a moment suspended
in time
For a brief season in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, a linen-clad tent emerges beside a shimmering dam, framed by rolling vineyards and granite hills. Named Epoché, meaning a pause in time, it invites you to step out of routine and fully experience the present.
Inside, two star Michelin chef Edwin Vinke and Hasher Family Wines guide guests through a 15-course journey shaped by the land and season. With limited seating, Epoché offers a rare chance to experience culinary mastery in one of South Africa’s most beautiful wine regions.
The Food | The Wine | The Matchmakers
At Epoché, three key elements come together: expert cuisine, terroir-focused wines, and the people who bring them to life.
The Food: Michelin-Starred Mastery
Epoché is inspired by Michelin-starred chef Edwin Vinke of the Netherlands’ De Kromme Watergang. His artistry is rooted in meticulous craftsmanship, shaping menus that honour the seasons through enduring traditions. In South Africa, he combines Dutch technique with the wild flavours of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, creating a cuisine both innovative and grounded.
The Wine: Hasher Family Wines
At the foot of the Hemel-en-Aarde mountains, Céline, Frederik and the Hasher team are devoted to producing wines that embody the valley’s character. Practising sustainable viticulture, they nurture the land with care. In the cellar, their dedication continues, yielding award-winning wines that reflect the mineral soils, coastal climate, and layered complexity of the region. More than simply the setting for Epoché, the Hasher estate is its very heart.
The Matchmakers: DAAN, JUST & JOKE Gonggrijp
Hailing from the Netherlands, Joke, Just and Daan Gonggrijp settled in Hermanus over a decade ago. Since then, they’ve built a reputation through cherished spots like Ficks, Dutchies, and Daans Bakery. Longtime friends of Edwin Vinke, they became the vital link that united him with the Hashers. Now, as both visionaries and hands-on leaders, they guide Epoché’s creative spirit and daily rhythm.
THE EXPERIENCE
Fifteen chapters. One uninterrupted story.
At Epoché, dining is a sensory journey: fifteen dishes across six courses unfolding as one uninterrupted story. Each dish reimagines the Michelin-starred artistry of De Kromme Watergang through the lens of the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the expressive wines grown from its soil. Ingredients are chosen with care, honouring the land’s rhythms and the fleeting bounty of wild fynbos and seasonal foraged elements.
Expect tableside stories, an immersive kitchen theatre, and a dining tent beside a tranquil dam, where mountain meets sea and vineyard meets wild. This is a once-a-year, unmissable occasion.
This is food to feel. Wine to remember.
RESERVATIONS
Reserve your moment in time.
Epoché is open for one season only. Seating is limited. Advance booking is essential.
Lunch is served Wednesday to Sunday, from 12:00.
Dinner runs from Wednesday to Saturday evening, from 18:00.
Reservations can be made easily and securely in the link below.
Dietary Requests: Due to the integrity of the menu, adaptations are limited. Please inquire in advance.
For press, events, or special enquiries:
Email: info@epoche.co.za
