Walker Bay
Walker Bay and its Hemel-en-Aarde ('heaven and earth') valley are South Africa's Burgundy, producing some of the country's finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in cool, ocean-breezed vineyards.
Fast facts
At a glance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Climate | Cool, maritime (among S Africa's coolest) |
| Geography | Southern Cape coast near Hermanus and Cape Agulhas |
| Key appellations | Walker Bay WO · Hemel-en-Aarde Valley · Upper Hemel-en-Aarde · Elgin |
| Main grapes | Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah |
| Famous for | Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir, Hamilton Russell, Cool-climate Chardonnay |
Grapes
Signature grapes of Walker Bay
The varieties that define this region's wines.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is Burgundy's great gift to the wine world — light in colour yet profound in flavour, haunting in i…
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the world's most planted white grape and a remarkable blank canvas for terroir and winemaking. F…
Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc is celebrated for its electric, zesty character and unmistakable aromatics — gooseberry, grass…
Syrah / Shiraz
Syrah (known as Shiraz in Australia) is one of the world's great black grapes, capable of extraordinary power …
Nearby
Related regions
Explore neighbouring wine areas.
Wine travel
Visiting Walker Bay
Whale-watching at Hermanus plus the rolling Hemel-en-Aarde cellar doors make a gorgeous coastal wine trip.
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Country-wide wine guide with regions, grapes, classification and food culture.