Summer settles gently over the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, stretching the evenings and warming the slopes around our Restaurant and Tasting Room. Now is a time when the deck takes on the softer tones of early evening, cool breezes drift in from the coast, and guests come together to unwind, share good company and enjoy the simple pleasure of a relaxed summer evening.

This is the setting for La Vierge’s Summer Sunset Sessions — a seasonal experience shaped by golden hour, live music, and cocktails inspired by our Story Teller wines.

Launching on 16 December 2025 and running until 10 January 2026 (closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve), these sessions offer visitors a relaxed way to end the day in one of the valley’s most scenic spaces. With the deck open from 18:00 to 21:30, guests can settle into the valley’s evening light at an easy pace. For holidaymakers browsing things to do in Hermanus in the festive season, our Summer Sunset Sessions offer a relaxed, unhurried way to begin the evening.

Golden Hour on the La Vierge Deck

As the day winds down, the valley takes on a gentler palette, and our deck becomes a natural vantage point for the shifting colours of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Settle in with a glass or two and enjoy a slower rhythm to the evening. The sessions are designed as a break from the pace of the festive rush. There are no tastings or pairings during these hours; only good food and wine, the ease of live music, the company you choose to share it with, and the valley unfolding around you.

A dedicated Summer Sunset Menu is available throughout the season, shaped around relaxed, generous dishes made for easy summer evenings. Expect comfort favourites — from crisp chicken and warm brioche burgers to lighter options straight from the kitchen — all designed to pair naturally with the pace of the night.

Afrophonic Sets the Sunset Soundtrack

The atmosphere is shaped not only by the setting but also by the sound. Afrophonic, known for transforming art into music and creating curated, high-end private experiences, brings a distinctive tone to the Summer Sunset Sessions. Their approach blends layered Afrobeats with subtle visual elements, creating an intimate, immersive backdrop for the evening.

Their work is an interplay of sound, art and nature — a perfect fit for the way the valley lights up at golden hour. On the La Vierge deck, their sets unfold gradually, easing guests towards sunset without ever overpowering conversation or the calm of the surroundings.

Story Teller Cocktails Created for Summer Evenings

The cocktails for the Summer Sunset Sessions were created in collaboration with master mixologist Sebastian “Seb” Rodrigues. Our Executive Chef, Rachel van Zyl, first encountered Seb at a gallery bar in Cape Town, where he helped design a drink she describes as one of the best she has ever tasted. When planning the Summer Sunset Sessions menu, Rachel realised that his approach to flavour, detail and balance would be central to the experience we wanted on the deck.

Her research led to an immediate connection: Seb specialises in wine-based cocktails, making him a natural match for our Story Teller Collection. The result is a set of drinks shaped by both craft and character, created specifically for warm summer evenings in the valley.

Seb’s cocktail list draws on the Story Teller wines in ways that feel both playful and refined. Each drink carries its own character — some bright and tropical, others savoury or spice-led — but all created with the same intention: to taste like summer on the deck. It’s a small, considered menu designed specifically for these evenings and for the valley setting.

Plan Your Visit

Dates: 16 December 2025 – 10 January 2026
Time: 18:00 – 21:30
Closed: Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve
Location: La Vierge Restaurant & Tasting Room, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus

Booking is not required for our Summer Sunset Sessions, though we do recommend securing your spot if you’d like to guarantee space on the deck.