We Found the Best Private South Africa Wine Tour (Review)

When it came to exploring South Africa’s wine country, we wanted a guide who knew their stuff, and La Rochellle Tours delivered.

They’re a family-run company with years of experience in wine tourism, and their glowing reviews speak for themselves. After spending a full day touring with them, we can confidently say they live up to the hype.

South Africa is home to five major wine regions, but if you’re serious about wine and especially if you love Pinot Noir as much as we do, you’ll want to make time for Walker Bay.

Located about 1.5 hours from Cape Town, Walker Bay is home to Hemel-en-Aarde, which translates to “heaven and earth” in Afrikaans.

This little slice of wine country is known for producing some seriously elegant, high-quality wines, thanks to its cool climate, perfect for Pinot Noir.

While most group tours stick to the more popular wine hubs like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, very few venture out to Walker Bay.

That’s exactly why we chose La Rochelle Tours for a private wine tour. They were one of the rare companies willing to make the trek, and we couldn’t have been happier with the experience.

La Rochelle Wine Tours doesn’t just cover Walker Bay, they’ll also take you to Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, and Paarl, giving you plenty of options to explore South Africa’s incredible wine regions.

They’re flexible with pickups too! Whether you’re staying in Cape Town, Franschhoek, or Stellenbosch, they’ve got you covered.

One option we thought was especially cool?

Their non-guided driver service.

They offer two private wine tour options: guided and non-guided.

If you already have an idea of which wineries you want to visit, you can hire a chauffeur to take you there on a non-guided private tour.

While your driver will still share some fun facts and point out hidden gems, they’ll skip the deep dive into winemaking. Perfect if you’re more interested in sipping than studying.

Since we’ve done more wine tours than I probably care to admit, we knew exactly which wineries we wanted to hit this time around.

Choosing the non-guided driver service was perfect. We had our own private wine experience without breaking the bank.

When we heard that Luvo Ntezo, the head sommelier at the One & Only Cape Town Hotel, called the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley one of his favorite regions for top-notch Pinot Noir, we knew we couldn’t miss it.

Since this area is packed with small boutique wineries, appointments are often required. In our experience, every winery we visited needed one.

If you’re planning to explore this incredible wine region, be sure to book those tastings in advance!

Breakfast at Cape Vue Country House in Franschhoek, South Africa

La Rochelle Tours picked us up right from our accommodation, and we kicked back for a scenic 90-minute drive to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, where our wine adventure began.

My husband and I with winemaker Hannes at Storm Winery in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

If you’re expecting a sprawling vineyard with a grand tasting room, Storm Wines is not that place.

But what you will find is something far more special: a boutique winery laser-focused on crafting exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Storm Wines keeps things small, like really small. We’re talking only a handful of wines and limited production. 

For instance, the Storm Ignis Pinot Noir 2018 had just 290 cases produced!

When we visited, we met the incredibly humble winemaker, Hannes Storm, who greeted us while comfortably perched on his couch in his workspace.

No fuss, no frills. Just an honest passion for wine.

Vrede Pinot Noir 2017

Hannes is completely devoted to perfecting Pinot Noir, and it shows. His wines strike a beautiful balance between Burgundian elegance and South African character. Each has its own unique personality:

→   Vrede: Structured and bold with grippy tannins, this one leans into a darker fruit profile without going overboard. Decanter even named the Storm Vrede 2017 one of the Top 50 New World single-vineyard Pinot Noirs. Not too shabby!

→   Ignis: Lighter and more delicate, this Pinot charms with vibrant raspberry and strawberry notes wrapped in silky tannins. It’s graceful yet balanced.

→   Ridge: This one’s the showstopper for me. Bright acidity, well-structured, and a touch of spice that keeps you coming back for more.

On a fun side note, Hannes’ brother Ernst also makes wine but over in Santa Barbara County, California.

Same last name, different wines. Ernst sticks to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, blending Old and New World techniques for a style that’s all his own.

Overlooking the vineyards at Creation Wines

Creation Wines was one of those stops that felt like the perfect blend of stunning scenery and seriously good food.

Perched high up on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, this award-winning winery has clearly mastered the art of pairing wine with incredible dishes.

Hubby and I treated ourselves to a multi-course lunch with wine pairings, and it was one of those meals where everything just worked.

While we originally had our hearts set on sitting outside on the deck (the views are fantastic), the wind had other plans, so we cozied up inside their bright and inviting dining area instead.

One pairing that really stood out was their Reserve Pinot Noir with the lamb loin. A beautifully balanced dish with star anise, poached pear, polenta, and goat cheese.

The Pinot itself was silky-smooth with crisp acidity and fresh raspberry notes.

Another standout was the Creation Estate Syrah-Grenache, paired with the springbok shank and waterblommetjies (an edible water plant that’s a South African specialty).

The Syrah-Grenache blend was bold and peppery, packed with ripe plum flavor.

