South Africa | Hemel-en-Aarde

The Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Valley in South Africa

Hemel-en-Aarde is widely regarded as one of the most exciting wine areas in South Africa and one of the most beautiful. To many, it is the place for fine, restrained, classically styled South African Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Falling within the Walker Bay “District", It is comprised of three contiguous "Wine Wards" located behind the historic seaside resort town of Hermanus, surrounded by nature reserves, overlooking the cool South Atlantic Walker Bay. 

Hemel-en-Aarde means Heaven and Earth in old Dutch and Afrikaans and according to a visiting Moravian missionary in 1899, “Rightly has it got its name because so high are the hills which closely embrace the valley all round, that they seem to touch the sky and you cannot see anything but heaven and earth”.

The Hemel-en-Aarde is home to more than 20 wine producers (and growing) and there are several factors that, in combination, set it apart from other South African wine producing areas. Firstly, the Hemel-en-Aarde is an area of unusual grape varietal focus for South Africa. While there are highly sought-after wines made from a number of different cultivars, plantings are overwhelmingly made up of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Secondly, there are no large volume producers and production is on average small and very high-end. In terms of the number of trophies, classic scores, gold medals and 5 star ratings per case of wine produced, the Hemel-en-Aarde is unmatched. Thirdly, the properties are almost all family owned and operated, by the families that pioneered them from unplanted ground.

Unusually close proximity to the cooling influence of the South Atlantic Ocean and a more southerly location than the traditional South African winelands, makes the Hemel-en-Aarde one of the coolest, most maritime, wine producing areas in the country.

Delve Deeper

Alheit Vineyards Logo

Alheit Vineyards | Hemelrand
Ataraxia Wines | Hemel-en-Arde

Ataraxia Wines | Hemel-en-Arde
Cap Maritime Wine Collection Logo

Cap Maritime | Upper Hemel-en-Aarde
A pair of geese roaming in the vineyards of Creation Wines

Creation Wines | Hemel-en-Aarde
Crystallum Wines Collection Logo

Crystallum | Walker Bay
Restless River Walker Bay South Africa

Restless River | Hemel-en-Aarde
Bottle of Storm Chardonnay next to Dog Lying on floor

Storm Wines | Hemel-en-Aarde

THE LINE UP

Alheit Vineyards Cartology White Wine Bottle on a white background

Alheit Vineyards Cartology 2024
£40.00
£40.00
/
Cartology is the vinous map of the Cape, an iconic blend of ancient dry-farmed vines... Read More...
Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden White Wine Bottle on a white background

Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden 2024
£38.00
£38.00
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An elegant, high-altitude field blend offering stone fruit depth, exotic spice & crystalline mountain freshness... Read More...
Ataraxia Marroquin Cinsault Hemel-en-Aarde South African Red Wine Bottle

Ataraxia 'Marroquin' Cinsault 2024
£26.00
£26.00
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Marroquin is Ataraxia's contribution to the Cape's exciting Cinsault renaissance... Read More...
Ataraxia Chardonnay Bottle

Ataraxia Chardonnay 2023
£30.00
£30.00
/
An unapologetically wooded Chardonnay that is arguably one of South Africa's finest expressions... Read More...
Ataraxia Wines Pinot Noir Bottle

Ataraxia Pinot Noir 2022
£32.00
£32.00
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A classy wine from unequivocally South Africa's most exciting region for Pinot Noir... Read More...
Ataraxia Sauvignon Blanc Bottle

Ataraxia Sauvignon Blanc 2025
£19.00
£19.00
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Cool-climate, unwooded Sauvignon Blanc that celebrates the virtues of elegance, vivacity & finesse... Read More...
Cap Maritime Pinot Noir Bottle

Cap Maritime Pinot Noir 2022
£38.00
£38.00
/
Hemel-en-Aarde is one of South Africa's most exciting places to grow Pinot Noir... Read More...
Wine bottle labeled 'Creation Reserve Chardonnay' on a white background

Creation Reserve Chardonnay 2023
£35.00
£35.00
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A premium cool-climate South African white bursting with crisp grapefruit, flinty minerality & oak spice... Read More...
A bottle of Creation Ridge Pinot Noir red wine, featuring a matte black bottle with a black label and metallic copper accents, set against a plain white background.

Creation Ridge Pinot Noir 2024
£35.00
£35.00
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An energetic, silky red bursting with bright wild strawberry, crisp cranberry, and delicate warming spice.... Read More...
Sold Out
Crystallum 'Clay Shales' Hemel-en-Aarde Chardonnay South African White Wine Bottle

Crystallum 'Clay Shales' Chardonnay 2023
£38.00
£38.00
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This complex, fresh & textured Chardonnay is undoubtedly one of South Africa's best... Read More...
Crystallum Peter Max Pinot Noir Red Wine Bottle

Crystallum 'Peter Max' Pinot Noir 2024
£33.00
£33.00
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A moreish and dangerously drinkable Pinot Noir in spite of its ageing potential... Read More...
A bottle of Restless River Main Road & Dignity red wine, featuring a dark glass bottle with a red wax seal and a white label with black text, set against a plain white background.

Restless River Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
£57.00
£57.00
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An extraordinary, high-elevation South African red packed with fresh blackcurrant, wild herbs & chalky tannins... Read More...
Storm 'Ignis' Pinot Noir South African Red Wine Bottle

Storm 'Ignis' Pinot Noir 2021
£38.00
£38.00
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Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot, that's intensely aromatic, savoury & elegant with fine silky tannins... Read More...
Storm Wines 'Ridge' Chardonnay Hemel-en-Aarde South African White Wine Bottle

Storm 'Ridge' Chardonnay 2023
£39.00
£39.00
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This an elegant wine with crisp fruit and a long, softly textured finish... Read More...
Storm 'Vrede' Pinot Noir Hemel-en-Aarde South African Red Wine Bottle

Storm 'Vrede' Pinot Noir 2022
£39.00
£39.00
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An inviting & delicious Pinot Noir from South Africa's Hemel-en-Aarde Valley... Read More...