Wine Farms

Ataraxia Wines Ataraxia Tasting Table Ataraxia Tasting Room

Ataraxia is one of the newer farms in the area, having been founded in 2004 by husband-and-wife team Kevin and Hanli. The 47 hectares of prime vineyard land called The Skyfields is located on a unique, elevated section of the Valley that offers up beautiful views and excellent growing conditions, conditions that have helped to create some incredible wines boasting balance, depth and finesse.

The vineyards themselves are planted on elevated, predominantly south facing slopes, with soils that dictate which grape cultivars are planted. After meticulous study and research, Kevin decided that the best wine “vehicles” to express this terroir were Chardonnay and Pinot noir. His belief is that “the more pure the voice of the soil, the more interesting the wine” – Michael Chiarello.

Nestled amongst manicured vineyards at the foot of the imposing Babylonstoren mountain range, visitors will find the Ataraxia Wine Lounge. The views from here have been described as “…one of the most spectacular and dramatic positions in the whole wine world”, and rightly so. Built as a chapel in the vernacular architectural style of the region, it offers a place for visitors to relax whilst tasting the four vintages on offer – an unwooded Sauvignon Blanc, a wooded Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and a red blend called Serenity. The views from the balcony or the luxurious lounge are breath-taking, adding to an experience that is guarenteed to leave an idelibly satisfying impression on all visitors.

WINE TASTING TIMES
Monday - Friday | 09h00 - 16h00
Saturday | 10h00 - 17h00
Public Holidays | 10h00 - 17h00

Closed Sundays, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day

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Ataraxia View

 

View of Hermanus Wine Village Choices Wine Village Products


Voted one of South Africa’s best wine shops, the Wine Village is a fitting first stop along the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Route. Since opening its doors in 1997 the shop’s fame has skyrocketed, with the passionate and enthusiastic owners, Paul and Cathy du Toit, lovingly selecting more and more wines every year to offer to wine lovers from all over.

Exceptional care and enthusiastic passion have created a wine emporium with the largest selection of South African wine & spirits available to local and international clients alike. Tempting discerning buyers with the best wine to offer from the Adi Badenhorst to Zorgvliet and tempting them with the cultivar specific displays. An exploration through the Wine Village caters for every pocket and palate. The personal touch of the Wine Village team draws clients from across South Africa and the globe returning time and again. Wines are shipped door to door to 23 countries around the world.

Alongside the almost limitless wine selection on display there are also plenty of olive oils, ales, ciders, brandies, whiskies and other gift and treat options to take home. There are also daily wine tastings that give interested parties the chance to taste around 6 of the wines in the shop – a great way to get a better idea of South Africa’s wines and styles.

Every year the Wine Village hosts several well-known events, namely the Hermanus Wine & Food Festival in August and their Wine Village Wine Celebration from December until January. These events not only help to boost “wine awareness” of South African wines but are also a fun and great way to meet new people, brush up on your wine trivia and enjoy the fruits of the vine.

WINE TASTING TIMES
Monday - Friday | 09h00 - 18h00  
Saturday | 09h00 - 17h00
Saturday | 10h00 - 15h00

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Wine Village Interior

 

Whalehaven Tasting Room Whalehaven Chocolate Pairing Whalehaven Perfume Pairing

Whalehaven Wines was started in 1995. Since its conception Whalehaven Wine Experience Centre has been newly renovated, with an open spaced and well lit venue that welcomes visitors in to taste and enjoy. The newly renovated artisan winery is located at the beginning of the Hemel en Aarde Wine Route and now offers an array of hand-crafted wines that form the foundations for a memorable sensory journey.

Whalehaven honours the annual migration of the Southern Right whales by having their wines named after the sheltered waters of Walker Bay – a haven for the visiting whales and their soon-to-be-born calves. The unique bond between a Southern Right mother and its calf has been portrayed in the elegant new logo as well as in the nurturing process that the winery takes to create its signature wines.

