Overgaauw

Producer website

Overgaauw Estate

A long line of settler blood has created an understated, but solidly red reputation at Overgaauw Estate. Leonie Joubert visited the Van Velden family farm, a Stellenbosch stalwart which was responsible for the country's first Merlot - and its only Sylvaner.

What you see on the Overgaauw winelist may now seem passé - every farm these days has a stock supply of noble varieties and usually a Pinotage on the side. But back in 1982 there wasn't a single Merlot on the market. Van Velden grabbed the bull by the horns and bottled one that year.
"We first planted Merlot in 1975 and decided to bottle it on its own in 1982. Then people said Merlot was a blending wine and shouldn't be on its own… but now it's one of the most popular varieties!" This was followed by the first varietal Touriga Nacional in 1986.

Another legacy is the Sylvaner. This German grape has been bottled here since 1971 and remains the sole Cape example (besides a brief flirtation with it by Nederburg some years back). "WINE magazine did a vertical tasting of 25 Overgaauw Sylvaners - 1971 to 1996 - and the tasters were amazed at how well they had kept. The '73 impressed me the most," says Braam.

"It makes nice wine! It has slight Muscat and Weisser Riesling flavours, but without the terpene character."

There are some upfront drinking wines to accommodate the more impatient palate - like the Pinotage/Cabernet Franc blend. Other innovations in the pipeline?

"Hmmm…," he ponders, "there's no easy answer. All the major (wine producing) countries have something which makes them different and unique. Should we copy them or not? I'm not sure - maybe we should plant quantities of Viognier and Zinfandel and experiment… after all, people once said Merlot was only for blending!"

He is considering Malbec and Sangiovese.

"I won't do a Viognier… although I have been known to change my mind!"

As members of the Cape Winemakers Guild, Van Velden and Joubert have other likeminded people with whom to share their experiments.

Meeting market demand requires judicious vineyard management, something which has developed a life of its own at Overgaauw. "In your lifetime you only have two chances to replant a vineyard - given that a vineyard lasts about 25 years - so you can't afford to mess up!" explained Van Velden of his philosophy to vine cultivation.

It's one that has been in action for the 29 years that he's been running things. When he took over winemaking in 1973, 90% of the farm's vines were white, at a time when there was a global shortage of red wine. By the late '70s he was having soils analysed and had mapped out a replanting programme that, over almost three decades, has become a continually evolving process. One small patch of cover crop, high up on the farm, is all that remains of the vineyards planted by his father. Since then the entire farm has been replanted… and it will continue to be.

"We have replanting plans right up until 2009," he said.. Even then, he knows it won't end there. There will always be new research and new clones to experiment with for the greater client satisfaction.

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Group wines by:

• Wine Name
• Variety
• Vineyard
• Vintage

wine type	Name, Type, Locale	Year
Rosé	Overgaauw Shepherd's Cottage (View Label Image) Rosé, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2008 2007
White	Overgaauw Cabernet Franc White, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2013 1997
White	Overgaauw Chardonnay (View Label Image) White, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2006 2002 1989
White	Overgaauw Chenin Blanc White, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	1976
White	Overgaauw Sauvignon Blanc (View Label Image) White, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2017 2016 2014 2011 2008 2007 2006 2005
White	Overgaauw Sauvignon Blanc Shepard's Cottage (View Label Image) White, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2017
White	Overgaauw Shepard's Cottage White, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2011
White	Overgaauw Shepherd's Cottage (View Label Image) White, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2017 2016 2011 2008
White	Overgaauw Sylvaner (View Label Image) White, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2023 2020 2016 2015 2014 2006 2001
Red	Overgaauw (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2013 2000 1997 1988 1978 1975
Red	Overgaauw Cabernet Sauvignon (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2006 2005 2004 2003 2001 2000 1999 1998 1995 1994 1993 1990 1986 1984 1983 1982 1980 1979 1978 1977 1974
Red	Overgaauw Cabernet Sauvignon Shepard's Cottage Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2016 2013 2012
Red	Overgaauw Cape Winemakers Guild (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2000 1998
Red	Overgaauw Cape Winemakers Guild D. C. Classic (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2012 2009 2007 2004 1996 1993
Red	Overgaauw D.C. Classic Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2015 2013 2009 2007 1988
Red	Overgaauw Drooi Rooi Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	1975
Red	Overgaauw Merlot (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2020 2017 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2006 2005 2004 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1994 1991 1989 1986 1985 1982
Red	Overgaauw Merlot Estate Overgaauw (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2010 2009 1998 1997 1996
Red	Overgaauw Merlot Touriga Nacional (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2015 2014 1996
Red	Overgaauw Pinotage Pinotage Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	1978 1973 1972
Red	Overgaauw Shepherd's Cottage (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2016 2014 2013 2012 2007
Red	Overgaauw Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2004 2002 2001 2000
Red	Overgaauw Shiraz Cape Winemakers Guild (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2002
Red	Overgaauw Touriga Cabernet Sauvignon (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2010 2006 1999 1997
Red	Overgaauw Touriga Nacional (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2020 2015
Red	Overgaauw Tria Corda (View Label Image) Red, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2019 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2006 2005 2004 2003 2001 2000 1998 1995 1993 1990 1989 1987 1986 1985 1984 1982 1981
Red - Fortified	Overgaauw Red - Fortified, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	2000
Red - Fortified	Overgaauw Cape Vintage Fortified Wine (View Label Image) Red - Fortified, South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch	1998 1997 1996 1995 1993 1992 1991 1990 1988 1986 1979 1884
Red - Fortified	Overgaauw Cape Vintage Port (View Label Image) Red - Fortified, South Africa	2003 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1991 1986 1985 1984 1983 1979