Storm Wines

Hannes Storm is a prominent figure in South African winemaking, with a career spanning over two decades. His passion for crafting exceptional wines led him to found Storm Wines, based in the cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Over the years, Hannes has honed his craft with a particular focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, producing wines that reflect the unique terroirs of the region. With an emphasis on sustainable practices and minimal intervention, Hannes believes that the best wines come from the land, and he strives to let each vineyard’s character shine through in every bottle.

Storm Wines began with a discovery of two small, exceptional parcels of land, one in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the other in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. These vineyards, planted in 2008 to Pinot Noir, became the foundation for Hannes’ winemaking journey. His first vintage, launched in 2012, garnered immediate acclaim for its elegance and complexity, and after spending 18 months in bottle, the wines were released in 2014.

Today, Hannes, together with his wife Nathalia, produces a range of wines from three distinct appellations within the Hemel-en-Aarde. These include the Vrede Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soil, the Ignis Pinot Noir from decomposed granite in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, and the Ridge Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, also from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Storm Wines remains the only producer with Pinot Noir from all three appellations, making it a distinctive voice in the Hemel-en-Aarde wine community.

The Hemel-en-Aarde region is known for its cool, maritime climate, which allows for long ripening periods and the development of complex flavors. The combination of coastal influences, higher rainfall, and specific soil types—ranging from stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale to lighter decomposed granite—creates an ideal environment for producing Pinot Noir, which thrives in these conditions. Hannes’ commitment to working with low-vigour vineyards and guiding the wines with a gentle, “Old-World” approach ensures that each bottle showcases the purity and personality of the land.

Storm Wines continues to earn accolades for its precise, elegant wines, and Hannes’ dedication to the region and its terroir has solidified his place as one of South Africa’s leading winemakers. Through his expertise and attention to detail, Hannes Storm has become a true ambassador for Hemel-en-Aarde’s potential as a world-class wine-growing region.