Hermanus Wine Route

Bouchard Finlayson Vineyards, Walker Bay Wine Route

© Bouchard Finlayson

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The winemakers of the Hermanus Wine Route specialise in highly individual, origin-expressive wines. Plantings are limited to grape varieties in soil types that will complement the terroir-driven style they aim for. It’s about expressing the personality of the individual vineyard through its wine.

As a result, the Hemel-en-Aarde Wine District is patronised by those in the know, who come here to buy arguably the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir the Cape has to offer, and those who chance upon the cellars here, and feel like they’ve discovered a viticultural grail trail.

The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (heaven and earth) is a spectacularly beautiful place, enfolded by the Babylonstoring and Raed Na Gael mountains. Enter the valley from Hermanus and wind your way through 20 km of heavenly scenery interspersed with the vineyards and cellars of 17 different producers.

This southerly coastal wine region’s cool climate and maritime influence are its most sought-after attributes. The vineyards are located close to the ocean and surrounded by mountains that trap cloud cover and moist sea breezes. Summer conditions are warm, and winters are mild and frost-free. Vines are planted on gentle slopes, ensuring consistent sunlight exposure and the soils - predominantly weathered shales - are ideal for cool-climate loving varieties.

Since the reclassification of the Walker Bay Wine Ward as a Wine District, the creation of 3 appellations has helped the increasing numbers of winemakers in the Hemel-and-Aarde area to give expression to a variety of terroir-specific wines.

Hemel-en-Aarde vineyards, Bouchard Finlayson and Hamilton Russell are internationally acclaimed producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, with newer cellars like Hermanuspaulpietersfontein, Newton Johnson, Creation and Ataraxia set to entrench the area’s world class reputation.

Mineral Sauvignon Blancs are a mainstay of the area and fine examples of Pinotage, Merlot and Shiraz are also being produced here. New cultivars include Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Mourvédre, Viognier, and Grenache. Visit Whalehaven for some interesting Italian style wines under the Enoteca Botega Label.

The Hermanus wine village is a one-stop shop that showcases Cape wines, olives, and local produce under one roof.

Where there is fine wine, fine food will follow. Heaven restaurant at Newton Johnson vineyards serves elegant bistro fare, and Creation wine estate offers food and wine pairings using only locally sourced produce.