SA wine 'paradise' finds success by going its own way Vineyards in Hemel en Aarde are carving out a global reputation among wine lovers seeking a fresh, distinctive flavour. South African wine maker Anthony Hamilton Russell samples a young Chardonnay inside his barrel room at his 52 hectares wine farm in Hemel en Aarde, on 23 February 2021. Picture: MARCO LONGARI/AFP 23 days ago HEMEL EN AARDE - Heaven and Earth - that is the name in Afrikaans for this valley nestled between arid mountains and the cool ocean, a location that makes it a paradise for winegrowing. Not for nothing are vineyards in Hemel en Aarde carving out a global reputation among wine lovers seeking a fresh, distinctive flavour.