News
Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman Restaurants Debut Vergelegen Icon Wines from South Africa
11/02/06
Luxury retailers’ restaurant wine list now featuring South Africa’s top wine property
Garden City, NY (October, 2006) – Fine retailers Neiman Marcus Inc. and Bergdorf Goodman have amended their national restaurant wine lists to include Vergelegen wines from South Africa’s most prestigious wine property. This wine offering marks the first time South African wines have been available in these fine restaurants.
The featured products from the Vergelegen portfolio include: Chardonnay Reserve; Sauvignon Blanc; Mill Race, a Merlot - Cabernet blend and the iconic, limited-release “V,” a classic marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc available in select restaurants only.
According to Kevin Garvin, vice president of food service and executive chef for Neiman Marcus, Inc., “Vergelegen represents serious wines made by one of the most intense wine makers in South Africa. These wines are consistent with our focus on products that epitomize luxury. Vergelegen is a gem of the South African wine category and we are pleased to pair it with the extraordinary cuisine of our restaurants and cafes nationwide.”
Vergelegen’s line of superior wines made its foray in the U.S. wine market in 2005. Exclusively imported and marketed by New York-based 57 Main Street Imports, the products and estate quickly garnered industry recognition, making history as the first South African winery to earn the prestigious Wine Enthusiast Magazine “New World Winery of the Year” award the same year. The wines continue to receive international accolades and recognition for their exceptional quality.
Peter Morales, president and CEO of 57 Main Street Imports notes, “We are very proud of this new business relationship with Neiman Marcus Inc. and Bergdorf Goodman Restaurants. This is a perfect example of luxury brands complementing each other to provide a notable experience for the consumer.”
Vergelegen - founded in 1700 - translates to mean "situated far away," and is part of the distinguished brand portfolio owned by the Anglo American Corporation, including Anglo Gold, Anglo Platinum and most notably, De Beers Diamonds. World-renowned winemaker André van Rensburg has put his heart and soul into producing consistent world-class wines during his tenure at Vergelegen, winning the Pichon trophy twice for the world’s best red blended wine.