Creation Wines

Creation Wines was founded in 2002 by Jean-Claude (JC) Martin, a Swiss winemaker from a long winemaking tradition, and his South African wife Carolyn Martin. JC and Carolyn were alerted to a parcel of virgin Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge land by Peter Finlayson, Carolyn's uncle and the founding Hamilton Russell cellarmaster who had co-founded Bouchard Finlayson next door in 1989. The Martins recognised the potential of the elevated Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge ward and bought the property, planting vineyards from scratch and building a cellar and tasting room. Creation Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah were among the early releases, and the estate quickly drew international attention for the quality of its cool-climate wines. Creation was the first producer in the Hemel-en-Aarde to plant Grenache, in 2003, an unusual choice for the ward but one that has paid off in the Syrah-Grenache blend.

• Founded 2002 by Swiss winemaker Jean-Claude (JC) Martin and his South African wife Carolyn Martin
• Carolyn Martin is Peter Finlayson's niece; Peter (founding Hamilton Russell cellarmaster, Bouchard Finlayson co-founder) alerted them to the property
• First producer in the Hemel-en-Aarde to plant Grenache, in 2003
• Estate planted from virgin land; the Martins built the cellar and tasting room from scratch

Creation is fundamentally a Martin family project. JC is the winemaker and grapegrower, drawing on his Swiss winemaking heritage and 1990s experience in Burgundy and the Rhone. Carolyn leads brand, marketing and the wine-tourism programme that has become Creation's signature. The estate has been deliberately built as a global brand rather than a domestic boutique, with international ambition and a strong export programme. Anne Krebiehl MW and the Buyer team have written extensively about Creation as one of the most thoughtfully presented South African wine projects, with the Martins' communication style emphasising clarity, story and food-pairing context rather than wine-trade jargon.

• JC Martin: winemaker and grapegrower with Swiss heritage and 1990s Burgundy and Rhone experience
• Carolyn Martin: leads brand, marketing and wine-tourism programme
• Deliberate global ambition rather than a domestic boutique identity
• Strong international export programme; English-language hospitality focus

Creation's vineyards sit at the upper reaches of the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge ward at around 250 to 300 metres elevation. The Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge is the highest of the three Hemel-en-Aarde wards, with cool maritime breezes from Walker Bay augmented by the wind exposure of the ridge itself. Soils are derived from ancient Bokkeveld shale, with iron-rich clay content similar to that of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley below. The estate's broad varietal mix is unusual for the Hemel-en-Aarde, where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay typically dominate: alongside the Burgundian varieties, Creation produces serious Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, with smaller plantings of other Bordeaux and Rhone varieties. The estate is farmed sustainably and has invested heavily in biodiversity protection across its substantial fynbos reserve.

• Vineyards at 250 to 300 metres elevation in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
• Bokkeveld shale clay soils similar to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley below
• Broad varietal mix unusual for the Hemel-en-Aarde: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc
• Sustainably farmed; investment in biodiversity protection across a substantial fynbos reserve

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay form the core of the Creation cellar, with Estate and Reserve tiers in each variety. The Estate Pinot Noir shows red cherry, raspberry and savoury herb with bright acidity and fine-grained tannins, while the Reserve Pinot Noir intensifies the profile with more concentration, structure and ageing potential. The Estate Chardonnay is fermented and aged in French oak with restrained new wood, offering citrus, white peach and oatmeal with a long mineral finish, while the Reserve Chardonnay shows greater depth and length. Creation's cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay programme has been consistently recognised by international critics and has helped position the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge as one of the world's great cool-climate appellations for both varieties.

• Estate Pinot Noir: red cherry, raspberry, savoury herb; bright acidity and fine tannins
• Reserve Pinot Noir: more concentration, structure and ageing potential
• Estate Chardonnay: French oak aged with restrained new wood; citrus, white peach, oatmeal
• Reserve Chardonnay: greater depth and length; the cellar's white flagship

Creation's Rhone programme is one of the most respected in South Africa and helped pioneer cool-climate Rhone-styled reds in the country. The Syrah-Grenache blend, a Rhone-style wine with approximately 80 percent Syrah and 20 percent Grenache, has been produced since the maiden 2007 vintage and has consistently scored above 90 points from critics including Neal Martin and Jamie Goode. The Reserve Syrah is the top single-varietal Syrah expression. The Viognier shows the variety's classic stone-fruit and floral aromatic profile in a cool-climate idiom that brings more freshness and acidity than warm-climate Viogniers. Across the Rhone range, the Creation style emphasises freshness, restraint and food-friendliness over warm-climate ripeness, and the wines pair well with the diverse pairing menus served at the estate restaurant.

• Syrah-Grenache: approximately 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache; maiden 2007 vintage; cool-climate Rhone style
• Maiden Syrah-Grenache scored 92 points (Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com 2015) and 93 (Jamie Goode); Reserve Syrah is top single-varietal Syrah
• Viognier: stone-fruit and floral aromatic profile with cool-climate freshness and acidity
• Style emphasises freshness, restraint and food-friendliness over warm-climate ripeness

Creation has helped pioneer modern wine-and-food pairing tourism in South Africa and is widely regarded as one of the country's leading wine-tourism destinations. The estate's tasting and pairing menus are carefully designed seasonal experiences, anchored by an onsite restaurant offering seasonal locally sourced cuisine. The signature 'chocolate experience' pairing has become a fixture, and the estate also offers hiking and cycling safaris through its fynbos reserve. The World's 50 Best Vineyards has ranked Creation among the top global wine-tourism destinations, and the estate's pairing programme has been widely copied across South Africa and beyond. The combination of high-quality wines, considered hospitality and dramatic Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge scenery makes Creation a near-mandatory stop on Cape wine itineraries.

• Pioneer of wine-and-food pairing tourism in South Africa
• Ranked by The World's 50 Best Vineyards among top global wine-tourism destinations
• Signature 'chocolate experience' pairing has become a fixture
• Estate offers hiking and cycling safaris through its substantial fynbos reserve