Vergelegen wine estate in Somerset West has been announced the winner of the coveted Wine Tourism Services category in 2023 Best of Wine Tourism Awards (BOWTA). This annual competition rewards wineries in each member region of the Great Wine Capital global network for their excellent facilities and services.
Vergelegen is a 322-year-old estate and a provincial heritage site, renowned for its wine, hospitality, and environmental initiatives.
Wayne Coetzer, Managing Director, said: ‘This is absolutely wonderful news. We are delighted to win this award, which validates all the hard work put in by the team over the past two years to ensure that Vergelegen is truly a world-class location. It’s all about people, both our staff and our visitors, and we look forward to continuing this wonderful relationship.’
André Morgenthal, a wine tourism veteran and moderator of the awards, said: ‘Tourism is very important for our wine industry and the BOWTA awards bring us onto a stage where we rub shoulders with some of the best wine offerings in the world.’
‘It was interesting for me to see that the quality of the offerings was exceptional this year. We have absolutely world-class offerings in all categories, and there are certain categories that are unique to South Africa. It is encouraging to see wineries that have been trying hard to create something authentic, special, and real. This is one platform where everyone can stand and talk wine tourism for South Africa.’
Coetzer said that Vergelegen enables visitors to experience the three cornerstones of Cape culture – heritage and gardens, environment and landscape, and hospitality and wine – in one easy-to-reach destination.
Numerous innovations, such as the upgraded tasting room with working fireplaces; glass-fronted, air-conditioned Vinoteque for easy access to award-winning older vintages, were introduced to the estate between 2020 and 2021. A new French-styled restaurant, Café Fleur, has received rave reviews, while Stables Restaurant now has a barista coffee station.
Wine tasting experiences include wine and charcuterie tasting (all farm-made produce), wine and camembert tasting, plus ever-evolving monthly wine pairings.
All gardens have been spruced up. Produce from a separate vegetable garden supplies the Vergelegen kitchens, and there are weekly donations to local nonprofit organisations.
Vergelegen has an updated website, with an online shop. Visitors can enjoy a guided environmental tour and vineyards are now included in the cellar tour.
‘During the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, Vergelegen financed and produced 29 000 meals for Ubuntu Feeds, a local Rotary Club initiative to feed the truly hungry in our local communities,” said Coetzer. “We continue to provide farm-cultivated vegetables on a weekly basis to Helderberg Hospital, Heartlands baby sanctuary, and the Somerset West night shelter.’
For more information on Vergelegen visit: vergelegen.co.za
Pictures: Vergelegen Wine Estate
Follow the link to the announcement video here and an e-booklet here.
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