La Vierge Tasting Room & Restaurant

La Vierge is a family estate set in the quiet folds of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. More than twenty years ago, Peter Clarke planted dryland vineyards on untouched soils on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, and the family continues to farm here with the same belief that good wine begins with good land. The setting is striking. The vineyards lie in a natural amphitheatre of clay-rich Bokkeveld shale, open to the surrounding weather systems and cooled by coastal and mountain air from the Babilonstoren peak. These conditions give the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay a calm, clear expression of the Ridge.

The La Vierge Tasting Room & Restaurant overlooks the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and offers a relaxed setting for tastings and pairings. The views are breathtaking and panoramic, and families often settle in at an easy pace to enjoy the wines, including the Estate Chardonnay which received a Gold medal at the IWSC.

From mid-December, the Tasting Room also hosts Summer Sunset Sessions, where guests can unwind to live music while the valley moves into evening light.

Beside the Tasting Room is the La Vierge Restaurant. Here, the wine leads. Meals are prepared with fresh, local ingredients, and the sharing plates are shaped to complement the wines. Each dish has been crafted to complement the distinct flavours of our vineyard, honouring the character of our wines first and foremost.

It’s an inviting place for family and friends to spend time together over simple, well-made dishes. A kiddies menu is also available.

Visitors can discover two wine ranges. The Estate wines highlight selected vineyard blocks, while the Story Teller Collection pairs limited wines with labels inspired by fables from the Indian Ocean Islands. All fruit comes from the farm, keeping the wines closely tied to their origin.

Eight kilometres further up the valley lies the La Vierge Farm on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Life moves at a gentler pace here. Oak Cottage sits at the centre of the farm and is one of the oldest buildings in the valley. The deli serves fresh bread, cheeses, preserves, raw honey, baked treats, local artisanal favourites, and light meals. Tastings and pairings run throughout the day, and the lawns around the cottage offer open space for vineyard picnics. Guided walks through the vines introduce visitors to the farm, the vineyard blocks and the dry-land farming approach.

La Vierge offers two distinct locations to enjoy: the Tasting room and Restaurant in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley and the farm on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Each has its own character, yet both reflect the same family story and connection to the land.

 

The menu reflects the unique approach of La Vierge Tasting Room & Restaurant and invites you to journey through our cellar to experience the essence of La Vierge’s terroir, with food that elevates every sip.

Curated by Executive Chef Rachel van Zyl, the new menu embraces a sharing plate philosophy — dishes designed to be enjoyed together, fostering connection and conversation. Each plate encourages guests to engage in a communal dining experience, where the wines guide not just the palate, but the rhythm of the table.

We welcome you to savour each pairing and let our wines lead your shared culinary journey.