Vergelegen Wine Estate, Helderberg Wine Route, Western Cape
Vergelegen Wine Estate, situated at the foot of the majestic Helderberg Mountains in the town of Somerset West in the Western Cape, is one of the most spectacular and historical wine estates in South Africa. The farm was established by the governor of the Cape, Willem Adriaan van der Stel, in the late 17th century. Vergelegen means “far away” in Dutch and in those days it was certainly some distance from Cape Town. However, today it is a mere 45 minutes from the mother city along the N2 freeway.
Since van der Stel returned to Holland in 1706 the estate has passed through numerous illustrious hands until eventually it was purchased by the giant mining company, Anglo American in 1987. Over its 310 year history the farm has been developed into a world-class estate and since 1987, substantial investments have been made to restore the viticulture and its historical core. The farm was cleared of all alien vegetation and the vineyards were re-established following intensive climatic and soil tests.
A detailed master plan was drawn up for the development of the farm and in 1992, an impressive, multi-leveled, sunken hilltop winery was built and opened by Baron Eric de Rothschild, owner of Chateau Lafitte (Bordeaux) in France. Today, Vergelegen competes with the top 100 wines of the world and positions itself among the leading conservers of Cape cultural heritage.
Today, a visit to the estate is a sensory experience not to be missed – a stroll around the magnificent gardens, a lunch at one of three excellent restaurants, a tour of the unique cellar and the beautifully restored manor house, and, of-course, tasting the many award winning wines, will never be forgotten.
Tel: + 27 (0) 21 847 1334
For more information visit: Vergelegen Wine Estate
See Winelands of the Western Cape
| More info on the Helderberg |
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