Vergelegen to rise phoenix-like from ashes

Vergelegen suffered the worst wildfires in its history in January this year, but now the damaged vineyards are being seen as an opportunity for the South African estate, according to the Don Tooth, MD of the winery.

As reported by the drinks business at the start of this year, wildfires that spread throughout the Helderberg Mountain region on 2 January damaged a number of properties, in particular Vergelegen, which saw around 40% of its land destroyed by the fire – or 1,200 hectares of the 3,000ha estate, which is on its way to being declared a private nature reserve by Cape Nature.

But it was not just the native vegetation that was affected, and unfortunately for Vergelegen, the wildfires destroyed around 15ha of the estate’s best vineyards, including a block of Semillon vines that were planted in 1988, which are used to make the brand’s range-topping white, called GVB – one of South Africa’s most awarded wines.

The fires also affected some of the properties prized Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot vines, which were planted in 2000, and contribute to the Vergelegen red GVB, as well as around 30% of the vines used for the estate’s ‘icon’ wine called V – a 100% Cabernet.

While the impact of the unprecedented wildfire has “brought lots of tears”, according to Tooth, the loss of many of the property’s oldest vineyards is now see as a source of “excitement”, he added.

“We ended up losing some of our top vineyards, and the reality is that we would not have looked at replanting these for a very long time; we would not have uprooted them and brought in new clonal material – but now we have got no choice,” he said.

As a result, Vergelegen is now studying the vineyard soils in great detail, as well as considering the best clonal material to replant with, although Tooth confirmed that the winery would be putting back the same varieties, which include Semillon and Cabernet, as well as Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Verdot and some Malbec too.

“We are now saying to ourselves that we are putting in vineyards that otherwise we would have never planted, and this will give us a shot in the arm, so there is a lot of excitement now at the property, although we are not rushing it.”

As reported by db last year, Vergelegen hopes to create South Africa’s first 100-point wine with the help of famous French consultant Michel Rolland, who has worked for the estate since 2013.

While the replanting of the fire-damaged vineyards does give Vergelegen the chance to aim high for future wines, the impact of these new plantings won’t be seen for at least 10 years, according to Tooth, who told db that the property is looking at losses of more than £1 million, as well as, “a loss of market share that is hard to quantify.”

Noting that he will have to “start shorting the market” from now, with the release of the 2012 Vergelegen red GVB, he said Vergelegen was facing a “loss in terms of future production and a loss in terms of not being front of mind.”

Continuing he said, “We need to manage this and we need to motivate the team”.

Concluding on a positive note, he then said, “The fire has forced us to restart, but if we manage the impact carefully, then the property will be much better in the long term.”

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