The gates remain open and the vineyards are as welcoming as ever at Vergelegen Wine Estate after the fire damaged one of its well-known dining venues earlier this week.
Estate management confirmed that while the blaze caused significant damage to the thatched roof of the Stables restaurant, the rest of the historic Somerset West destination continues operating normally.
Visitors can still enjoy wine tastings, gardens, tours and family activities, with only the restaurant closed until further notice.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday when the fire broke out at Stables. Thanks to a rapid response from Vergelegen’s in-house firefighting team, supported by crews from the City of Cape Town, the flames were contained to the restaurant building.
Despite the extent of the damage caused by the burning thatch roof, all staff members and diners were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.
Investigators are now working to determine how the fire started.
Estate operations continue
While the Stables restaurant remains closed, Vergelegen says the wider estate remains fully open to the public.
Guests can still enjoy daily wine tastings paired with the estate’s popular cheese board, relax at the Rose Terrace Tea Room, or browse the Potting Shed Gift Shop. The nearby Creamery continues serving ice cream and takeaway coffee to visitors exploring the grounds.
Picture: Supplied
Families visiting the estate will also find the play area near Stables open, alongside a range of seasonal activities planned for the coming weeks.
These include the much-anticipated Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for 5 April, with ticket sales opening on 12 March. Picnics beneath the estate’s famous camphor trees return from 19 March through to the end of April.
Meanwhile, the estate’s annual Harvest Celebration is set to take place on 25 March, with tickets already available.
Picture: Supplied
Beyond food and wine, the estate’s broader experiences remain unchanged. Visitors can wander through the manicured gardens, step inside the historic manor house and library, or join one of several guided experiences.
Cellar tours, garden tours, eco tours exploring the estate’s fauna and flora, and the popular sip-and-stroll tasting all continue as scheduled.
Picture: Supplied
Vergelegen Managing Director Wayne Coetzer thanked emergency responders and the surrounding community for their assistance during the incident.
‘We have been truly overwhelmed by the extraordinary support shown by our neighbours and the wider community,’ Coetzer said.
Visitors with booking enquiries are encouraged to contact Vergelegen’s customer services team.
In the meantime, management is reassuring guests that the estate’s core attractions remain intact, and the experience that has made Vergelegen one of the Western Cape’s most loved wine destinations continues uninterrupted.
For more information, visitors can contact customer services on +27 21 847 2111 or email [email protected]
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Picture:Vergelegen Wine Estate/Supplied
