Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West has just unveiled an exquisite retail collection, inspired by the property’s beauty, abundance and heritage.
The stylish lifestyle outlet, named The Potting Shed Gift Shop, is located in a recently renovated Cape Dutch-style building. Featuring a traditional thatched roof, bespoke fittings and furniture in Vergelegen’s trademark sage green, and black-and-white floor tiles, it overlooks the estate’s glorious rose garden, with the scent of rose petals wafting in.
Dr John Rourke, former President of the. Botanical Society of South Africa, and a member of Vergelegen’s Garden Committee, performed the ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday 10 December. He was assisted by Tania Coetzer, who curated the homeware collection in collaboration with consultant Paul Duncan.
Food consultant Petro Blommaert also worked closely with the team to source and brand food items.
The collection is designed to appeal to all tastes.
Garden lovers: Stylish garden tools, garden equipment bags, comfortable kneeling cushions, exfoliating tallow soap to remove garden grime, and soothing whipped tallow butter to nourish dry hands.
Homeware aficionados: Tea towels, aprons, picnic blankets, sunhats and shopping bags, plus ceramic wine bottle stoppers created in partnership with Ardmore.
Plant enthusiasts: Affordable plants such as estate hydrangeas, clivias, roses and agapanthus are available in a dedicated area alongside the shop.
Children: Delightful knitted toys inspired by farm wildlife such as Cape foxes, honey badgers, eland, and Rau quagga, plus charming toy farm vehicles.
Sweet tooths: Delectable Belgian chocolate slabs, nougat, handmade biscuits, bonbons, and candied clementines.
Fashionistas: Elegant 100% silk scarves, silver and nine-carat gold jewelry featuring hydrangea and gingko motifs, and ethically farmed Cape Cobra leather handbags.
Self-care enthusiasts: Candles, soaps, room sprays, hand washes, lotions and more.
The shop stocks four signature ranges – Dark Honey, Rose Garden, White Wisteria, and a pure, natural range incorporating camphor essential oil and powdered camphor leaf.
These reference much-loved estate features such as white wisteria, which grows abundantly in the centuries-old Octagonal Garden, and giant camphor trees in front of the manor house, which were declared national monuments in 1942.
