Vergelegen: My Backyard, Your New Favourite Wine Farm - by Adrienne Visser

Literally. It’s a two-kilometre stroll from my house, and every weekend you’ll find me there with my two little adventurers in tow. For us, Vergelegen isn’t just a wine farm—it’s our playground, our Sunday morning sanity, and our happy place.

A Playground for Grown-ups (and Kids)

The beauty of Vergelegen is that it has something for everyone. My kids think it’s their kingdom: endless lawns to run wild on, secret garden paths that spark their imaginations, and ancient trees that look like they belong in fairy tales. For me? It’s the cappuccino at Stables Café while they chase ducks. It’s sneaking away for a glass of the Reserve Chardonnay with friends at Camphors, their flagship restaurant that dishes up food as artful as the gardens around it.

And if you’re feeling active, the estate has just opened brand-new MTB and hiking trails—a big win for those of us trying to balance wine-tasting with calorie-burning. Trust me, there’s nothing like pedalling through vineyards in the morning and swirling a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in the afternoon.

A Farm with a Future

One of the reasons Vergelegen shines above the rest is its commitment to sustainability. This isn’t just marketing fluff—over the past two decades, they’ve transformed degraded pine plantations back into flourishing fynbos landscapes. They’ve won awards for their environmental projects, including clearing invasive species and rehabilitating wetlands that now attract rare birdlife. When you walk there, you’re not just admiring beauty—you’re part of a bigger story of renewal and resilience.

A Walk Through History

Vergelegen also happens to be one of the most historically rich wine estates in South Africa. Founded in 1700 by Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel, the estate’s Cape Dutch homestead, library, and sprawling gardens whisper tales of the Cape’s colonial past. I love that I can step into a museum one moment, admire priceless antiques the next, and then—ten minutes later—watch my kids race down an oak-lined avenue that’s been there for over 300 years.

Why Vergelegen Deserved to Win

Yes, the wine is spectacular (I dare you to leave without at least a bottle of their flagship V). But Vergelegen’s real magic is how it layers experiences—nature, history, family, sustainability, food, and, of course, world-class wine. It’s not just a farm you visit once. It’s a place you keep coming back to because there’s always another corner to discover, another glass to taste, another reason to linger.

For me, Vergelegen isn’t just the Best Wine Farm Experience. It’s part of my life. It’s where my children are growing up, where my weekends begin, and where I get to remind myself, glass in hand, just how lucky we are to live in the Cape.

So, if you’re planning a trip to the Winelands, don’t just tick Vergelegen off a list—immerse yourself. Because whether you’re there for the wine, the trails, the history, or just a lazy family day under the camphor trees, you’ll leave with a full heart (and probably a very full car boot).