Wine Tour
The best wine experience: A Day trip to Hemel en Aarde valley (41 kms) approx. 30 mins to the start. Just outside of Hermanus, this easily managed 20 km wine route with 15 farms makes for a perfect day in a terroir that not only produces our country's best cool-climate wines but also offers some of the most dramatic views of the Overberg region. Essential are visits to Creation and Spookfontein both of which are open for lunch.
Creation Wines
No trip to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley would be complete without a visit to the vineyards of Creation Wines. Enjoy one of the estate’s unusual wine-and-food pairings, or choose something from the tantalising menu that changes weekly.
Early-risers might be interested in the daily 10am brunch pairing (five courses paired with five wines), or there’s a six-course Story of Creation pairing with eight estate wines; small-plates-and-wine pairing; wine-and-chocolate pairing; a nonalcoholic tea pairing; and even a surprise pairing for children.
Sit on the terrace on a sunny day (or inside if it’s chilly) and drink in the epic views of the vineyards over the farm dam and the towering Babylon Toren Mountain, while the little ones play on the lawn below.
Bring your bikes and hiking shoes, as a network of scenic trails runs through the farm.
Opening times Wine-tasting + sales: Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Contact 028 212 1107, info@creationwines.com Where to find it Hemel-en-Aarde Road, R320, Hermanus,
Bouchard Finlayson Winery
Just 10 minutes from the centre of Hermanus, Bouchard Finlayson Winery is a slice of luxury, famed for its pinot noir and Missionvale chardonnay. Work up an appetite exploring the property’s beautiful fynbos-clad hills with three well-marked walking trails and then settle in for a grazing platter of locally sourced cheeses, freshly baked bread, charcuterie and seasonal preserves.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 4.30pm,Saturday + Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Contact 028 312 3515, info@bouchardfinlayson.co.za Where to find it Hemel-en-Aarde Road, R320, Hermanus,
Ataraxia Wines
Greek for “a serene state of mind, free from worry and preoccupation”, Ataraxia is situated on Skyfields farm, the highest elevation area in the valley. The four wines produced here are done so with as little interference as possible, allowing their natural flavours to shine. And you’ll get the opportunity to taste them in the unique Wine Lounge, built in the vernacular of the Overberg area. Wine aside, Ataraxia is a scenic haven for those seeking a relaxing day out.
Good to know The tasting fee (R75 per person) is waived if you buy wine.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm; Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Contact info@ataraxiawines.co.za,Where to find it The Skyfields Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Road, R320, Hermanus, Western Cape
Hamilton Russell Vineyards
This beautiful piece of land sat untouched until 1975 until founder, Tim Hamilton Russel, bought the 170-hectare property with the dream of turning it into a spectacular Winelands destination steeped in nature and passion. With the cellar and tasting room set beside a bucolic lake, frequented by a raft of resident ducks, you’ll feel worlds away. Amid the greenery of the vineyard-dotted hills, weeping willows, fynbos and Italian cypress and eucalyptus trees, the fantastical tasting room offers a suitably fresh outlook from which to sip the winery’s signature pinot noirs and chardonnays. Before you leave, pop into the farm shop for homemade olive oil and freshly made fynbos honey.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm; Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Contact 028 312 3595, info@hamiltonrussellvineyards.com
Where to find it Hemel-en-Aarde Road, R320, Hermanus, Western Cape
La Vierge
As one of the highest-elevated wine farms in the valley, it’s no surprise that La Vierge boasts some of the most incredible views, over plains of farmlands and out towards the ocean. The glass-walled tasting room capitalises on these uninterrupted vistas, providing the ideal conditions to sample the estate’s award-winning wines. The delightful restaurant, which prides itself on its eclectic culinary offering, serves a wide range of dishes from tasty pastas and line fish to curries and lamb shank. If the weather’s good, enjoy your meal on the outdoor patio, overlooking the vineyards from its elevated location, or choose to sit inside the purple-accented interior. And, should you wish to stretch your legs after lunch, the steep vineyard-dotted hills are the perfect place to do so.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm (tasting room);Tuesday – Sunday, 11am – 4pm (restaurant)
Contact 028 313 0130/2007, info@lavierge.co.zaWhere to find it 12 Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Road, R302, Hermanus, Western Cape
Newton Johnson
This feted family-owned restaurant and wine estate (off the R43, a 10-minute drive from Hermanus) is known for its modern South African cuisine, spectacular wine selection, and exquisite views of vineyards stretching out towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Stretch your legs with an informative tour through the vineyards, before settling in for a shared platter or one of the artfully prepared seasonal dishes.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Contact 028 312 3862, wine@newtonjohnson.com
Where to find it Hemel-en-Aarde Road, R320, Hermanus, Western Cape
Spookfontein Wines
Perched atop a sweeping slope – overlooking 313 hectares of untouched nature and rustic farm roads – this charming wine farm blends effortlessly into the Overberg’s epic landscapes. The welcoming, bricked tasting room, designed to emulate the rolling hills of the valley, is a wonderful spot to sit back and soak up the spectacular setting, with a glass of the valley’s finest in hand. The on-site restaurant serves contemporary farm-style comfort dishes, and is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday. And, if you find yourself unable (or unwilling) to leave, there are two quaint cottages perfect for scenic stayovers.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 10am – 4.30pm; Sunday & public holidays, 10am – 4pm
Contact 028 125 0128, james@spookfontein.co.za.Where to find it Spookfontein Farm, Hemel-en-Aarde Road, R320, Hermanus, Western Cape
Whalehaven
If you’re a wine lover (novice or connoisseur), chances are you’ve heard of the Bottega family (of Idiom Wines in Somerset West). They also happen to own this artisanal winery, founded in 1995, that’s named after the protective bay that shelters breeding southern right whales during winter.
Its exceptional merlot, cabernet franc, chardonnay and pinot noir, created by winemaker Reino Thiart, who has an imputable passion for creating boutique, handcrafted wines with edge, are all worth tasting!
Those who wish to explore the surrounding valley without breaking a sweat can do so with a hop-on hop-off safari-style wine tour – (winehoppers.co.za; Contact: Siviwe 0769912498 )a fun excursion through this magnificent region and wineries that lie within it. Collect and drop at Hermanuspietersfontein
Opening times Wednesday – Friday, 10am – 5pm; Saturday + Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Contact 028 316 1633, experience@whalehaven.co.za Where to find it R43, Hemel-en-Aarde Road, Hermanus, Western Cape
Wine estates travel distance from OnTheRocks
Hermanpietersfontein (41km)
Whale Haven (40.7kms)
Hamilton Russel Vineyards (42 km)
Southern Right Estate (42.7kms)
Bouchard Finlayson (45.5 km)
La Vierge (47.3kms)
Spookfontein (48km)
Newton Johnson (49.4 km)
Ataraxia (56 km)
Creation 57.5 kms)
Seven Springs Vineyard (61.2kms)
You can do a round trip, and come back via karwyderskraal. See google maps beneath.
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