Tucked away in the beautiful Helderberg Region, Vergelegen Wine Estate is one of the most naturally beautiful, historic estates near Cape Town. This historic Helderberg gem is perfect for families, solo travellers and couples to enjoy.
With two eateries (including the child-friendly Stables Restaurant), magical picnics beneath ancient Camphor trees, gorgeous gardens, rich Cape history, farm tour experiences and excellent wines… it is safe to say that Vergelegen is one of the most well-rounded estates in the Cape Winelands.
In this post, I highlight some of the estate’s best attractions.
Fabulous Vergelegen: Where Rich Cape History and Natural Beauty Reign Supreme
Founded on 1 February 1700, this Somerset West wine farm has been possessed by some of the world’s greatest visionaries and explorers.
And while not everything about their ownership is pleasant (like the slave history that dogs most Cape farms) – it has, nevertheless, helped shape the history of this esteemed wine estate.
Vergelegen’s award-winning wine history, Cape heritage and incredible gardens span more than 300 years. Only today, world-class food experiences and farm tours add an extra feather in its cap.
Returning to One of My Favourite Estates
Vergelegen is one of my personal favourite estates. I first visited it almost by chance in the summer of 2017 and it was love at first sight.
I spent hours exploring every inch of the estate – from the homestead to the rich gardens to the peaceful Camphor forest, all the while lost in a kind of fairytale, heady bliss.
Several years later, I finally got to revisit this Helderberg gem and experience some of its newer attractions.
Like the stunning sunflower- and cosmos-fields that now add even more natural beauty and outdoor wonder.
Glorious Gardens at Vergelegen
For me personally, one of the standout attractions at Vergelegen is undoubtedly the incredible flowers, trees and garden sections one can experience.
With everything from a magnificent rose garden to a seasonal sunflower field and breathtaking agapanthus and hydrangea flowers blooming in their hundreds and thousands, there is always some natural beauty and vivid colour to enjoy here.
Over the years, the gardens at Vergelegen have been loving restored and maintained to optimal glory and it shows. Everything from the neatly manicured hedges to the fields of flowers speak of the care and dedication that goes into the natural aspects here.
Garden Highlights
Vergelegen has as many as 18 different gardens, each as beautiful as the next. Some parts of the garden are beautiful year-round. While others – like the Octagonal Garden, Rose Garden and Agapanthus Garden – are best during spring and summertime.
Whether you visit the mystical bamboo garden or lose yourself in a sea of cheery sunflowers (some as high as two metres, with massive faces turned to the sun), the gardens of Vergelegen are sure to enchant you.
A Biodiversity and Wine Initiative Champion
Since 2005, Vergelegen has also played an important role in preserving our natural landscape.
They are Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) champions who invest in a more hopeful future through sustainable farming practices and land rehabilitation.
Parts of the estate have been declared a nature reserve. Vergelegen also has the added blessing of being situated in one of the world’s richest floral regions.
Vergelegen is also home to a beautiful herd of Nguni cattle, as well as some eland and bontebok too.
Trees Providing Shade and Hope for a Greener Future
In addition to its rich gardens, many of Vergelegen’s trees are also living wonders. These include five historic camphor trees (declared national monuments in 1942), White Mulberry dating back to 1700 and a ‘royal’ oak planted in 1928.
The camphor trees are immense. It is hard to believe trees can get as large and far reaching as they have. You feel absolutely dwarfed standing near even their sprawling roots.
As a bonus, guests can book elegant summer picnics, with an white tableclothed array of Cape finery and delicious food and wine, amid the magical camphor forest.
In early 2023, I was privileged to finally try their picnics and my partner and I both agree it is one of the most romantic and special dates you can find anywhere.
The whole picnic experience – from the magical setting to the excellent array of food and wine (we tried the Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc 2022) and extreme professionalism of the picnic staff – was flawless and filling. (So much so that we had to take a doggy bag filled with some of our leftover salads.)
