Vilafonté
is located on the Paarl side of Simonsberg and was founded in 1997 as a joint South African-American wine project. The original idea grew out of the collaboration between Michael Ratcliffe, American oenologist Zelma Long and viticulture specialist Phil Freese. Their aim was to use the conditions of the South African Cape Winelands to produce age-worthy red wines with a clear sense of origin and an internationally oriented style.
The estate covers around 42 hectares, a smaller proportion of which is planted with vines. Only the classic red Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec are grown. The vineyards were deliberately planted at high density to produce small vines with low yields and concentrated grapes. The fruit for Series C and Series M comes entirely from Vilafonté's own vineyard.
The name Vilafonté is derived from the estate's ancient Vilafontes soils. These nutrient-poor soils naturally restrict vine growth and force the roots to search deeper for water and nutrients. The Mediterranean climate brings cool, wet winters and long, dry summers. Cooling influences from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans help the grapes retain freshness and balanced acidity despite the South African sunshine.
Series C is the estate's Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend. Merlot and Malbec add fruit and depth, while Cabernet Franc contributes freshness and structure. The style is powerful, dense and tannic, yet remains focused on balance and long development in bottle.
Series M is driven more strongly by Merlot and Malbec. The blend is generally rounder, more supple and accessible earlier than Series C, without sacrificing structure or ageing potential. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc add firmness, freshness and spicy accents to the ripe red and dark fruit.
Seriously Old Dirt was created in 2012, initially as a second wine in the classic Bordeaux sense. Since 2016, selected vineyards outside the estate have also been used. The Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend therefore generally carries the broader Western Cape origin today. It offers a more accessible introduction to the Vilafonté style while remaining closely linked to the estate's signature through dark fruit, fresh acidity and a clear tannin structure.
The grapes are hand-picked, individual berries are then selected and the wines are matured in barrel. Chris de Vries is responsible for Series C and Series M as lead winemaker, while Zelma Long remains involved in the stylistic development. At Vin Africa, Vilafonté stands for concentrated yet precise red blends that combine the character of the ancient soils on the Simonsberg with clear, modern winemaking.