Vilafonte
Summary
Vilafonte is a pioneering South African-American collaboration in Paarl, producing Bordeaux-variety red wines from 20 hectares of ancient vilafontes soils that naturally restrict vigor and yield concentrated fruit. Their terroir-focused winegrowing philosophy emphasizes precision viticulture with block-specific management, gravity-flow winemaking, and minimal intervention techniques that honor traditional winemaking while expressing the distinctive character of their million-year-old soils.
Heritage & Leadership
Vilafonte was established in 1997 as a groundbreaking collaboration between South African wine entrepreneur Mike Ratcliffe and American wine industry veterans Zelma Long and Dr. Phil Freese. The venture marked the first joint American-South African wine project in the post-apartheid era. Ratcliffe, whose family founded Warwick Estate, partnered with Long, former winemaker at Robert Mondavi and Simi Winery, and Freese, former vice president of winegrowing at Mondavi and renowned viticulturist. The name Vilafonte derives from the predominant soil type found on the property, with "vila" referring to "old" and "fonte" meaning "font" or "source" in Portuguese.
The 42-hectare estate was carefully selected after extensive soil analysis and climate studies conducted by Freese. In 2018, Mike Ratcliffe assumed full ownership of Vilafonte when Long and Freese retired from active involvement, though they remain consultants to the project. Under Ratcliffe's leadership, Vilafonte has maintained its original vision while continuing to refine its approach to viticulture and winemaking.
Vineyards & Wines
Vilafonte's vineyards are situated on north-facing slopes in the Paarl region of South Africa's Western Cape, approximately 50 kilometers east of Cape Town. The property encompasses 42 hectares in total, with 20 hectares under vine. The vineyard is planted exclusively with red Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec.
The estate's namesake vilafontes soil is a weathered, low-vigor soil type that dates back over one million years, making it some of the oldest vineyard soil in the world. These ancient soils naturally restrict vigor and yield, producing small berries with concentrated flavors. The vineyard is divided into 13 distinct blocks based on soil composition, with each block further subdivided according to variety and clone.
Vilafonte produces three wines: Series C (Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant), Series M (Merlot-dominant), and a second label called Seriously Old Dirt. The Series wines are only produced in vintages that meet the estate's quality standards. Each block is harvested separately, often with multiple passes through the vineyard to ensure optimal ripeness.
Philosophy & Practice
Vilafonte's approach centers on what they term "winegrowing" rather than simply winemaking, emphasizing that quality wine begins in the vineyard. The estate practices precision viticulture, with each vineyard block managed individually according to its specific needs. Irrigation is applied minimally and strategically, based on soil moisture measurements and plant stress indicators.
In the winery, Vilafonte employs a gravity-flow system to minimize harsh mechanical handling of the grapes and wine. Fermentation occurs in small lots corresponding to vineyard blocks, using both open-top fermenters and closed tanks depending on the variety and intended style. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel, and the wines age in French oak for 18-22 months.
The estate practices hand harvesting, with each picking team assigned to specific rows to ensure accountability and quality. Grapes undergo double sorting—first in the vineyard and again at the winery on a sorting table. Vilafonte follows a "non-interventionist" approach to winemaking, avoiding fining and employing minimal filtration only when necessary. The final blends are determined through extensive tastings, with the composition varying each vintage to reflect the character of the growing season.