From Creation’s famous cool climate terroir on the lofty Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge comes a range of wines tempting the nose and enticing the palate with irresistible pairing potential. To ring in the New Year, Creation pairing guru Carolyn Martin is introducing a fascinating series on herb and wine pairing which once again proves just how the elegance and finesse of our cool climate wines enhance the taste of fresh herbs when used in considered quantities.

Carolyn’s love for and knowledge of herbs date back to her legendary grandmother Eleanor’s garden on the farm Hartenberg near Stellenbosch. While living in Switzerland during the early 2000s, she established her own herb garden in the old castle’s stonewalled garden at Cressier, Neuchâtel. Here herbs of all descriptions, including curry plants and even absinthe, thrived.

Her enthusiasm for herb and wine pairing was rekindled on a recent trip to Denmark where she shared in a memorable pairing at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Studio in Copenhagen.  A highlight was a dish described as ‘Marinated Beetroot with Bleeding Danish Wild Blackberries, Lovage and other Green Herbs’. It was paired with the 2014 Creation Art of Chardonnay and the result was sensational.

On her return from Denmark Carolyn commissioned Creation’s gardener, Meindert Poerink, to design and plant the estate’s very own kitchen garden. It now boasts an exciting variety of herbs.

“At Creation we have always believed that what grows together goes together. Now that our herb garden is coming into its own it is just such a pleasure to match the fruit from our vineyards with the produce of our garden,” says Carolyn, adding that the intensity of garden-fresh herbs simply cannot be matched by pre-packed produce.

Among her favourites are chervil with the Creation Sauvignon Blanc, basil with the Creation Chardonnay and rosemary with the Creation Syrah, Grenache blend. For the complete Creation’s herb & wine pairing chart,click here.

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