On 1 February, Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West turns 322. It’s a respectable age but rather than slowing down in its dotage, Vergelegen has plenty of plans keeping a spring in its step.
The development of the arboretum is in full swing, with 1 000 trees already planted. Once it is finished, it will contain 8 000 trees, says MD Wayne Coetzer.
There will be a cross-section of trees, not all indigenous, in keeping with the style of the estate, once home to Lady Florence Phillips.
The estate is 3 000ha in size, 1 900 of which are a declared nature reserve.
Also read: Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West plants trees for posterity
Coetzer also speaks about a new venue for small concerts as part of the arboretum. ‘We have a 200-year-old oak forest and we are going to start using it.’
Already a small dam has been dug, with wooden decking around it. It will be the centre of the wedding venue now being established.
‘Wine is still a very important part of Vergelegen, but we are expanding our focus on the environment, conservation and the community.’
The 1km-long sunflower walk is part of this focus. On the cards is a sunflower festival and an ice-cream station in the sunflower garden. In winter, the garden will be given over to a meadow mix.
Pop-ups
A third pop-up restaurant will be added to the very popular Nguni Café and River Café, this time a winter Cabinet Café, serving warming staples such as boeuf bourguignon and entrecôte steaks.
Also read: Vergelegen Wine Estate launches their second pop-up restaurant
There are other plans still to be fleshed out: the return of the Barlow tea garden, a shop selling estate produce and flowers, the reopening of Camphor as a rebranded, refreshed classic, hints Coetzer.
A new winemaker
One of the biggest changes to come to the estate is the winemaker. After a quarter of a century as Vergelegen’s winemaker, André van Rensburg is retiring.
‘André has ensured that the estate wines stand alongside the best that South Africa produces and his pioneering work in eradicating leaf roll virus will ensure that the estate will continue making top quality wines for many years to come,’ says the estate.
While the search for a new winemaker is under way, the estate is strategising around the brand and labels. ‘The branding is softening,’ says Wayne. ‘The octagon is from the octagonal gardens, seen from above.’
Expect something classically Vergelegen on your bottle in future.
Quagga Project
The project to bring back an animal from extinction and reintroduce it into reserves is in full swing.
Vergelegen will become the home of several quagga, around the end of March, says the estate. It will increase biodiversity and potentially offer training opportunities for conservation students.
The quagga will be contained in an extension of the eland grazing area which will include the lower Langkloof dam.
Also read: Vergelegen welcomes elands to estate to boost biodiversity
Gourd Walk
Finally, hot on the heels of the success of the vegetable garden, planted during lockdown, comes the Gourd Walk, which will feature vegetables such as pumpkins, butternut and squash.
With these changes, it is comforting to know that much stays the same over the years.
Outside the manor house, the 300-year-old mulberry tree is still fruiting, watched over by the twin deer bronzes bought by Lady Phillips.
Words by Lorraine Kearney
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Pictures: Supplied