Best wineries to visit in Hemel-en-Aarde, Hermanus

Hemel-en-Aarde is slightly further from Stellenbosch or Franschhoek from Cape Town but well worth the visit especially if you like Pinot Noir and Chardonnays. Here’s the list of producers and wineries worth visiting in Hemel-en-Aarde:

Hamilton Russell Vineyards

Historical estate and winery that basically pioneered the wine industry in the area. Adorable tasting cottage area where you can taste their Burgundy inspired Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs. They only make 1 bottling of each (vs. multiple vineyard bottling), wines have a good balance of fruit, dark, and spicy elements.

Bouchard Finlayson

Another historical winery where Peter Bouchard from Burgundy partnered with Peter Finlayson. Their wines reflect old world style in a new world soil and it was a treat to taste through their Chardonnays and Pinots. Overall felt like their wines were the most similar to Burgundy style wines.

Ataraxia Wines

Such a cute spot on top of the hill, in an old white chapel. Super fun “black” Chardonnays and different Chardonnays and Pinots made from whole cluster and de-stemmed methods.

Storm Wines

I didn’t get to actually visit but had a couple different bottles of their wines at restaurants and enjoyed them! Would have loved to visit to taste their full lineup

Creation Wines

Casual spot where you can have breakfast or lunch along with wine tasting. You can actually pick a taster pour for any wines on their list so it’s all personalized for your taste. Nice view of the vineyards!

Hermanus, which is the main town near Hemel-en-Aarde wine region was the most adorable town to stay in. Highly recommend the trip from Cape Town! Read more about wine country trip from Cape Town here or see my Instagram highlights here.

Best wineries to visit in Franschhoek

Franschhoek is a lovely “French Corner” in the Cape Winelands with ~50 different wineries. Here are some of the best and recommended wineries depending on what you are looking for.

Unique wine experience

  • Grande Provence: wine Blending experience

  • Wine tram: Not exactly a single winery but you can hop on and off at several wineries in the area

Great Wines

  • Lynx: Refreshing whites and rosés

  • Anthonij Rupert: Good Bordeaux blends and sparkling

  • Leeu Estates: Good Bordeaux blend

Wineries for lunch

  • Grande Provence: Oyster station!

  • La motte: Lovely patio and food

  • Haute Cabrière: Personally haven’t been but was told to have great views and food

Most Instagramable Wineries

  • La motte: As the name suggests, lovely ground that feels like part of a castle.

  • Le Lude: White interior of the dining room is unique and fun

  • Leeu Estates: The ground with artwork, interior, and the view is amazing

See more wineries and wine travel tips @fine.vining

Wine travel guide to Cape Town, South Africa - Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Hermanus

I recently traveled to a beautiful wine region near South Africa, Cape Town. Often referred as Cape Winelands, there are several wine regions within 1-2 hours drive from Cape Town. This was my second visit to the area and while Franscchoek and Stellenbosch are the most well-known area, my favorite part of the trip was Hermanus. I recommend spending at least 2-3 nights in each town to visit wineries in the area, relax at the pool with vineyard views, and check out a few different restaurants.

Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are only ~30minutes away by car so you can technically pick one and do day trips. We opted to stay in both for change in scenery: staying walking distance to the main street in Franschhoek while doing a more resort style vineyard stay in Stellenbosch. Here are quick notes about each region:

Franschhoek

Franschhoek means “French corner” and it is such a cute wine town. You can even see lavender fields while driving around! You can typically find various red blends, whites like Chenin Blancs, and traditional method sparkling wines here.

  • Try the famous wine tram that stops by a number of wineries in the area.

  • Try more remote wineries that are not on the wine tram route. They tend to be more quite and small vs. large wineries on the tram route. Ubers are readily available in the area.

  • Walk around the cute main town. The main street and town is very walkable and you can find cute restaurants, shops, and wine bars.


Stellenbosch

Certain areas in Stellenbosch is high in elevation with visible mountain ranges around the town. You can find similar wine varietals as Franschhoek. If Franschhoek is like a little French town, you can feel more Dutch influence in this town.

  • Stay at a vineyard hotel. We had beautiful view of the mountain and vineyards with infinity pool.

  • Lots of wineries in the area have amazing view due to the mountain range!

  • It’s a college town and there are more restaurant options in the main town compared to Franschhoek.


Hermanus (Hemel-en-Aarde)

Hermanus is a coastal town and considered a cooler region, producing varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnays.

  • Take a day trip to Hemel-an-Aarde, wine region famous for Pinots and Chardonnays.

  • Go whale watching. During the season (early JUNE to end of NOVEMBER), Hermanus is considered the best place to watch whales from the land!

  • Hermanus town is artsy and super cute. I loved taking morning walks around the town exploring small alleys.

  • Enjoy amazing seafood at any of the restaurants with a view. Most of the town is surrounded by the coast and there are many restaurants with a direct view of the ocean!

