Vergelegen
Summary
Vergelegen, a historic 3,000-hectare estate established in 1700 in Somerset West's Coastal Region, produces structured Bordeaux varieties and Chardonnay from 158 hectares of vineyards across 21 soil types with cooling Atlantic influences. The estate balances its three-century heritage with modern innovation through a gravity-flow winery and environmentally conscious practices, while maintaining meticulously restored Cape Dutch buildings and ancient camphor trees that reflect its commitment to historical preservation.
Heritage & Leadership
Vergelegen, meaning "situated far away" in Dutch, was established in 1700 when Willem Adriaan van der Stel, Governor of the Cape Colony, was granted land in the Hottentots Holland area. The estate spans 3,000 hectares in Somerset West, approximately 40 kilometers east of Cape Town. In 1987, Anglo American Plc acquired Vergelegen and initiated an extensive restoration program to revitalize both the historic property and its viticultural potential.
Under the ownership of Anglo American, Vergelegen has been transformed into a world-class wine estate while preserving its historical significance. The property features meticulously restored Cape Dutch buildings dating back to the early 18th century, including the homestead, octagonal garden, and mill. The estate's gardens contain camphor trees planted in 1700 that were declared national monuments in 1942.
Since 1998, Don Tooth has served as Managing Director, providing stable leadership through a period of significant development. The winemaking team is led by André van Rensburg, who joined Vergelegen in 1998 and has been instrumental in elevating the estate's wines to international recognition.
Vineyards & Wines
Vergelegen's vineyards cover 158 hectares of the estate's total 3,000 hectares, with plantings distributed across 21 distinct soil types at elevations ranging from 140 to 310 meters above sea level. The vineyards benefit from proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 6 kilometers away, which provides cooling maritime influences that moderate temperatures during the growing season.
The estate's primary grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Vineyard blocks are planted according to specific soil types, with north to northwest facing slopes utilized for red varieties and cooler east to southeast exposures reserved for white varieties.
Vergelegen's flagship wines include the "V" (a Bordeaux-style blend), Vergelegen GVB (a white Bordeaux-style blend), and single-varietal expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The estate produces three distinct tiers: the Premium range, Reserve collection, and flagship wines, each reflecting different expressions of the estate's terroir.
The vineyards are managed using a combination of traditional and modern viticultural practices, including vertical shoot positioning trellising systems and cover cropping between rows to improve soil health. Harvest is conducted by hand, with selective picking based on optimal ripeness for each block and variety.
Philosophy & Practice
Vergelegen's winemaking philosophy centers on expressing the unique characteristics of its diverse terroir through minimal intervention practices. The estate completed a state-of-the-art 7,500-hectoliter gravity-flow winery in 1992, enabling gentle handling of grapes throughout the production process.
For red wines, fermentation occurs in stainless steel and wooden tanks, with extended maceration for structured varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon. White wines are whole-bunch pressed and barrel-fermented or fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, depending on the intended style. The estate utilizes French oak barrels for aging, with new oak percentages varying by wine tier and vintage requirements.
Vergelegen has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental stewardship through its biodiversity initiatives. In 2004, the estate launched South Africa's largest privately funded alien vegetation clearing project, removing non-native plants from over 2,200 hectares to restore natural fynbos vegetation. This project earned Vergelegen the International Best of Wine Tourism Award for Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices in 2013.
The estate received ISO 14001 certification in 2018, recognizing its environmental management systems. Vergelegen also participates in the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme, a voluntary environmental sustainability program that governs South African wine production through the entire value chain.