Vergelegen combines tradition and modernity
Situated in the middle of the famous Stellenbosch wine region, Vergelegen is one of the oldest and most traditional wineries in South Africa. Vergelegen, whose name means "far away", was founded in 1700. Willem Adriaan van der Steel laid the foundation stone for the now so successful winery and planted the first vines. Afterwards Vergelegen often changed hands. In 1917 the winery was bought by the Philipps family, who painstakingly restored it and the impressive Cape Dutch architecture was preserved. About 70 years later, Anglo American Vergelegen bought the winery and modernised it. An ultra-modern wine cellar was built, which still today produces South Africa wine of extra class. The vineyards, which had previously only been operated sporadically, were examined in detail and replanted under the best conditions.
Vergelegen Wine from South Africa
The vineyards of Vergelegens cover an area of around 150 hectares and offer the best conditions for a complex, award-winning wine portfolio due to their different soil types and particularly mild climate. Vergelegen's white and red wines are among the best in South Africa. A total of 8 grape varieties are cultivated: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Sémillon. André van Rensburg's wine creations can be enjoyed under the impressive camphor trees on the winery's terrace. Particularly popular is the Vergelegen Flagship Range, which comprises two excellent premium wines: Vergelegen V and Vergelegen G.V.B. Red.
Sustainability on Vergelegen
At Vergelegen, sustainability is written in capital letters. This is evident from the support given to numerous projects. Love for the environment is seen on Vergelgen as an investment in the future. In 2004 the "Environmental Project" was started and the soil of the vineyard was laboriously cleaned from foreign plants. Today, 2240 hectares are used for the spread of native plants and for the preservation of flora and fauna. In addition, Vergelegen was the first winery to receive champion status from the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative and is committed to South African wildlife diversity by hosting a Nguni herd and a Bontebok herd and supporting the Cape Leopard Trust.