It’s common knowledge that Cape Town loves to show off her beauty in summer. And no other region quite puts on that show-off display like the Cape Winelands. The historic Vergelegen Wine Estate situated in Somerset West, boasts 18 picturesque distinctive gardens which visitors can explore at their leisure when visiting this stunning Cape wine farm making it one of the best wine farms in Somerset West for families to visit. The peak flowering times of the Octagonal, rose, gapanthus, hydrangea and fynbos Gardens fall right in with the Cape Town summer months which caters for laidback visits. But the gardens are just one of the many offerings at Vergelegen Wine Farm, let me introduce you to what else they have to offer!
Vergelegen Wine Estate Heritage and Garden Tour
I had the pleasure of experiencing an overnight stay at the beautifully refurbished 300-year old Vergelegen Cape Dutch Homestead. Unfortunately this is not available to the public so there’s currently no Vergelegen Wine Estate accommodation option but you are however able to view the Manor House on the guided Heritage and Garden Tour.
This engaging walking tour of the stunning Vergelegen gardens is guided by a member of their staff and highlights include the 200 library which houses 4500 books and the 300 year old Cape Dutch Homestead that has various artworks on display, as well as the iconic Camphor Trees which were declared National Monuments in 1942.
Tour Time: 09:30 – 10:45 | Bookings: winetasting@vergelegen.co.za
Vergelegen Game Drive Environmental Tour
You don’t have to drive 3-4 hours to experience a game drive in Cape Town! The Vergelegen wine farm environmental tour includes a drive in their luxury safari vehicle through the 1900ha private nature reserve where you’ll get the opportunity to see various species
of antelope including Eland, Bontebok and Quagga as well as Nguni cattle. We spotted all of them during our game drive! The environmental tour also includes the Heritage Range wine tasting at at gorgeous viewpoint overlooking the nature reserve and wine farm, as well as a cool branded cap.
Tour Time: 10:00 – 11:30 | Price: R750 pp | Bookings: winetasting@vergelegen.co.za
Vergelegen Wine Farm restaurants – 3 to Choose from!
Whether you’re looking for family-friendly alfresco dining, a relaxed picnic or cosy indoor setting, the three Vergelegen wine farm restaurants have got you covered. The bistro style of Stables at Vergelegen allows families to enjoy a relaxed dining experience. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating and has an amazing kids play area!
Tucked away amongst the rose orchards, you’ll find the pretty-in-pink Rose Terrace Tea Room. This delightful little Vergelegen restaurant is perfect for breakfast and light lunches. They also offer a range of teas that can be enjoyed with a selction of cakes, tarts, scones and savouries. Might I add, this is also the cutest spot to host a baby shower!
The magical Camphor forest is the ideal setting for a leisurely picnic. The forest is perfect for both a couples date and family gatherings and provides a beautifully shaded and tranquil setting in the camphor forest, descendants of the oringinal camphor trees planted in the 1700s by Van der Stel.
Cellar Tours and Wine Tasting at Vergelegen
What would a visit to a wine farm be without indulging in a wine tasting! Vergelegen offers three wine tasting options; the Heritage Range, Reserve Range and Estate Range. This includes a tasting of both wine and red wine varietals.
The Cellar Tour gives visitors the opportunity to view the vineyards and the multiple level, gravity flow cellar and learn about the winemaking process first hand. Designed by French architects in a manner that combine the old with the new, the cellar offers majestic views of the surrounding valley. The tour is conducted in a Vergelegen vehicle and includes a Reserve range wine tasting.
Cellar Tour Time: 11:30 – 13:00 | Price: R275 pp | www.vergelegen.co.za | Tel: +27 21 847 2111