A VINEYARD

different by design​

Vilafonté is the culmination of a life-long dream that is honoured and facilitated by the terroir of this corner of South Africa. The vision that brought together the three founding partners —Mike Ratcliffe, Dr. Phil Freese and Zelma Long— under the philosophy of creating wines of elegant complexity, structure and longevity which stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the great wines of the world.

Seriosly Old Dirt by vilafonté​

Red

Created for explorers, it displays a hedonistic experience with an abundance of fruit flavours and finishes with spicy nuance. The vintage reflects a quintessential elegance, with a core of satin textured tannins and youthful energy.

Series M

Red

A regal, dignified character. Beautifully nuanced, showing an attractive tension and energy, owing to the Merlot and Malbec components of this blend. While alluring in its youth, the 2020 Series M promises a decade or more of cellaring to realise its full potential.

Series C

Red

Deep, sensuous aromatics with clear Series C typicity of dark blue/black fruit notes. Beautifully integrated. The vintage reflects a quintessential elegance, with a core of satin-textured tannins and youthful energy. While alluring in its youth, the 2020 Series C promises a decade or more of cellaring to realise its full potential.

WESTERN CAPE,

the ancient soils of South Africa

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec confirmed its affinity to the ancient soils of the Paarl Mountains that has been dated as being somewhere between 750,000 and 1.5mil years old, and under the maritime influence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Planted at high density, these vines adhere to the exquisite struggle; encouraging smaller vines, lower yields and highly concentrated fruit.

ANCIENT FOOTSTEPS

— 33° 47' 38'' S 18° 56' 09'' E —

Vilafonté is the coming together of great wine experience of its co-founders in California and South Africa and which culminates in the ancient vilafontes soils on our estate defines our winegrowing philosophy. These healthy but nutrient deficient soils cradle the vines into producing wines driven by character, purity and refinement with a perfect tension ubiquitous to each vintage produced.