Vergelegen Estate

"We've only heard whisperings about this place; so can you tell us a little more about it?A conservationist’s paradise, this vast estate in Somerset West, which is encircled by rugged mountains, is much more than a wine farm. You’ll spot nguni cattle grazing in pastures, rare protected fynbos amid the vineyards, and acres of carefully laid-out gardens dotted with mature trees. The centerpiece of the tasting center is a colossal table hewn from indigenous yellowwood, made by local designer Pierre Cronje, and the terrace overlooks a herb garden. Sounds like paradise. And, who are we likely to be tapping glasses with while we're there?The 80,000 visitors a year are mostly foreign; there are increasingly more American and Asian tasters, many of whom have heard about the wines through word of mouth or international press. Got it. So we'll all be sipping on...Statuesque reds and whites, including flagship blends. Perfect—we love a big red. How about the food situation—anything worth ordering, or should we pack a snack?A formal box-hedged herb garden separates the tasting center from Stables, a popular daytime restaurant with a crowd-pleasing menu of thin-crust pizza, salads, steaks, and sandwiches. Bare French-oak tables and modern riempie benches play second fiddle to the gunshot mountain views through floor-to-ceiling glass. The grounds is also home to a color-block agapanthus garden, vineyard maze, and elaborate children’s play garden. Excellent. Anyone on staff you want to call out?Manager Frieda Stanbridge has been working here for 15 years—she has a formidable knowledge of wine. Her protegés are “hand-reared;” “you can teach wine, but you can’t teach personality or passion,” she quips. That's true! Alright, now wrap it up. Why are coming here?The wines are wonderful, but the best thing to do here is take a stroll through the seasonal displays of camellias, roses, and hydrangeas; marvel at 400-year-old camphor trees (the farm dates back to 1700); wander alongside the Lourens River; and visit the museum." - Jane Broughton