They say wine records and then reflects history as no vintage is ever the same. While this has mostly to do with climatic conditions, the 2020 vintage will certainly also be remembered for the challenges posed by the Covid-19 Lockdown. At Creation however, the prospects are rosy with Cellarmaster Jean-Claude (JC) Martin saying that the crop was well balanced and the quality of the grapes great.

When Overstrand Hermanus was recently (2019) awarded UNESCO Creative City status for Gastronomy, it was one of only 10 cities worldwide and the first on the African continent to receive this distinction. “What an honour to be recognised as a laboratory of ideas and innovative practices and for bringing a tangible contribution to achieving sustainable development goals that directly benefit our community,” comments Creation co-owner Carolyn Martin.

At Creation, all grapes are harvested in a time-honoured way – by hand. This is in line with co-owner Jean-Claude (JC) Martin’s respect for Mother Nature and his artisanal approach in both the vineyard and the cellar.

Creation holds the concept of ‘resonance’ near and dear as one of its four core values. “What originates in the vineyard resonates in the glass and at Creation our ultimate mission is to reflect the heart and soul of our terroir in our wines,” explains co-owner Carolyn Martin.

Established in 2014, the Cape Wine Auction Trust has been on a mission to raise money in support of education in the Cape Winelands ever since. This year’s glittering two-day event (14 and 15 February) saw Creation Wines’ eco-friendly auction lot titled ‘What a Wonderful World’, raising an amazing R340 000.

Following their popular ‘Summer Love Story’ pairing menu, the Creation Culinary Team is now pulling out all stops in celebration of Harvest 2020. And this means not only the grape vintage but also the choice fresh produce harvested from the Overberg and surrounds. Among the many treats on their brand-new menu will be sensorial tastings using key elements from the unique Creation terroir to titillate the senses, says pairing guru Carolyn Martin.

Aptly titled ‘Under Pinot Skies’, the seventh Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir Celebration took place over the weekend of 24 and 25 January and once again glittered in its unique presentation.

Resonance is a core Creation value. Co-owner Carolyn Martin explains: “In the Tasting Room it means that we constantly strive to create experiences that resonate with our guests, making their visit personal and memorable. In the cellar it is about echoing the sense of place: respecting what Mother Nature provides and enhancing rather than transforming her gifts. What originates in the vineyard resonates in the glass and this is especially true of the terroir-reflective wines in the Creation portfolio.”

The perfect Pinot Noir, how would one describe it?

The month of December at Creation saw a buzzing sensation of joy and love flowing through the farm. A record number of guests participated in our Love Story of Creation, a 5-course pairing of light vibrant dishes with our 5-star wines. Could one ask for a better lead up to 2020?