Whalehaven Winery

Whalehaven is the third-oldest wine producer in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, having crafted wines here since 1995. The winery sits at the very beginning of the Hemel en Aarde Wine Route, named in homage to the Southern Right whales that return to the protective waters of Walker Bay each winter to calve. It is a fitting metaphor for a producer that has quietly nurtured its craft for three decades while flashier neighbours have come and gone.

The winery is part of Bottega Family Wine, founded by Italian-born patriarch Alberto Bottega, whose portfolio also includes Idiom Fine Wine on Sir Lowry's Pass. Since 2023, Master of Wine Richard Kershaw has been instrumental in refining the Whalehaven Terroir Series, bringing his forensic understanding of site-specific viticulture to a range that has quickly earned international recognition. The 2024 Chardonnay from the Terroir Series received five stars in John Platter's guide, the International Wine Challenge Hemel-en-Aarde Trophy, and 96 points -- placing it in the Top 10 Chardonnay in the world at the 2025 Chardonnay du Monde. Winemaker Reino Thiart, who has been with the Bottega family for many years, creates one of the broadest spectrums of wine in the valley, from elegant cool-climate whites to structured, age-worthy reds.

The wine portfolio spans three distinct tiers. The Classic Cultivars -- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot -- offer accessible, well-made cool-climate wines with a distinctly French sensibility. Over time, Whalehaven has gained a strong reputation for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that evoke the elegance and reserve of fine Burgundy. The Terroir Series, refined under Kershaw's direction, delivers site-specific expressions that rival the valley's most celebrated producers. The Old Harbour range provides easy-drinking blends named after the historic harbour at Hermanus.

The Whalehaven Wine Experience Centre was recently renovated into an open, light-filled space that welcomes visitors to taste and linger. Three tasting options are offered, including the popular Wine and Chocolate Pairing where locally handmade chocolates are matched with three Classic Cultivar wines to bring out their aromatic profiles. Guided cellar tours and private tutored tastings round out the experience. The winery holds IPW sustainability accreditation and sells its full range through an online shop.

With ocean and valley views from the tasting room, a Chardonnay now ranked among the world's finest, and a location that catches every visitor driving into the valley, Whalehaven is a natural first stop on any Hemel-en-Aarde wine route -- and increasingly, a destination in its own right.