Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Valley 8 farms

Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Valley

Bordering Walker Bay - a breeding ground for Southern Right whales on their annual winter migration - is a 20-kilometre stretch of vineyards known for their unique terroir and maritime character, which derive maximum benefit from the high elevation and cool sea breezes.

The earth has, over millions of years, shifted and moved, creating the wide variations that make up the area's three distinct appelations. Each winery produces small volumes of premium-quality wines in sustainably managed vineyards.

Experience

Hermanus is a haven for adventure lovers, with the Walker Bay Xtreme a feature on the calendar of thrill-seekers. Besides whale watching there is shark cage diving, mountain trail hiking and biking, as well as wine-and-food pairing for the less adventurous.

Wineries

Hemel-en-Aarde has, over the past few years, become recognised as a destination for wine and food enthusiasts, especially of Burgundy-style pinot noirs and chardonnays.

Hemel-en-Aarde (meaning "Heaven and Earth" in Afrikaans) is an area of 15 wineries in the Walker Bay Wine Region that rises from behind the coastal village of Hermanus. Its terroir – clay soil and the cool south-easter that acts as a vortex, cooling down the vineyards with cold air from the Benguela current – imparts a unique flavour to wines, which are often compared with those of Burgundy.

Each winery in Hemel-en-Aarde produces small amounts of highly individual, terroir-driven premium wines that carefully express the winemakers’ personalities.

The Hemel-en-Aarde winegrowers is situated on a 20km-long meandering route (the R320) rich with vineyards, wine estates, restaurants and undoubtably one of the most scenic areas in in Hermanus.

Things To Do

Activities offered by this beautiful coastal town include visits to Fernkloof Nature Reserve, various beaches, the Hermanus Country Market, the Lembu Gallery and Studio, numerous gift and crafts shops and stalls in the centre of the town, and some of the best whale and dolphin watching in the world.

Scenic drives
Adventure sports: surfing, kayaking, mountain biking
Hiking in between fynbos and vineyards
Cellar tours
Wine Hoppers safari-style tour from cellar to cellar
Top golf courses in close proximity
Vineyard tours
Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Kogelberg Biosphere UNESCO World Heritage Site

Events

Hermanus has a variety of festivals for visitors, including the Hermanus Whale Festival held in September, the Hemel-en-Aarde Hermanus Pinot Noir Celebration and the Hermanus FynArts Festival in June. This resort town has an active social calendar, so watch the press for details.

Related Blog

From Vine to Glass: South African Wine & Traceability

In the Middle Ages wax seals were used to authenticate documents. South Africa’s own sustainability wine seal does a similar job. The seal guarantees that the information on the bottle label about the variety, vintage and origin of the wine is accurate and that the wine has been grown and made in an environmentally friendly way. To date, South Africa is the only country in the world with such an all-encompassing guarantee.

Celebrate Pinotage - our home grown grape varietal!

If you come to South Africa, you should certainly celebrate your visit with a glass of Pinotage, our very own wine, “born” in South Africa over 80 years ago.

Pinotage was developed by Abraham Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University.

Let us help you pick a wine estate or event to celebrate Pinotage Day at on Saturday, 10 October 2020!

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