The Vry Burgher
Vry Burgher is the culmination of the efforts of a great winemaker Nicky Versfeld and an experienced and astute wine Producer and Negociant Rob Coppoolse. This is a well salted team that has the ability to select the right vineyards for the right product.
The wine is made under the supervision of Nicky Versfeld.
The Vry Burgher
The establishment by the Dutch East India Company of a refreshment station at the Cape in 1652 had a single aim which was to provide fresh food to the company's merchant fleets on their voyages to India and the surrounding areas.
The establishment of that trading station led to a flourishing wine industry and later to the birth of a nation. Jan van Riebeeck, the first governor of the Cape, planted a vineyard in 1655 and on 2 February 1659, the first wine was made from Cape grapes. In 1652, under Van Riebeeck's command, the VOC’s rule at the Cape had begun, which lasted for nearly 150 years and ended in 1795 with the British occupation of the colony.
It was not the original intention of the VOC to colonise the Cape, but in 1657 it allowed officials to leave service at the Cape to become the first 'Vryburghers' (independent farmers or 'free burghers') because the Company believed that by allowing private individuals to farm it would be more economical or less costly to produce the necessary provisions for the needs of the homeward- and outward-bound fleets.
It was also the main reason for the expansion of the settlement though the establishing of agricultural settlements at Stellenbosch (1679) and Drakenstein 10 years later. It is from this pioneering spirit of the early independent winemakers that our bold distinctive Vry Burgher wine proudly takes its name.
Nicky Versfeld
Born and raised on a sheep farm in the Northern Cape South Africa, Nicky Versfeld was always a wine farmer at heart. After finishing school he studied Cellar Technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College in Stellenbosch and started as assistant winemaker at Simonsvlei Winery in 1981.
~ Welmoed Winery - Manager/Winemaker (1986 - 1996)
~ Steenberg Estate - Cellar master (1996 - 2001)
~ Vinfruco - Executive Director Winemaking (2001 - 2004)
~ Stellenbosch Vineyards - Executive Director Winemaking (2005 - 2011)
The Winemaker - Nicky Versfeld
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Double Gold Veritas (1996)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Double Gold Veritas (1997)
~ Merlot - World Championship Merlot @ International Wine & Spirit Awards (2000)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Double Gold Veritas (2001)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - SAA Best White Wine served onboard (2003)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Double Gold Veritas (2005)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - SAA Best White Wine served onboard (2005)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show – Silver (2007)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Decanter World wine Awards - Gold (2007)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - International Wine Challenge - Silver (2007)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards (2008)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Wine Magazine Tops at Spar Top 10 (2008)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Old Mutual Trophy Awards - Bronze (2008)
~ Shiraz - International Wine and Spirit Awards - Silver (2008)
~ Shiraz - Decanter World wine Awards - Bronze (2008)
~ Shiraz - AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge - Silver (2008)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Micheal Angelo - Gold (2018)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Shortlisted for selection on SAA Business class (2018)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Old Mutual Trophy Awards - Gold (2020)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Double Gold Veritas (2020)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards - Gold (2020)
~ Sauvignon Blanc - Platter's Wine Guide - 4.5 Stars (2020-2021)
~ Galaxy - Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards - Gold (2020)
~ Galaxy - Platter's Wine Guide - 4 Stars (2020-2021)
Today Nicky is an accomplished and astute winemaker who creates the best product from understanding where to select the finest grapes at a great price. This is passed on to the consumer – hence the very reasonable pricing of his signature wines.