Welgegund Heritage Wines

About Welgegund Heritage Wines

Flanked by elegant oak trees, the little cul-de-sac leading to Wellington's Welgegund Heritage Wine Estate is quaint and unassuming. Behind the gate, though, is a wonderland of world-class wines and an intriguing history that creates a place that is nothing short of magical. Whether you are a wine fundi or someone that enjoys the occasional quaff, Welgegund is gorgeous to explore and its wines a real treat to sample.

This estate is perched at the foot of the magnificent Hawequa Mountains in the Western Cape. It was built in 1777 and was once the property of Cecil John Rhodes, the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony in the late 1800's. It was the best fruit farm in the Boland. But, it has really blossomed as a wine farm, thanks to the ideal combination of terroir, climate, and expertise.

The winds that tumble down from the mountain, the sometimes-intense climatic conditions, and the decomposed granite of the foothills yield vines that produce fruits with intense flavours. The variety of cultivars at Welgegund is impressive, and a testimony to these perfect wine-making conditions. This wine farms uses Cinsaut, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc and Grenache Gris grape varieties, as well as Carignan, which has its roots in Spain, but is known as a southern French grape.

The farm covers 35 hectares and its wines are characterised by a certain enthusiasm for life and the adventure that it is. This permeates every wine and imparts a zest for the ‘right here, right now'. Wine tastings that showcase the intense deliciousness of this estate's produce can be enjoyed by appointment only.

Wellington is less than an hour's drive from Cape Town and has a rustic appeal to it. It is surrounded by mammoth mountains and vineyards, and its streets are lined with historic homes.

To view more wine estates in the region see Wine Estates in Wellington or see South African Wine Estates for a general overview and links to other wine producing regions.