MANY WOULD ARGUE that their Chardonnay is more impressive than their Pinot, and they make some other outstanding wines here too – with a number of the cellars’ beauties originating in vineyards outside the area! But it tends to be Pinot Noir that the Hemel-en-Aarde winelands are best known for, and certainly its what the winemakers make the most noise about as a collective, what with the Pinot Noir Celebration being the biggest annual event on the calendar in these parts. Outside Hermanus, alongside the R320 to Caledon, most of the outfits in the Valley, Upper Valley and on the Ridge also offer good things to snack on, although if you fancy some serious food-and-wine pairing or a proper menu, your best options are at Creation or Newton Johnson.

See below for the top cellars and what they’re best at. For the names of exactly which wines from the area have the best track records, see the Classification. The producers with best track records overall? Bouchard Finlayson, Domaine des Dieux, Hamilton Russell, Newton Johnson, Restless River and Sumaridge. And for all of the Top 100 in the SA Cellar Classification, click here.

HEMEL-EN-AARDE‘S TOP CELLARS

Alheit – Ridge
Strongest Suits: Chenin Blanc, Semillon, White Blends

Bartho Eksteen
Strongest Suit: Sauvignon Blanc

Bosman – Upper Valley
Vinification in Wellington
Strongest Suits: Chenin Blanc, Cinsaut, Pinotage, Pinotage-led Blend

Bouchard Finlayson – Valley
Strongest Suits: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Red Blend

Creation – Ridge
Strongest Suits: Chardonnay, Grenache, Pinot Noir

Domaine des Dieux – Ridge
Vinification at Various Wineries
Strongest Suits: Cap Classique Sparkling, Chardonnay

Hamilton Russell – Valley
Strongest Suits: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Hermanuspietersfontein
Strongest Suits: Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc

La Vierge – Ridge
Strongest Suit: Chardonnay

Newton Johnson – Upper Valley
Strongest Suits: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Restless River – Upper Valley
Strongest Suit: Chardonnay

Storm – Upper Valley
Strongest Suit: Pinot Noir

Whalehaven
Strongest Suit: Cabernet Franc