The wines on offer are the Whalehaven Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noit, Pinotage, Cabernet Franc and Old Harbour Blend, all of which have been created using only the best of their vineyards. Their winemaker, Reino Thiart, has been working closely with the Bottega Family, exploring and creating French inspired wines of superior quality and unique taste.

Alongside the variety of wines, the centre also offers its visitors a tutored Wine & Jam or Chocolate & Wine pairing, using locally produced Golden Country Botanical Fruit Jams and Floral Chocolates to bring more of the Cape into the tasting experience. They also offer a Wine & Perfume pairing – a unique experience that focuses only on the sense of smell to determine the best combinations.

WINE TASTING TIMES
Monday - Saturday | 10h00 - 17h00  
Sunday | 10h00 - 16h00

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Whalehaven Room

 

Sumaridge Tasting Room Sumaridge Wines Sumaridge Cellar

Sumaridge Estate Wines, proudly owned by the Bellingham Turner family, lies gracefully between two imposing mountain ranges in the Western Cape’s Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, with commanding views stretching to Walker Bay on the Atlantic Ocean. The original farm began in 1997, with a small area of only 44 acres for the now-famous wines to be produced upon. Since the new owners took over the farm in 2008, the vineyards have grown to encompass 104 acres, with no signs of slowing. The farm itself has aimed at giving an “Earthly Expression portrayed to Heavenly Effect” with its majestic and beautiful main building overlooking vineyards and a private dam. From this vantage point visitors are able to enjoy a unique tasting experience whilst taking in the history and beauty of the area.

Sumaridge takes pride in its wines, taking care to plant each cultivar in the best location possible whilst working in harmony with the natural aspects of the valley to produce distinctively elegant, ample in body and complex wines. With the input of their winemaker, Gavin Patterson, the wines have evolved with each harvest, adding his own personal touch to each cultivar created.

Upon arrival, visitors can choose to enjoy their tasting or restaurant experience out on the manicured lawn, overlooking the dam and Kleinriver Mountain range or, if the weather is less than ideal, there is a beautiful tasting room to relax in. The elegant furniture and layout enhance the elegance of the wines presented, adding to the overall experience. The tastings are accompanied by an interesting description of the wines, a bit of the history and the tasting notes to be expected.

WINE TASTING TIMES
Monday - Friday | 10h00 - 15h00
Saturday - Sunday | 10h00 - 15h00

RESTAURANT TIMES
Monday | CLOSED
Tuesday - Sunday | 12h00 - 14h00 
BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL

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Sumaridge Garden

 

Newton Johnson Wines Newton Johnson Tasting Room Newton Johnson Building


The Newton Johnson vineyards were bought in 1995, with virgin (untouched) lands untainted by synthetic fertilizers and herbicides. With this in mind, the Newton Johnson family aimed to keep the land, vines and area as close to what nature intended as possible. Dave, the owner, and his wife, Felicity, built the vineyard from the ground up – quite literally – with their enthusiasm for all things wine (especially Pinot Noir) creating a strong foundation for their brand. Their extensive knowledge from over 30 vineyards also helped to create this range of award winning wines, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Rosé.

The vineyards are presently spread over mountainous farmland, with a total of 14 hectares dedicated to the growing of grapes, with the hope to expand to 20 hectares in the near future. The rest of the farm (over 100 acres) is used to feed their livestock and house other ventures. The mild climate and cool sea breezes have helped to create delicious cultivars, with many of the vines being grown in porphyritic granite, giving the wines the linear and perfumed characteristics they are well-known for.

Newton Johnson also offers their visitors their latest addition to the farm: an award winning restaurant. The beautiful location and wide windows overlook the vineyards, while the open-front kitchen gives visitors a front row seat to a show put on by the chefs and staff.


WINE TASTING TIMES

Monday - Friday | 10h00 - 17h00
Saturday - Sunday | 10h00 - 17h00

RESTAURANT TIMES
Tuesday - Sunday (lunch) | 11h30 - 16h00
Friday - Saturday (dinner) | 18h30 - 20h30 
BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL

OFFICIAL SITE
CONTACT DETAILS

Newton Johnson Restaurant View