This tranquil space is home to the descendants of the original camphors planted by Van der Stel in the 1700s.
Nature at its Finest at Vergelegen Wine Estate
As mentioned earlier on, Vergelegen is also home to a beautiful herd of Nguni cattle. These came to the estate in 2020 (they even inspired a pop-up Nguni Café). The cattle enjoy grazing freely on the estate, munching on fynbos and clover mix.
Along with these beautifully marked cattle, Vergelegen also has a breeding herd of Bontebok, who graze alongside the Ngunis. (They have been here since 2005.)
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In 2020, the estate also welcomed five Eland. They are housed in a specially constructed camp and form part of “veld management and ecological research with Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET)”.
Finally, they are also part of the Cape Leopard Trust, which primarily helps protect Cape leopards.
Food and Wine Aplenty
Along with their popular picnics, Vergelegen also offers guests the choice of sit-down meals at Stables Restaurant and the changing popup cafe.
Although I was sad when Camphors at Vergelegen closed – the estate now has a rotational pop-up café, which offers an exciting, beautiful dining option. (At the time of my latest visit, the popup cafe was Cafe Fleur.)
For a more relaxed option, visit the estate’s bistro-style Stables Restaurant. With indoor- and outdoor-seating overlooking the gardens and mountains, Stables is a nice family-friendly restaurant.
Advance booking is required for both the pop-up café and the estate’s seasonal picnics – but on weekends especially, it is advisable to book for Stables too.
Stables also has the most wonderful outdoor playground, suitable for kids up to age 14. It offers everything from amazing swings to sturdy jungle gyms, slides and walled tunnels. On one of my visits to the estate, my friends’ children adored the play area.
Guided Farm Experiences
Vergelegen offers a selection of guided farm tours. Some are paid experiences but the heritage and garden tour, for example, is free. (Advanced booking is required for all tours though.)
These include the Heritage and Garden tours (although you can enjoy self-guided tours too); cellar and vineyard tours; and the wine harvest drive.
Historic Highlights
With a rich, colourful Cape history, Vergelegen also offers a glimpse into yesteryear.
Visit the 200-year-old library (home to some 4 500 books) – or stroll through the 300-year-old homestead, where antique furniture and beautiful old frames grace this elegant grand dame.
Inside the homestead, there is also an in-house museum that offers insights into the former slave logs, water mill (which you can still see remnants of outside, near the Reflection Garden), estate’s ownership records and much more.
You also discover that many famous dignitaries and members of royalty, from Madiba to the late Queen Elizabeth II, have visited Vergelegen.
Award-winning Wines
Vergelegen is also home to historic, award-winning wines that you can either purchase to take home or to sample at the estate with one of their wine tastings.
Hilltop-situated Wine Cellar
Vergelegen’s hilltop-situated wine cellar, a novel in the nineties, is another wonderful part of this estate.
Its octagonal shape echoes that of the homestead’s precious walled garden, while the visitor’s deck offers stunning 360-degree views of the estate, with the imposing Hottentots Holland mountain peaks looming behind.
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You can also apparently enjoy views of Somerset West, Atlantic Ocean and if you are lucky, Table Mountain too.
Now that I have finally tried their estate wines, I definitely need to return for a guided tour of this impressive wine cellar!
In Closing
These are just many of the reasons why I love visiting Vergelegen Wine Estate. I hope you, too, discover this Helderberg beauty for yourself in Somerset West. 🙂
Please note: To visit Vergelegen, there is a small per person entry fee. You can pay with cash or card at the gate.
It is R10 per person for adults or R5 per person for pensioners/scholars. On Mondays, pensioners can visit free of charge.
Contact Information
For more information on Vergelegen Wine Estate, please contact: +27 (021) 847 2100 or email them at info@vergelegen.co.za.
You can also visit their website or find them for yourself at Vergelegen Wine Estate, Lourensford Road, Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa.
Vergelegen is also on all leading social media platforms, so be sure to connect with and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
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