Dirk Human

Owner, Winemaker & CEO of Siwela Wines (Pty) Ltd

Wine producer, Dirk Human, is the owner, winemaker and viticulturist of the Black Oystercatcher boutique wines. The Human Family has farmed successfully on the Moddervlei farm, where the Black Oystercatcher winery is housed, for generations. The farm is situated between the small towns of Elim, Bredasdorp and Agulhas, in the Overberg region in South Africa

In 1998, Dirk and his family decided to live their dream – by planting vineyards on the property. Dirk’s knowledge of the land with its sand plains, wetlands, extensive limestone and calcareous dunes enabled him to select the perfect location for the Black Oystercatcher’s vineyards. In so doing, Dirk became one of the pioneers to establish vineyards in the maritime ward of Elim in 1998. By 2003, the first boutique wines were bottled. Dirk named the new wines after the rare Black Oystercatcher birds, which, like the grapes, thrive along the coastline around the cool tip of Africa.