Vergelegen

The Vergelegen winery is unlike any previously designed in South Africa, epitomising the property's maxim: Ex Africa semper aliquid novi (Out of Africa always something new).

Situated high up on a hilltop, only the top level of the multi-levelled structure sunk into the earth is visible. With its octagonal shape mirroring the design of the historic homestead's walled garden originally laid out by 18th-century founder WA van der Stel, the visitor's viewing deck and roof garden offers a 360º view of the estate, the towering Hottentots Holland mountain peaks behind, the town of Somerset West below, the Atlantic Ocean beyond and distant Table Mountain.

Current cellarmaster André van Rensburg has continued his predecessor's pursuit of matching Vergelegen's commitment to excellence. Vergelegen has twice won the coveted Château Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse-de-Lalande Trophy for best red blend at London's International Wine and Spirits Competition (in 2001 and 2003) and is the two-times recipient of the SAA Chief Executive Officer's Trophy for best overall performance by any South African winemaker.

Since its inception five years ago, the trophy for best producer at the Old Mutual (formerly Fairbairn Capital) Trophy Wine Show has gone to Vergelegen no less than four times and readers of South Africa’s leading wine magazine, "Wine", have voted Vergelegen the countries best producer for three successive years.