Follow @fine.vining on Instagram and stay tuned for more detailed guide on where to eat, drink, and stay!


Where to go wine tasting in Tuscany: Montalcino wineries

Tuscany is a dream destination, not only for wine lovers but for anyone dreaming of picturesque vineyard hills and cypress trees. If you are planning a wine focused trip to Tuscany, Montalcino might be on top of your list as the birthplace of Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy's most celebrated red wines.

I recently spent two nights exploring wineries and restaurants, and did a lot of research to visit mix of wineries that are small and big. Here’s the list of wineries with good wines and views:

Winery in an ancient Castle: Castello Tricerchi

Working winery is part of the family castle from 1441 located on top of the hill with an amazing view.

Historical family winery: Conti Costanti

Constanti family was the first to call red wines “Brunello” along with other producers in Montalcino in 1800s.

Most unique: NostraVita

Small family owned winery with lots of arts and unique museum like elements throughout the property. Amazing view.

Picturesque ground: Le Prata

Boutique winery and a hotel with a quintessential Tuscany building and ground.

Best tour and cellar: Argiano

One of the biggest wineries I’ve visited. Impressive cellar tour including their own wines along with a private collection of world class wines.

Other wineries I didn’t get to visit

I didn’t personally get to visit but have heard great things or got to taste them throughout the trip: Le Chiuse, Castel Giocondo, Tenuta Le Potazzine, Casanova di Neri, Uccelliera

Discover Florence's Best Wine Windows: A complete guide and review of 7 different wine windows

Florence is such a charming Italian city with amazing food and drinks. Tucked away in its narrow alleys and quaint corners are the cherished wine windows—portals to a delightful sip of local culture. The historical “Buchetta del Vino” (little wine doors) started back in 1600s to safely sell food and wine during the plague. There were 100+ of them but only a handful of them operate now all over the city.

When I found out there are more than one operating window, I had to try all of them. I ended up trying 7 out of 8 and thought each of them had their own charm. Here’s the summary of the ones I tried.

  • Babae: Window with the most wine selection. Most places have red, white, and prosecco but Babae also has orange wine! This might be the most well-known window.

  • Osteria San Fiorenzo Close to Bascilica of Santa Croce. There was a Christmas market in the plaza when we went. Has outdoor seating.

  • Ristorante Pietra Bianca They had a variety of spritz and cocktails on the menu. Their bell was the most fun to ring. Has outdoor seating.

  • Cantina de pucci Close to Duomo, friendly staff. You can sit and drink on their outdoor patio.

  • Il Latini Enjoyed their Prosecco! Not a huge difference, but was €6 a glass compared to €7 or €8 at others.

  • Osteria Belle Donne Pretty flower decoration. Make sure to knock hard 🤣

  • Fiaschetteria Fantappie Doubles as a wine shop, you can make a longer wine stop out of it. Didn’t see an official menu but I think you have a bit more wine choices here if you order inside and receive from the window. Has outdoor seating. Super friendly and gave us the wine map that started this tour of wine windows.

A few of them had outdoor seatings where you can sit and drink. You have to return your glasses or you can get them in a to-go cup. Note that wine selections are limited (you are not choosing between a Barolo or BDM), think house wines by the glass at restaurants. But all wines I’ve tried were decent and you can always opt for an Aperol Spritz! The only places with a very short line were Babae and Osteria Belle Donne, but there were just 1 or 2 other groups (I went in November). Wines cost €6-8 and spritz are usually ~€8-10. If you are in Florence and walking around the city, you will most likely find one nearby so definitely stop by!




Best place to stay in Tuscany: Agriturismo in Montalcino 

When I travel to wine regions, I always love staying at a winery owned hotel to best experience the region. Most wine regions have various wine or local produce farms operating a bed and breakfast. Different countries and regions have various names for them (for example, you can search for “Masseria” in Puglia) and in Tuscany, they are called “Agriturismo.” When I planned a trip to the Montalcino wine region and had a few criteria for choosing a place to stay.

  1. Must be close to the main town and other wineries in the region. I didn’t want to drive too far out so we can relax entirely at the resort but also easily get to town when needed.

  2. Picturesque view. We are in Tuscany, so the iconic cypress trees and a nice view of the vineyards was one of the priorities.

  3. On-site wines and dinners so we can dine and wine without having to drive. You can’t rely on private transfers or taxis in small Tuscany towns.

After various searches, I chose Villa Le Prata and loved every single minute of it. Here’s why I recommend the hotel:

Beautiful property and the ground

  • Infinity pool and jacuzzi with a vineyard view.

  • Cypress tree lined entrance. 

  • Traditional Italian building and well decorated gardens.

Spacious and renovated rooms 

  • 2023 is the 2nd full season since opening and the rooms were very clean, well renovated, and spacious. 

  • Most rooms also have windows with a view.

