Vilafonte
Regionally agnostic, soil specific, uniquely designed.
Vilafonté, located in the Paarl-Simonsberg region on the northern side of the Simonsberg Mountain, was the first joint winemaking venture created by well respected, quality-driven wine specialists from South African and the United States.
The project was a culmination of a lifelong dream to produce wines which stand alongside the great wines of the world in their elegant complexity, structure and longevity. This groundbreaking project features specific clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot, and is now spearheaded by Michael Ratcliffe.
The winery’s name is derived from the primary soil type (vilafontes) found on the 42-hectare (100+ acre) estate, recorded as some of the oldest documented in the world at between 750,000 and 1.5 million years of age. A unique characteristic of this site is the presence of stone age cutting tools near the soil surface. The origin of these tools has been attributed to a branch of human evolution called Homo ergaster (meaning “the working man”) between 1.4 million and 1.9 million years ago. This is the first of the hominid species to make symmetrically shaped tools. And as they were found on the soil surface, it confirms that South Africa has never experienced glaciation, volcanic disturbance or sedimentary deposits – leaving the top soils undisturbed for millennia.
Vilafonté has been previously named IWSC’s Best Red Wine Producer, as well as the only South African winery to be nominated twice by Wine Enthusiast Magazine as New World Winery of the Year. Recently, the winery enjoyed the privilege of being the only South African producer to have 2 Bordeaux blends (Series C 2020 and Series M 2020) on James Suckling’s 2022 Top 100 South African wines. Vilafonté continues to create luxury experiences with their bottlings.
Year founded: 1996
Proprietors: Michael Ratcliffe with co-founders Zelma Long and Phil Freese
Winemakers: Chris des Vries and Arlene Mains
Property: Paarl
Terroir: One of the oldest soils in the world, a clay and gravel type called ‘vilafontes’
Varieties cultivated: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot
Philosophy
Vilafonté’s philosophy centers on crafting wines of unparalleled elegance, complexity, and longevity that reflect the unique character of their ancient “vilafontes” soils. By blending innovation with tradition, the winery pursues excellence in every vintage, embracing a meticulous approach to vineyard management and winemaking. Their commitment to quality and authenticity ensures that each bottle stands among the world’s finest.
Biography
Arlene Mains, Head Winemaker of Vilafonté’s Seriously Old Dirt
“The only constant in life is change, therefore keep on growing, learning, and moving forward.”
Arlene Mains, inspired by the mountain views and weather patterns of the Western Cape, found her passion in winemaking after switching her studies from Microbiology to Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University in 2008. With a Master of Science in Wine Biotechnology and nearly a decade of local and international experience, Arlene honed her craft at prestigious wineries like Opus One and Mouton Rothschild, managing projects on native yeast and vineyard development.
As head winemaker of Seriously Old Dirt, Arlene oversees vineyard quality and cellar production, ensuring each vintage reflects Vilafonté’s unique character. Her investigative work in 2019 led to the discovery of 20-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted on ancient soils, enhancing the wine’s complexity and securing new vineyard sites. Arlene’s legacy aims to combine kindness, innovation, and joy in her winemaking journey.
Best advice: Everything will be fine in the end; if it’s not fine, it’s not the end.
Favorite wine region: Bordeaux
Favorite pairing: Oysters and Champagne
Wines from Vilafonte
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