Vilafonté is the realisation of a dream shaped by collaboration, passion, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Born decades ago from the partnership between Michael Ratcliffe, Dr. Zelma Long (formerly of Mondavi & Simi), and Dr. Phil Freese (formerly of Opus One), it merges a long-standing friendship and shared vision, combining decades of expertise from South Africa and California. The original Vilafonté dream was to create a wine from Africa’s remarkable ancient terroir, one that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest wines in the world.