Friends-drinking-wine
Photo Cred: Pexels

What matters more than our over 200 wine, and estate awards is our people, who offer genuine hospitality, truly care about our visitors, and do whatever it takes to make them happy.

 

Western Cape, South Africa (24 September 2020) – Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West, renowned for its commitment to biodiversity and sustainability, has been named an honoree in the annual Wine & Food Tourism Awards. Vergelegen shares the ‘WWF Conservation Leaders’ category win with La Motte in Franschhoek and Spier in Stellenbosch.

“We are delighted at this acknowledgement, and extend our congratulations to our fellow awardees,” said Vergelegen MD Wayne Coetzer. “Vergelegen has always adopted a team approach to sustainability, whether it is turning to top scientists for advice on our vineyards and fynbos, or developing relationships with ethical, committed suppliers for our restaurants. It is a holistic, long-term journey that is based on excellent partnerships.

Numerous conservation initiatives have contributed to this accolade for the 320-year-old wine farm, which was formally recognised as a Provincial Heritage Site in 2019:

  • Vergelegen is the site of South Africa’s largest privately funded alien vegetation clearing project. A total of 2200 hectares were cleared by 2018, and 1900 hectares have been declared a private nature reserve with the same protection status as the Kruger National Park.
  • The estate is self-reliant for all its water, with strict water management and water-saving measures in place. Using 2010 as the base year, at end-2019 Vergelegen achieved 30% reduction in cellar water usage.
    Restaurant chefs make great use of ingredients sourced from the estate’s herb and vegetable garden, pastures and forests.
  • Long-standing relationships are in place with specialist produce suppliers. All meats and seafood at Camphors Restaurant are ethically-raised and locally-sourced, to ensure the best quality, support local producers, showcase the region, and reduce energy and storage costs.
  • Camphors Restaurant is the only South African restaurant to have twice won the coveted Eat Out Woolworths Sustainability Award.
  • Leaf-roll virus affects most vineyards in the country, especially red grape varietals. Vergelegen took the radical decision in 1999 to begin replanting vineyards with virus-free vines. The results are seen in terms of wine quality, with these wines highly rated by independent, globally-respected wine critics.
  • The estate has 18 exquisite gardens, a herd of indigenous Nguni cattle, bontebok, eland, and spectacular scenery ranging from the Hottentots Holland Mountains to views of False Bay.
  • Vergelegen cooperates with the Cape Leopard Trust, and to date, five different leopards have been photographed. Over 150 bird species have been identified, as well as 15 hectares of Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos and 105 hectares of Swartland Shale Renosterveld, both critically endangered.

Vergelegen was the first Biodiversity and Wine Initiative Champion back in 2005 and has also received a Mail & Guardian Greening the Future award, as well as its Merit award for water conservation in 2008. The estate received the International Best of Wine Tourism, Cape Winelands accolade in 2016 for an unprecedented fifth time. Vergelegen was the proud recipient of the WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) 2019 corporate award, which recognised the wine estate’s sustained commitment to environmental initiatives.

Life in lockdown - Newborns thrive in nature at Vergelegen!
Photo Cred: Vergelegen Wine Estate

In the prestigious World’s Best Vineyard 2019 competition, a voting panel from around the globe analysed 1500 wineries from 17 count.

“As lockdown restrictions ease, and we can again travel and explore our natural heritage, I really encourage visitors to explore all the wonderful treasures that Vergelegen has to offer.

“What matters more than our over 200 wine, and estate awards is our people, who offer genuine hospitality, truly care about our visitors, and do whatever it takes to make them happy. Guest experience is at the heart of everything we do. Visitors must have such an incredible time that they come back to us again and again.”


Sources: Vergelegen Wine Estate
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Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

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