Creation Wines is an innovative, highly acclaimed estate situated high up on the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, near the coastal town of Hermanus in South Africa’s Western Cape. Founded in 2002 by Swiss viticulturist Jean-Claude Martin and his South African wife Carolyn, the winery sits in a spectacular mountain valley whose name literally translates from the Afrikaans to "Heaven and Earth." The duo took a monumental viticultural gamble by transforming completely virgin, unplanted cattle grazing land into steep, high-altitude vineyards carved directly into ancient clay and decomposed shale soils.
Though the estate itself is modern, its roots are deeply intertwined with South African wine royalty. Carolyn Martin is a member of the pioneering Finlayson family, a name synonymous with the birth of modern winemaking in the Walker Bay area and the establishment of some of the Cape's most iconic cool-climate vineyards. Combining this rich South African heritage with Jean-Claude’s traditional Swiss viticultural training, Creation bridges two distinct winemaking worlds to produce allocations with profound old-world structure and vibrant new-world expression.
The secret to Creation's global success lies entirely in its extreme maritime climate. Perched at an altitude of up to 350 metres above sea level and located just a few miles from the icy waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, the vineyards form a natural amphitheatre. Constant chilly sea breezes blanket the valley in morning mist and cool air, acting as a natural air conditioner that protects the grapes from intense summer heat. This induces a remarkably slow ripening season, allowing the fruit to develop deep, concentrated flavours while retaining a vibrant, bracing natural acidity and unparalleled fruit purity.