Since our waitress caught wind of our Pinot obsession, she brought out the Art of Pinot Noir for us to try.

It was deeper and more complex, with dark cherry, plum, and just a hint of spice. A fantastic way to wrap up the experience.

If you’re planning to visit, I’d recommend setting aside about two hours to fully enjoy the food, wine, and warm hospitality.

Sitting outside on the deck at Hamilton Russell in Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in South Africa

Our final wine stop of the day was Hamilton Russell, and what a way to end things.

This iconic winery has been a big deal in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley since 1975, when Tim Hamilton Russell recognized the region’s potential for producing top-notch cool-climate wines.

His son, Anthony Hamilton Russell, took over in 1991 and decided to focus solely on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was a bold move that paid off.

Hamilton Russell wines are a bit of an outlier for New World wines, and that’s what makes them so interesting.

Instead of the fruit-forward style you might expect from a New World wine, their wines lean more European in character.

Think structure, complexity, and savory, spicy notes rather than an explosion of ripe fruit.

They keep things organic and embrace minimal intervention, letting the terroir do the talking. If you’re a Pinot Noir fan or just someone who appreciates a wine with layers of personality, this is a stop worth making. 

Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir

We kicked back on the deck overlooking the lake and sipped our way through some seriously impressive wines.

One standout was the Estate Pinot Noir 2018. It was savory, earthy, and packed with mineral notes and bright acidity.

We also tried the Ashbourne Pinotage 2016, which was bold, complex, and seriously intense.

Then there was the Ashbourne Pinotage/Cinsault 2019, an intriguing blend of 80% Pinotage (a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault) with 20% Cinsault from the Swartland region.

It was lighter, fresher, and had a nice balance to it.

Hamilton Russell is also known for its Chardonnay, but we stuck to the reds this time.

Seaside town of Hermanus in South Africa

Instead of squeezing in one more winery, we decided to switch gears and explore the quaint seaside town of Hermanus, and I’m glad we did.

As we wandered through the charming streets and strolled along the seaside boardwalk, I couldn’t help but wish we had planned to stay the night. 

It’s one of those towns that feels like it deserves a little more time to soak it all in.

We spent about 30 minutes walking the boardwalk, stretching our legs, and spotting whales playing in the distance.

If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of these giants, peak whale season runs from September to November.

Before heading out, we made a quick stop at Wine Village, a fantastic wine shop packed with some of South Africa’s best wines, gins, and brandies.

The staff was incredibly helpful in steering us toward some standout bottles, and they even offer periodic tastings.

This shop consistently ranks as one of South Africa’s top wine stores, and for good reason.

Since Hannes Storm didn’t have any wines available to purchase during our tasting, we were able to grab a few of his bottles here.

Karoo lamb with pumpkin, salsa verde, and smoked olive at La Petite Colombe Restaurant in Franschhoek, South Africa

We wrapped up our wine tour around 6 pm, just in time to relax and freshen up before dinner.

Lucky for us, our evening plans were only a short five-minute walk from our hotel in Franschhoek, which was perfect after a full day of wine tasting.

Our dinner spot was La Petite Colombe, the sister restaurant to the highly acclaimed La Colombe, one of South Africa’s top dining destinations.

With that kind of reputation, our expectations were high, and it did not disappoint.

The multi-course menu was creative, playful, and packed with seasonal ingredients that really showcased the region. Naturally, we opted for the wine pairings (because when in wine country…), and each pairing felt thoughtfully chosen to elevate the dishes.

If you’re still building out your South African wine country dining plans, here are a few more standout restaurant recommendations that you won’t want to miss!

Our private wine tour with La Rochelle Tours cost R 3880 for 9 hours for two people (about $211 USD per person).

That price covers the tour itself, but wine tastings and tips are extra.

If a private tour isn’t quite in your budget, La Rochelle also offers a highly-rated group wine tour from Franschhoek and Stellenbosch that’s about half the cost (roughly $112 USD per person). 

Want to save even more? You can always go the DIY route. We actually did both — a self-guided wine tour using Uber one day and a private tour the next. Because…well, we love wine.

If you’re debating which option is right for you, I’ve broken down the pros and cons of each type of wine tour — group tours, private tours, the wine tram, and self-guided adventures to help you decide.

With so many wine tour companies in South Africa, deciding who to pick felt a bit overwhelming at first.

After way too much time spent comparing options (and maybe a glass or two of Pinot Noir to help the process along), we finally went with La Rochelle Tours. Super happy with our choice!

Our driver was exactly what we hoped for: professional yet genuinely friendly, and a total expert on the area.

Being a local, he filled our drive with quirky stories and just enough history to keep things interesting. He also gave us spot-on suggestions for hidden gems along the way.

If you’re planning a wine tour and prefer stress-free sipping, don’t hesitate to book La Rochelle Tours.

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Questions about our South Africa wine tour?

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