Vergelegen Estate Red 2022

Vergelegen, meaning ‘situated far away’, is aptly named. It was established over 300 years ago, and back then the Stellenbosch estate was a lengthy two-day wagon ride from Cape Town. With a history dating back to 1700, it’s the third-oldest wine producing estate in South Africa. And since then, their wines have been the subject of tremendous critical praise. This is a South African take on a Bordeaux blend, using grapes from separate plots of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The vineyards are only 6.5km away from False Bay, allowing cooling ocean breezes to regulate the temperature of the vines – meaning fresh, vivid flavour. Grapes are meticulously picked by hand and crafted in their innovative gravity-flow winery. The wine spends 16-20 months in French oak barrels and 2-3 years maturing in bottle before it’s ready to be released. Expect a bold wine with complex flavours of red and black fruits and toasty oak notes. Enjoy with hearty meat dishes or cellar for up to 20 years.