Wine and Food 

  • Group wine tastings based on their weekly schedule and private tasting can also be arranged for a fee. I absolutely enjoyed their wines and ended up purchasing bottles to take home. 

  • They also produce olive oil and you get to taste them during meals or wine tasting. We also bought a bottle of it to take home. 

  • Amazing breakfast buffet is included with your stay and you can have dinner on the property as well. Choose between 3 or 4 courses, both including a glass of wine. Fresh seasonal ingredients. 

Affordable luxury resort experience

  • Nice price point compared to other high-end hotels in the area, and still feels luxurious.

  • They offer fun experiences like cooking class, harvest, dining under the stars, and you really don’t have to leave the resort.

Overall experience was exactly what I was looking for when staying at a wine resort in Tuscany. I would love to go back during warmer months and when vineyards are more green to enjoy the scenery and additional outdoor activities!

Best restaurants in Reims and Epernay, Champagne

Champagne is one of my favorite wine travel destinations! It is Eesy to get to (1 hour train ride from Paris) and tons of places to eat good food and drink amazing Champagnes. Here are some of the best restaurants for food and good Champagne list

Reims

Epernay

  • La Grillade Gourmande - Love the outdoor garden seating, great wood-fire cooked menu and wine list

  • Chez Max - No frills, traditional French food. Super friendly and great wine list. Get the table side beef tartare!

  • Sacré Bistro - Ran by the same team as Sacre Burger, they always have a good lunch special

  • Les Avisés - This is a bit of a drive from Epernay but so worth it! Ran by the famous Champagne producer Jacques Selosse, great course meal that will definitely fill you up

  • I didn’t get to these places but have heard good things about La Table Kobus, Why Not, L'OBEN

If you are planning a trip to Champagne, make sure to check out travel tips and 7-day itinerary

Burgundy Wine Travel Guide: How to plan a trip to Burgundy

if you are planning for a trip to Burgundy, you might notice that it is a bit more difficult to arrange wine tasting visits and plan. While Dijon and Beaune are two major cities, there are many small towns in Burgundy area so it’s important to pick your home based depending on what you are looking for. Here’s what I learned from planning a trip and spending a few days in the region.

For places to stay,

  • Choose Dijon or Beaune for easy access to public transportation, taxis, wine bars, and restaurants

  • If you want a quite wine country getaway but with some restaurants and bars, Vosne-Romanee, Nuits-Saint-Georges in between Dijon and Beaune.

Find a local guide

We usually hire a local driver when visiting a foreign wine region so we can taste wines without having to worry about driving. They are also usually well-connected in the region and can

Use local resources to find tastings

Wine makers/producers in Burgundy don’t usually have regular tasting appointments available to book online, especially. Few websites you can use to directly book are

  • You can find domaines/producers that accept online reservations here

  • You can search for domaines/producers and can email them from Vins de Bourgogne

Find wines at restaurants and wineshops in town

While it can be challenging to visit well-known producers, you are much more likely to find their wines at local shops and restaurants at a better price point compared to other parts of the world. You can find the list of places here.

Visit during off-season (Nov-Jan) for higher chance of visiting a winery

Wineries are more likely to accept visitors when they are not busy with harvest or working at the vineyards.

Follow @fine.vining on Instagram for more wine travel tips and inspiration!

Sonoma wineries for cool climate Pinot (Burgundy) lovers

I started drinking more Pinots a couple years ago when my wine consumption started getting a bit higher. Dark and rich California Cabernets are not easy to drink all the time! I used to think I don’t like Pinots after only trying a few California (mostly Russian River Valley) Pinots that can be jammy and with a specific characteristic I can’t pinpoint. But discovered Pinots from cool climates (i.e. Oregon, Burgundy, West Sonoma Coast) can be pretty different. While I have yet to find a Russian River Valley Pinot I love, I’ve been drinking a lot more Pinots from Burgundy, Oregon, and parts of Sonoma, specifically West Sonoma Coast region.

West Sonoma Coast is a fairly new AVA approved in 2022 and while I’m still exploring more, I’ve been very happy drinking them :) Here’s the list of wines and wineries I’d recommend

  • Occidental: Gorgeous setting and tasting room, 100% de-stemmed whole berry fermented fresh Pinots

  • Cobb: Small tasting room in downtown Sebastopol, great Pinot, Chardonnay, and Riesling

  • Peay: I haven’t been to the winery/tasting but love their wines!

  • Copain: Beautiful tasting area with a vineyard view, also has a great food pairing

  • Small Vines: Lovely vineyard views, great wines from meticulously grown estate vineyards

  • Littorai: One of my favorite Pinots but I didn’t LOVE the tasting experience. Felt a bit rushed and impersonal but great juice!

Most of them are small family owned wineries, which I also love! Other wines that I’ve heard great things and are on my list to try are Wayfarer, Senses, Ceritas. Follow along on IG @fine.vining as I explore more wineries and find hidden gems!