Hermanuspietersfontein
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In Their Words
History & Location
Hermanuspietersfontein is a well-known wine cellar door in Hemel-en-Aarde Village, at the entrance to the lower Hemel-en-Aarde Wine Region of Walker Bay, on the outskirts of Hermanus. The name originates from the founder of Hermanus, Hermanus Pieters, who in 1855 helped shape what was a small fisherman’s village into the town it is today.
The winery produces Sauvignon Blanc, a Rosé, two Bordeaux style blends, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The majority of our wines are grown in our cool climate vineyards at Sondagskloof farm, located approximately 54 kilometres away from the cellar door beyond Stanford, which is also home to our four self-catering cottages.
Every Saturday morning, the winery in Hemel-en-Aarde village holds a mini market Die Markie, where local producers showcase incredible artisanal food with great local wines, live entertainment and most of all good fun.
Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open Mon to Sat 10am-4.30pm (last tasting 3.30pm).
Food & Wine Market (Die Markie): open Sat 9am-1pm.
*PLEASE NOTE*
All times, prices and facilities listed are subject to change. We recommend checking latest details directly with the farm and pre-booking experiences wherever possible, to avoid disappointment.
Wine Tasting
The cool climatic conditions and high content clay soils of our vineyards in Sondagskloof bring out both the natural acidity and minerality for our range of elegant European styled wines. We produce both a wooded and unwooded Sauvignon Blanc (the Platters 5 star ‘Kat met die Houtbeen’ and ‘Kaalvoet Meisie’), two Bordeaux varietal blends (Kleinboet and Die Arnoldus) a single varietal Shiraz (Skoonma), a Merlot (Posmeester), Cabernet Franc (Swartskaap), plus a premium rosé (Bloos).
Wine tastings are available at our modern cellar door in Hemel-en-Aarde village, which features a handful of welcoming indoor and outdoor tables, plus a small coffee outlet. Dogs are welcome at our cellar door, however unfortunately not at our accommodation at Sondagskloof, as it is a working farm.
Wine Tasting Prices
Wines can be tasted by the glass, for a fee of R10 each. Should you be visiting the Hermanuspietersfontein market on a Saturday morning, wine tasting is complimentary.
Restaurants
Please note there is no restaurant at Hermanuspietersfontein, however should you be visiting on a Saturday, a range of food items including cheeses, charcuterie, pizzas, samosas, breads and juices and are available for consumption at our weekly market held adjacent to our cellar door, which includes plenty of outdoor shaded tables.
Tours & Activities
Visiting Die Markie (The Market) at Hermanuspietersfontein is a relaxing way to spend your Saturday morning. Kids can keep themselves entertained by building a record breaking Jenga tower, while you enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch. With free wine tastings and background music thrown in it makes for a foot tapping happy and fun family day out.
Accommodation
Located 54 kilometres east of Hemel-en-Aarde village beyond the town of Stanford is Sondagskloof: our farm and vineyards. Here you can escape from city life, indulge in one of our self-catering cottages and be surrounded by the luxury of nature’s beauty and splendour. Make time for yourself and the family, enjoy long, easy, mountain walks or bike rides. Our farm enjoys picturesque mountain, ocean and vineyard views.
We have four traditionally rustic cottages: 3 One Bedroom Cottages and 1 Three Bedroom Cottage. Please refer to www.hpf1855.com/blogs/cottages/stay-in-sondagskloof for more information. Please note dogs are unfortunately not permitted.
Pricing
The 1 Bedroom Cottages are priced from R700 per night, on a self catering basis. The 3 Bedroom Cottage is priced from R1800 per night, on a self catering basis. All rates are based on low season (winter). Please contact the winery for more details and to book.
When Lucy Visited
While it may be small in size, Hermanuspietersfontein boasts not only the longest (and perhaps most unforgettable) name of any wine brand in South Africa, but it also weaves 3 very different wine tourism experiences together for you to savour.
There’s the contemporary ‘cellar door’ in Hemel-en-Aarde Village; the bustling Saturday morning market (Die Markie) held in the winery’s rear courtyard; then located over 50 kilometres away is ‘Sondagskloof’ : their farm and vineyards which also plays host to rustic yet utterly charming cottages in the most spectacular of settings.
So what makes Hermanuspietersfontein stand out?
Hermanuspietersfontein is a much loved South African wine brand, however if you’re not familiar with their physical set up, it’s important to understand that their Tasting Room in Hemel-en-Aarde Village is not a traditional wine farm. It is very much a ‘Cellar Door’ experience – i.e. the location where grapes predominantly grown on their farm in Sondagskloof (over 50kms away) are brought to be processed for winemaking. It is here, in view of their maturation tanks and the cellar, that they have built a contemporary Tasting Room.
While you won’t find views of mountains or vineyards, you will find a modern and airy Tasting Room with floor to ceiling glass windows, a little coffee shop, indoor and outdoor patio seating plus friendly staff. What’s more, on Saturdays the rear winery courtyard comes to life with ‘Die Markie’ – their foodie market where locals come to sip wine, listen to live music and catch up with friends. It’s a great vibe!
