Cape locals and visitors in search of delicious food and wine, heritage and biodiversity can make the most of the warmer weather in one easy-to-reach destination, Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West.
The 3000-hectare property offers magnificent sights and appealing experiences for all tastes and budgets. Highlights include beautiful gardens, heritage buildings – a beautifully restored and furnished manor house, and an ancient wine cellar converted into a library with 4500 treasured books – the popular family restaurant Stables, the charming Rose Terrace Tea Room, and white tablecloth picnics in the mysterious camphor tree forest.
The walled Octagonal Garden, the oldest garden at the estate, is a favourite starting point for a stroll. Ancient trees shade the extensive lawns, while herbaceous borders of irises, delphiniums, foxgloves, hollyhocks, bulbs and more flank the path to the manor house.
Roses are synonymous with sunny days, so do view the rose garden with dozens of blooms, from miniatures to rambling climbers, heritage plantings to newly-bred hybrids, designed around a bronze sculpture of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love.
The estate is renowned for its meticulously crafted wines that reflect both its diverse terroir, and its commitment to sustainability and innovation. A new range of labels has just been unveiled, with gorgeously illustrated labels inspired by much-loved estate landmarks ranging from an old water mill and a windswept hillside vineyard, to the extensive camellia gardens, entrance gates and ancient camphor trees.
Sample the wines outdoors on the sunny terrace overlooking the Sundial Garden, or in the cool wine tasting room.
Guided experiences include a heritage tour of the gardens and homestead, a visit to the hilltop cellar, and an environmental trip in a game drive vehicle. Expect to spot rare bontebok, eland, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, indigenous Nguni cattle and even a breeding lineage of Burchell’s zebra which visually resemble the extinct quagga.
Whatever your interests, Vergelegen’s spring and summer offerings make it an appealing destination for anyone in search of natural beauty, exceptional wines, delicious food and memorable experiences.
Find out more on the website www.vergelegen.co.za, email – info@vergelegen.co.za, or call 021 847 2100.