The Hemel-en-Aarde area is renowned for producing some of the finest examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in South Africa, and is considered to be an important New World area for burgundies.
This affinity for the delicate Pinot Noir grape has prompted co-owner and cellarmaster JC Martin to produce three stylistically unique Pinot Noirs from the estate: the Estate and Reserve Pinot Noir ranges which have recently been awarded Top 100 status in South Africa, as well as the soon to be launched Art of Pinot Noir – just four barrels selected and hand-crafted by JC and made to age. Being celebrated as a Pinot Noir producing area, one of the most frequently commented upon features of the Creation range of premium estate wines is the wide array of other cultivars produced on our 40 hectare farm. This is possible thanks to a unique combination of factors which include elevation, proximity to the ocean, soil content and structure, and slope aspect.

Wine as expression of place is necessarily a core value when you set out to create wines of distinction, as Creation has done on the lofty Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge in Walker Bay, South Africa. Terroir is an oft-used term that is used to explain everything from the difference between old and new world wines to the difference between wines produced from grapes grown in much closer proximity. Indeed, terroir encompasses a wide variety of external influences on the growth pattern of the vine, from regional weather patterns (macro-climate), to the individual characteristics of vineyards on the same estate (meso-climate) – even right down to the climatic differences around individual bunches of grapes (micro-climate).
As viticulturist and winemaker, Creation co-owner JC Martin selected specific clones of each cultivar for their suitability to each unique vineyard site when planting the virgin land in 2002. The 10 cultivars he chose are:
Sauvignon Blanc
Viognier
Semillon
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon
Petit Verdot
Syrah
Grenache
Another key factor in the success of these plantings is the use of quality virus free cuttings grafted onto ideal rootstock. Virus free vineyards produce healthier fruit, and the result of these carefully maintained vineyards is a range of wines that express not only their provenance, but are also true to their cultivar-specific characteristics. An appropriate example of this feature can be seen while enjoying the world-class facilities and wine pairing experiences in the tasting room at Creation – across the lawn and through the indigenous fynbos garden, just across the dam, two cultivars not traditionally associated with each other can be seen growing alongside each other in perfect harmony: Pinot Noir and Merlot.
Click here to order these wines now, or visit www.creationwines.com to explore the farm.
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