- A QUAINT FARM WITH SOME FUN WINES!
La Vierge is at the top of the hill and with it's pink and white walls you certainly cannot miss it as you drive through the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Everyone always wants to stop there because it looks really inviting and you expect the views to be incredible!
The views are fantastic and you can sit outside on the deck while wine tasting. There is a restaurant too, but they were closed the day we were visiting in preparation for an afternoon wedding. Being so high up in the valley unfortunately it was pretty windy when we were there. Overall on the wine tasting side of things, we were not overly impressed with the whole experience, perhaps the wind was a hindrance, but it is a lovely quaint, quirky wine farm with amazing views. I was there once before on a girls "golfing" weekend and we had a great time inside the tasting room (it was too cold to sit on the deck)!
They actually have a sandpit on the deck too, which is set up and ready for a game of boules.
The Domaine des Dieux MCCs were also available for tasting because their tasting room is closed during the quieter winter months. We tasted both of their MCCs and they were an absolute hit. Bubbles are always a great way to start!
The Rose of Sharon Brut Rosé MCC was delicious. Strawberry and raspberry flavours, but still dry with a minty rose water finish. Very very nice! So too was the Claudia Brut MCC which is 76% Chardonnay and 24% Pinot Noir. The nose has a lot of porridge in it, but the palate has a creamy mineralness to it. We thought it had beautiful apple and creamy lemon curd flavours and not too dry like some white MCCs can be. Excellent, we'll be back for both of these!
The La Vierge wines have some very intriguing names and wine labels, as well as a few lesser known varietals included in their blends. We wanted to try the "Temptation" and "The Affair", but they were unfortunately sold out. There is also a "Seduction" we didn't get to.
Some brief wine notes below...
LA VIERGE ORIGINAL SIN SAUVIGNON BLANC - Lovely typical green pepper and earthy notes on the nose, delicious green fig, grape, grass and tropical fruit flavours. Lovely!
LA VIERGE THE LAST TEMPTATION (Weisser Riesling) - Quite a strong melon perfume nose, very fruity and almost textured on the palate - very enjoyable!
LA VIERGE THE COLLECTION SATYRICON ITALIAN BLEND - In true Italian style, this wine is quite tanniny and acidic with loads of spiced cherry flavours, rich fruit, nutmeg and minerals. It is a bit lighter in colour, with some serious legs, but very juicy. Different to the usual South African wines and quite lovely.
LA VIERGE PINOT NOIR - Which they at the farm prefer to call the Black Virgin or Black Madonna because of its supposed darker side. It is certainly more zesty and smokey than some other Pinot Noirs with garden flowers and honey flavours. It is very light and grape juicy in colour. It is more easy drinking, but we thought it lacked a little in flavours, better than some of the watery Pinots, but not as good as some of the Valley's other gems.
A lovely experience, definitely worth a stop for the view and some fun wines and bubbles to taste.
LA VIERGE WINES
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Road, Hermanus
Tel: +27 28 313 0130
GPS: S 34° 22’ 22.3" E 19° 14’29.4"
DOMAINE DES DIEUX
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Road, Hermanus, just past Creation Wine Farm
Tel: +27 28 313 2126
Labels: Domaine Des Dieux, Hemel and Aarde, La Vierge
The views are fantastic and you can sit outside on the deck while wine tasting. There is a restaurant too, but they were closed the day we were visiting in preparation for an afternoon wedding. Being so high up in the valley unfortunately it was pretty windy when we were there. Overall on the wine tasting side of things, we were not overly impressed with the whole experience, perhaps the wind was a hindrance, but it is a lovely quaint, quirky wine farm with amazing views. I was there once before on a girls "golfing" weekend and we had a great time inside the tasting room (it was too cold to sit on the deck)!
The Rose of Sharon Brut Rosé MCC was delicious. Strawberry and raspberry flavours, but still dry with a minty rose water finish. Very very nice! So too was the Claudia Brut MCC which is 76% Chardonnay and 24% Pinot Noir. The nose has a lot of porridge in it, but the palate has a creamy mineralness to it. We thought it had beautiful apple and creamy lemon curd flavours and not too dry like some white MCCs can be. Excellent, we'll be back for both of these! 