Seven Springs Vineyards
Share:
In Their Words
Seven Springs History & Location
Nestled between Shaws Mountain to the north and the Teslaarsdal Mountain Range to the south, Seven Springs Vineyard sits on the picturesque R320 Hemel-en-Aarde mountain road, between the seaside town of Hermanus (25 mins) and the spa town of Caledon (15 mins).
The vineyard is owned by Tim and Vaughan Pearson. With its shale derived soils and oceanic-influenced location just 6 kilometres from the coast, Seven Springs vines can produce exceptional grapes. Noble varieties, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Pinot Noir have been planted to express the full potential of each cultivar.
Seven Springs Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open daily 11am-4pm.
Guided Cellar Tours: available, subject to availability, by appointment only.
*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.
Seven Springs Wine Tasting
Visitors are welcome to call in to enjoy some of our superb wines, which may include vintages of Sauvignon Blanc, Oaked and Unoaked Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Syrah Rosé. Subject to availability, if you pre-book, you can also receive a short tour of our cellars.
Note Seven Springs export their full range of wines to the USA, branded under the label ‘Over the Mountain’. We also produce a small amount of estate-grown olive oil, which can be purchased in the Tasting Room.
Wine Tasting Prices
Each tasting costs R10 per glass, or you can taste all 6 Seven Springs wines for R60. Olive oil from R110 for a 750ml bottle.
Seven Springs Restaurants
Please note Seven Springs does not have a restaurant, however there are many options located in Hermanus, approx. 25 minutes drive away – or you can try nearby wine farms such as Creation (a 5 min drive).
Seven Springs Tours & Activities
Should you have a request to tour the cellar, please contact the farm in advance as these are by appointment only.
For cyclists and hikers, there is a MTB course which traverses through Seven Springs, all the way from the bottom of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Cycle permits must be obtained and these can be purchased at ‘Village Cycles’ between Mon to Sat, which is located at the bottom of the valley road in Hemel-en-Aarde village, next to Wine Village. Visitors are welcome to hike for free on the trail. Please note routes are not affiliated to Seven Springs and as such they cannot answer any queries.
When Lucy Visited
If you’re looking for a traditional and unpretentious tasting experience where the wine holds centre stage, boutique little Seven Springs at the top of the Hemel-en-Aarde road should definitely be on your list!
So What Makes Seven Springs Stand Out?
Firstly, this is not a glamorous, extravagant estate with extensive dining options, facilities for families or panoramic views. No. This is passionate winemaking on a small working farm with a very modest tasting room right in the thick of it. When you remove all these glamourous bells and whistles, the wine has nowhere to hide and has to truly sing. I’m so pleased to say it really did!
So What About The Farm Itself?
To set the scene, Seven Springs physically sits at the top of the Hemel-en-Aarde R320 mountain road. Translating as “Heaven and Earth” from Afrikaans, the area was so named as according to folklore, the hills which surround the valley appeared to touch the sky, so much so that you “cannot see anything but heaven and earth”.
There are many wine farms on this scenic mountain road, which climbs steeply between Hemel–en–Aarde village by the coast, to the town of Caledon. Though not officially part of the Hemel-en-Aarde appellation (their wines are referred to instead as ‘Wine of Origin Overberg’), nevertheless Seven Springs is one of the last wine farms you’ll find on the mountain road, as you climb up. It is here that unique soils and prevailing oceanic winds encourage production of distinctive cool climate premium estate wines, really characteristic of their terroir. They also have olive trees planted between some vines, which produce delicious olive oil.
You can only reach Seven Springs by road and whilst the R320 is undoubtably beautiful, it is winding, plus the farm is located on a tricky bend. I only spotted their sign last minute so PLEASE take my advice and drive carefully and slowly, so you don’t have to brake suddenly and turn at a dangerous spot. Once you do turn in, there’s a short dirt road leading to a parking area with lovely views of the valley with sheep and a dam below. There are some farm outbuildings here but these are NOT owned by Seven Springs, nor are the cycling trails which traverse the farm (see notes above in ‘Tours & Activities section’ above for more info on this).
What About The Wine Tasting?
As I mentioned there is no restaurant, jungle gym, gardens or real views once you enter the farm. This is genuine farming. For visitors there is a small but bright and airy Tasting Room with just 4 inside tables, adjacent to a courtyard which usually has some seating outside in the warmer months. Visitors are welcome to just arrive, but as it’s so small, calling ahead will help them. It’s the sort of place where you may be met by a wine host, the owner, the winemaker or their knowledgeable operations manager. It’s that intimate!
Seven Springs wines are all estate grown and I tried 6 for R60, which included a single varietal Syrah and Pinot Noir, an unoaked and oaked Chardonnay, plus a Syrah based Rose and Sauvignon Blanc. If you don’t want to try all 6 you can pay R10 per sample but it’s so worth trying them all, as you get a rounded expression of this area’s wine character. They currently don’t offer any nibbles or soft drinks, so this is really one for adult wine lovers.
I really enjoyed their wines. The whites were fresh and subtly tropical and even though I personally prefer full bodied Bordeaux-style reds, their lighter bodied Pinot Noir 2016 was elegant and so juicy. Their 2017 Oaked Chardonnay (which spent 10 months in French Oak) was typically buttery and smooth but luxuriously full, with a playful light nuttiness and aromatic citrus. Delicious.
The first vineyards were planted here in 2007 and the first vintages only released in 2011, so Seven Springs are still relatively young. My host Whitney-Ann explained however that since the arrival of their current winemaker Gus in 2018, his wealth of first hand knowledge and experience from time spent in France is evolving their style and hopefully taking them to the next level.
Can You Tour The Cellars?
You can request a tour of the cellars free of charge, however this is by appointment only as the farm is so small. If you have a particular interest though, do give them a call in advance and I’m sure they can make a plan.
I warned the team in advance I was coming, so they were kind enough to walk me around so I could view the maturation barrels and ask questions of their Cellar Assistant. I did post a picture online of me sampling some of their 2021 Pinot from the barrel but this was only possible as I happened to visit on the exact day they were filling them, so this is not something they usually offer! But even without that, it’s always so interesting to see the behind the scenes of a working wine farm, as you get to appreciate the blood, sweat and tears which goes into that incredible journey from grape to glass.
In Summary
A very intimate and humble farm producing premium wines from the heart. There are no touristy bells and whistles, so definitely not one for kids. A place for true wine lovers who want a taste of authenticity in this exciting winemaking corner of South Africa.
Top Tip!
If you fancy wine hopping in the area, as Seven Springs is quite rustic and has limited facilities, I would suggest STARTING your wine tasting day here, then heading on to some of the more glitzy neighbouring farms – perhaps Ataraxia and then Creation for a late lunch. All 3 farms are SO different and you will get to experience a different vibe at all 3.
