Hermanus Wine Tours

Discover South Africa's Premier Wine Region with Expert Guides

Established in 2004, this wine tour service showcases the incredible diversity of the Hemel-en-Aarde valley and surrounding Overberg region. With over 70 wineries and hundreds of award-winning wines to taste, visitors experience a comprehensive introduction to South Africa's eighth-largest wine producing country.

The tour focuses on the Walker Bay wine region, which stretches from Elgin and Grabouw, through Botriver to Hemel-en-Aarde valley, and onwards to Stanford and Elim. This cool-climate region produces exceptional French, German and northern Italian grape varieties including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Tour Options & Local Insights

• Tailored Experiences: From quick 2-hour tastings to full-day explorations
• Local Expertise: Registered Cape Wine Academy guides with intimate knowledge of the region
• Transport Included: Collection from accommodation with custom itineraries

The Hemel-en-Aarde valley (meaning "Heaven and Earth") holds special significance as South Africa's premier Pinot Noir region, celebrated each January during the annual Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Celebration. This area gained further recognition in 2019 when UNESCO designated the Hermanus region as the Gastronomic Town of Africa.

Beyond Wine: The Complete Experience

Tours can incorporate excellent farm-to-table dining at winery restaurants where seasonal ingredients and food-wine pairings create memorable culinary experiences. Visitors often enjoy the contrasting landscape of mountain vineyards alongside ocean views, just a 75-minute drive from Cape Town.

For the full experience, lekker advice from locals is to spend at least one night in the area to combine wine tasting with whale watching (June to December), shark cage diving, or exploring the local markets and restaurants that form part of the UNESCO gastronomic experience.

Practical Information

• Best Time to Visit: Year-round, though January's Pinot Noir Celebration and harvest season (February-April) offer unique experiences
• Wine Specialties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage (South Africa's unique cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsaut)
• Tour Groups: Personalized approach with flexible group sizes

The wine tour has been recommended by the influential John Platter Wine guide for 14 consecutive years, recognizing its commitment to showcasing this world-class wine region with its distinctly South African character.