Ask Creation’s Jean-Claude (JC) Martin what his favourite red wine is and he answers without hesitation: Pinot Noir. And that includes making it and drinking it.

JC’s penchant for Pinot dates back to his early career when having qualified as a winemaker at the Swiss Federal School of Changing in 1995, he made his first wines in a converted garage. The equipment was basic but the results impressive and since then many an award-winning Pinot Noir has emerged from his cellar. Among the most recent the rare, site-specific Creation Art of Pinot Noir 2016 which was allocated the coveted 5-star rating in the 2018 Platter’s South African Wine Guide.

Asked about the secrets behind his Pinot success JC says it starts in the vineyard, with clone selection being of vital importance. “At Creation we have chosen Dijon clones 115 and 777 because they are predominantly quality focused and well suited to our terroir.” And talking about terroir JC points out that Creation’s setting on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge combines close proximity to the cold Atlantic Ocean with an elevation of 290 m above sea level. This creates cool conditions, ideal for the slow ripening of the thin-skinned Pinot Noir.


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