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Aerial view of Cape Town at night
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Vergelegen Estate

is situated above Somerset West on the slopes in front of the Hottentots Holland mountain range. False Bay is only around six kilometres away and brings cooling sea air into the vineyards. The vines lie at elevations of roughly 140 to 310 metres on slopes with different aspects. This creates both warmer sites for red Bordeaux varieties and cooler locations for Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Chardonnay within the estate.

The history of Vergelegen began on February 1, 1700, with Willem Adriaan van der Stel, the then-governor of the Cape Colony. The name roughly translates to "far away," as the journey from Cape Town took several days at that time. Van der Stel had vineyards, orchards, and orange groves planted and constructed irrigation systems and agricultural buildings. By 1706, the estate already boasted approximately half a million grapevines.

After several changes of ownership and extended interruptions in winemaking, Vergelegen's modern development began in 1987. Following extensive soil and climate analyses, new vineyards were planted starting in 1989. Grape varieties, rootstocks, planting density, and orientation were specifically tailored to the characteristics of each individual plot. Today, the vineyard area covers approximately 117 hectares.

Twenty-one different soil types have been identified on the estate. The vines grow predominantly on Clovelly, Glenrosa, and Pinedene soils, characterized by varying proportions of weathered granite, schist, and clay. The clay retains moisture during the dry summer months, while the slopes ensure good drainage. The grape varieties cultivated are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Sémillon.

The modern wine cellar was designed as a multi-level structure where grapes and must can be moved largely by gravity. Its octagonal shape references the historic garden of the manor house. Winemaker Luke O'Cuinneagain is responsible for the winemaking, taking a restrained approach and working primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Bordeaux-influenced blends.

The portfolio is divided into several lines. The Heritage Range offers more approachable wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, and Mill Race Red. The Reserve Range includes Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, among others. The Estate Range focuses on a white wine made from Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a red blend of Bordeaux grape varieties. The V, produced only in select vintages, represents the pinnacle of the range and comes from particularly suitable Cabernet Sauvignon parcels on the estate.

Vergelegen combines winemaking with extensive nature conservation projects. More than 2,000 hectares of the estate are to remain permanently free of agricultural use. Large areas have been cleared of non-native plants and restored as a natural habitat for fynbos, birds, and wildlife. Since 2019, the estate has also been designated a cultural heritage site of the Western Cape province. At Vin Africa, Vergelegen wines represent the fusion of historical provenance, maritime-influenced vineyards, and a clearly structured, classic range.

Information on contracting party and mediation

  • Vin Africa presents the range and mediates orders initiated through this website to Vineshop24 GmbH & Co. KG. Vineshop24 is exclusively the seller and contractual partner for the purchase of goods. The purchase contract is concluded exclusively with Vineshop24.

  • Vineshop24 receives payment, issues the invoice and handles delivery of the ordered goods. Cancellations, warranty claims, complaints and returns are handled with Vineshop24.

  • Vin Africa does not accept payments, does not issue invoices and is not the debtor of the goods delivery. Vin Africa remains happy to assist with questions about the range and to provide support with questions relating to an order or delivery.

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