellar intervention, it is a wine of remarkable depth and character.

The wine portfolio spans four ranges. The Sixpence Range is named after Daniel Smiles, fondly known as Sixpence, who was Opstal's shepherd during the 1950s and 1960s. As sheep gave way to vines, the vineyard areas became known as Sixpence's vineyards. Ten per cent of Sixpence Range profits go to the Sixpence Worker's Fund, and another ten per cent are donated to CapeNature. The Estate Range offers classic, food-friendly wines, while the Heritage Range showcases the estate's finest terroir. The newest addition is the Single-Site Range, highlighting individual vineyard blocks.

Beyond wine, Opstal has become a full estate experience. The restaurant serves wholesome, varied, and inexpensive food, from light nibbles to three-course meals. Breakfast and lunch are available Wednesday to Friday and Sunday, with a snack menu on Saturdays. Opstal Stay offers five contemporary, freestanding self-catering cottages, each designed by the Louw family to maximise the valley and mountain views. Two-sleeper units start from R1,750 per night and four-sleeper units from R2,300 per night.

The estate also operates as a sought-after wedding and functions venue, accommodating up to 200 guests in an outdoor free-form tent with the Slanghoek Mountains as a backdrop. With guidance from sixth-generation Stanley and Ria Louw and the energy of Attie and Zak, Opstal delivers an estate experience like no other in the Breedekloof. Open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.