“The quality of the Pinot Noir parcel allocated to me showed great potential and I could not have asked for a better year to make my first barrel,” says an enthusiastic Urle Hansen upon pressing the grapes for his maiden wine. The Hemel-en-Aarde of course is renowned for top quality Pinot Noir which happens to be Urle’s favourite cultivar; small wonder therefore that having been offered the opportunity to make his own wine, Urle chose Pinot Noir.

The 27-year-old Urle grew up on a farm right next to Creation called Diepgat and attended Diepgat Primary before progressing to Swartberg Secondary School in Caledon. After school he enrolled for a course in Electrical Engineering at Boland College, joining Creation Wines in 2013 as a cellar hand. His passion and fortitude soon won him the respect of his peers and he has since been promoted to cellar assistant. “Since my first year working at Creation I have always wanted to make my own wine,” says Urle.