Discover the allure of Vergelegen
Against the backdrop of the majestic Hottentots Holland mountains, and in the heart of the Helderberg in Somerset West, lies Vergelegen wine estate, a treasure trove of heritage, hospitality and horticulture.
Where:
Condé Nast
Publication:
House and Garden South Africa
Date:
August 2024
Images:
Vergelegen Wine Estate
This elegant 324-year-old estate, a brief drive from Cape Town, offers something for everybody – whether you’re a gourmet, wine lover, gardening enthusiast or history boffin – or simply want to enjoy a relaxed family lunch in glorious surroundings.
Life slows down as you pass through the ancient gates and traverse a tree-lined avenue, with the shady camphor tree forest on your left, and indigenous Nguni cattle on your right, grazing on lush pastures of clover and kikuyu.
At the heart of the vast 3000-hectare property, declared a provincial heritage site in 2019, lies a 60-hectare cultural heritage area. The meticulously restored homestead is furnished with beautiful antiques, blue and white porcelain and objets d’art, representing the estate’s French, Cape Dutch, Anglo-Indian and Asian influences over the past three centuries.
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The library, a converted wine cellar built in 1816, houses 4500 books, comprising part of the private collection of former Vergelegen owner Sir Lionel Phillips.
Crisp winter mornings and sunny afternoons are the perfect time to view the abundant pink, white and red winter-flowering blooms of Vergelegen’s International Camellia Garden of Excellence. This is the only International Camellia Garden of Excellence in Africa, and one of only 39 in the world.
The estate’s remarkable collection of over 1000 camellia shrubs and trees consists of both locally bred specimens, and camellias from as far afield as France, China, Japan and the United States.
Resident horticulturist Richard Arm says the acidic soil, abundant water, and shade provided by trees in summer provide perfect camellia-growing conditions. The oldest Vergelegen camellias are about 100 years old, and the horticultural team has planted many more shrubs during the past two years.
The focus on nature and seasonality extends to hospitality. Visitors enjoy dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients, perfectly paired with the estate’s award-winning wines.
Stables restaurant is a perennial family favourite. Glorious gardens lead to the arboretum, perfect for long walks, with a stunning backdrop of the Hottentots Holland mountains. The interior showcases the work of South African artists, photographers and ceramicists, with a life-size horse, superbly crafted from wood foraged from local river beds by artist Francois Marais, forming a striking centrepiece.
The Rose Terrace Tea Room, which offers a delightful escape into a world of floral elegance and delectable treats, is also a charming destination for breakfast, tea and light lunches.
Vergelegen recently restored an old farm cottage, exposing ancient wooden beams and a working fireplace, to create a small, enchanting pop-up restaurant named Cabernet & Carne, seating 40 people. The search for the best steak in the Cape could end here, accompanied by perfect French fries and a glass of cabernet.
While sipping, take a moment to examine your wine bottle, as this venerable estate has just released a new range of labels to reflect its glorious natural heritage. Images range from the famous homestead camphor trees, declared national monuments in 1942, to the Octagonal Garden, where classic herbaceous borders flank the walkway to the Cape Dutch homestead.
The cooler months are the ideal time to book a tour of the hilltop winery, where nature-driven, classically-styled vintages mature slowly in French oak barrels, or to snuggle into a comfy chair in front of a crackling fire in the wine-tasting room, where tubs of indigenous proteas adorn a vast yellowwood table.
Their beautiful pink and red blooms are a reminder of Vergelegen’s commitment to sustainability, from its solar-powered winery, to its 1900-hectare nature reserve, with the same conservation status as the Kruger National Park.
If you’re entertaining overseas or local guests, a handy tip is to book an environmental tour in a game drive vehicle to view the reserve’s fynbos, Nguni cattle, bontebok – antelope with purplish-red bodies, white facial blazes and well-developed horns – and to learn about the estate’s participation in a visionary programme to breed a rare zebra sub-species that resembles the extinct quagga.
Vergelegen’s numerous sustainability initiatives, which have made it self-reliant for all its water needs, have been acknowledged with numerous awards. The estate clinched the Winery of the Year award in the 2021 Prescient Top 20 Wines SA, followed by the Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices prize in the 2024 Best Of Wine Tourism Awards.
Vergelegen has also received the International Best of Wine Tourism, Cape Winelands accolade five times and has been a winner in the Eco-Hospitality and Tourism category of the Eco-Logic Awards.
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur in search of the perfect vintage, or a budding botanist in search of floral beauty, this elegant estate promises an unforgettable visit. Explore the magic of Vergelegen for yourself, where every visit is a toast to the art of living well.
Find out more: www.vergelegen.co.za | Phone: 021 847 2100 Email: info@vergelegen.co.za
Vergelegen is open to the public daily from 08h30-17h00 (last entry16h00). The entrance fee is R20/person, or R10/pensioners and scholars. Pensioners enjoy free entry on Mondays.