Should you be interested in visiting their rural farm, Sondagskloof, visitors are welcome to stay overnight in one of the simple but charming cottages located there. The farm is approximately 1 hours’ drive east of the Tasting Room, just beyond the lovely town of Stanford. I spent two nights (hosted) at Sondagskloof and absolutely loved it! Keep scrolling for more details.
So What About The Winery Itself?
The Hermanuspietersfontein Tasting Room is located at the end of a ‘no through’ road in Hemel-en-Aarde Village, about 10 minutes drive west of Hermanus. The village is the starting point of the winding R320 mountain road which snakes all the way up towards the town of Caledon – it’s on this road that several of the other famous Hemel-en-Aarde wine farms sit, so Hermanuspietersfontein is the ideal start or end point for a wine hopping day in the area.
The Tasting Room is stylish and cosy – reminiscent of a wine bar however do note currently there is no restaurant or food served. There are just 4-5 sets of tables inside so it’s very intimate, plus outside there are the same number of tables on the patios (note, no facilities for kids). As there are no real views as such, it doesn’t really matter the weather, however obviously a sunny day is ideal for the Saturday market, which spills out into the cellar courtyard area behind the Tasting Room. Keep scrolling for more details on the market.
What About The Wine Tasting?
Hermanuspietersfontein have 7 wines in their cool climate affordable wine range, which costs R10 per tasting if you visit between Monday to Friday. If you come on Saturday mornings during market time however, a selection of wines are offered for free (yes you read that right!), served from their bar hatch which opens out on to the back courtyard.
The origins of the Hermanuspietersfontein name comes from the Dutch founder of the nearby town of Hermanus, a farmer and teacher by the name of Hermanus Pieters. Legend has it that in the mid 19th Century he ‘followed a path etched by elephants’ from nearby Caledon towards the ocean, where he discovered a fresh spring. More farmers followed to this desirable area and it became known as Hermanuspietersfontein, or Hermanus Pieter’s Spring. It was only in 1902 that the town’s name was shortened to simply ‘Hermanus’.
With humorous storytelling wine names such as their wooded Sauvignon Blanc “Kat met die Houtbeen” (The Cat with the Wooden Leg), you quickly realise Hermanuspietersfontein don’t take themselves too seriously. I tried the dry blush ‘Bloos’ Rose, fruity cassis-driven ‘Posmeester’ Merlot, the oaky and spicy ‘Arnoldus’ Bordeaux style red blend and the fragrant peach and honey driven ‘Kat met die Houtbeen’ oaked Sauvignon Blanc – and enjoyed them all! The Arnoldus would age nicely however the others are ripe for opening and savouring immediately.
The Hermanuspietersfontein Saturday Market
The market operates every Saturday (weather permitting) from 9am – 1pm and it’s free to enter. There was no issue with parking. Expect stalls with cheese, olives, pizzas, fish, cured meats and olive oils. Plenty of socially distanced shady tables are available and there is usually live music. It seemed very much like a local crowd, mostly small groups but there were also some families there. It’s not a vast space but coupled with the complimentary wine, coffee and breakfast options it is a lovely start to any Saturday and I enjoyed chatting to the stall holders, many of whom have been selling their goods here for years.
What's the Sondagskloof Farm and Accommodation Like?
If you want to truly get away from the world (albeit there is wifi), a stay in one of Hermanuspietersfontein’s simple cottages at their farm Sondagskloof is a must. Located near the gorgeous little hamlet of Stanford around 1 hours’ drive east of the Tasting Room, here open roads lead you deep into lush interconnecting valleys, where horses and sheep graze near rolling trellised vineyards and mountains. At night the stars are unobstructed and they simply dazzle; you’re awaken by birdsong and can enjoy walks to truly appreciate nature’s splendour.
The farm is fairly isolated but we felt very safe as it is gated. I stayed with my parents in the 3 Bed Cottage ‘Posmeester’ for 2 nights – they didn’t want to leave! The nearest shops are around 25 mins away but of course you just bring your provisions and settle in for the duration. There is a simple kitchenette and indoor/outdoor braai and this was fine for us.
The farm is run by Viticulturist Lochner and his wife Ida, who explained they like to leave guests to enjoy the farm and vineyards in peace, however they do usually offer to take guests up to the farm’s stunning viewing platform, for a wine tasting. Accessible by 4WD only, this panoramic viewpoint has to be seen to be believed – utterly serene. An incredible end to a tranquil ‘back to basics’ stay in nature.
In Summary
A friendly and welcoming modern winery in the village, serving crowd pleasing wines! Families and dogs are welcome at the Tasting Room however with limited facilities, Saturday market day is probably more suited to kids and on the whole I would say the Tasting Room is more geared up for small adult groups. Hermanuspietersfontein is the ideal start or end to any wine adventure in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, or an idyllic overnight getaway with just you and the stars on their rustic farm in rural Sondagskloof.
Top Tip!
For the best of both worlds, come on a Saturday morning to enjoy complimentary wine tastings at the Tasting Room, with live music and delicious foodie treats in the courtyard – the perfect slice of local life. If you want to stay overnight at the farm, personally I would choose the summer months when the vineyards are in full bloom and the cottages are warmer – you are deep in rural countryside here!
