Vilafonté
Paarl | South Africa
Vilafonté is a joint winemaking venture between
Zelma Long, Phil Freese & Mike Ratcliffe of Warwick wines. The name,
Vilafonté, derives from the primary soil type of the 100 acre
estate, whose character forms the foundation of the wines. Zelma
Long is Head Winemaker for the Vilafonté project as well as one of
America’s best known winemakers with an enviable international
reputation. One of the first women to study enology and viticulture
at U.C. Davis; she began her winemaking career at Robert Mondavi
Winery, rapidly working into the Chief Winemaker position. Zelma was
recruited by Simi Winery in Sonoma County. Simi was later acquired
by Moet Hennessey, under whom she worked for the next 18 years as
both winemaker and CEO. Zelma oversees the winemaking and style
development of the Vilafonté wines, and is on site in South Africa
during harvest, through pressing and barreling, and then again at
blending and bottling. Zelma has sometimes been described as
‘fanatical’ in her pursuit of quality in winemaking.
office (206)
332-1995