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Walker Bay is a wine-growing district located in the larger Western Cape province of South Africa, west of Cape Agulhas. The coastal town of Hermanus is the hub of the area, with vineyards spreading across the Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley.
Overall, Walker Bay is a cool-climate viticultural area, influenced by the cold Atlantic Ocean and mild temperate conditions. The valley is sheltered by mountains on all sides – the Glen Varloch and Babylonstoring ranges and the Galpin Peak – which help in trapping cloud cover as well as retaining cold winds and moisture. This creates a mesoclimate suitable for the production of quality Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. The local soils, made up predominantly of weathered shales on clay, also add significance to the terroir. Some interesting and consistent quality wines are also produced from Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage and Merlot.
The wine-producing wards within the Walker Bay Wine of Origin (WO) district are Bot River, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and Sunday’s Glen.
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