Celebrate 10 Years with Creation

‘In the beginning there was just an untamed little wilderness, which perched high up on the lofty Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, had never been planted to vines before. Today 22 hectares of undulating vineyard flourish in the glorious maritime conditions, with in the centre, a modern wine cellar fitted with state-of-the-art equipment.’

Not so long ago, we were the new kids on the block; now we can hardly believe that Creation is 10 years old! So much has happened since we first discovered our little piece of paradise in 2002 and looking back over the years we can truly say that we had a lot of fun. But of course there have been challenges too, such as establishing our vineyards from scratch in a remote corner without telephone lines, cell phone reception or facilities as basic as fresh running water!

But the highlights have been far more memorable and there have been many, starting with our first harvest in 2006. The quality of the grapes was fantastic and inspired us to commission our cellar which (another highlight) was completed in 2007. A year later we launched our tasting venue, established our fynbos garden and were ready to receive our first visitors. And then, in celebration of the glorious, terroir-reflective wines emerging from our cellar, we introduced our exciting Wine and Food Pairing, offering visitors the opportunity of savouring our wines in the company of scrumptious, complementing canapés.

Creation has since become far more than a wine farm; it is a wine destination where a warm welcome awaits young and old. Among our many other attractions is an exquisite collection of contemporary art. Our estate today also enjoys a proud reputation for its delicious lunch menu which, based on the principle of ‘what grows together goes together’ changes regularly with the seasons. Popular activities furthermore include the exciting Creation Safari, the decadent Wine and Chocolate Pairing, the mysterious Secret Wine Pairing and innovative group activities such as the opportunity for groups to blend their own wine.

At Creation we love visitors and delight in the increasing number of wine lovers finding their way to our unique enclave in the Walker Bay region. Our main mission however will always be to reward the wine lover with wines of rare balance, elegance, distinction and finesse. And over the past decade we have been amply rewarded for our efforts. The many prestigious accolades bestowed upon our wines range from local awards such as the coveted Veritas Double Gold for our Syrah Grenache blend, to international acclaim such as the top scores allocated by leading US wine critic, Robert Parker, for the Creation Syrah 2009 (93 points) and the Creation Syrah, Grenache 2009 (92 points).

In celebrating our 10th anniversary, we acknowledge the role Mother Nature plays in our success. To confirm this harmonious relationship, Creation is a member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) and committed to conserving our natural heritage by implementing long-term biodiversity as well as sustainability programmes. What’s more, we comply with the sustainability guidelines laid down by the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme and all our recent releases boast the proud ‘green seal’.

Here’s to each and every member of the Creation team who over the years, has helped to nurture the little piece of wilderness into a proud and sought-after wine estate offering wines of great distinction!

HELP US CELEBRATE!

In celebration of Creation’s 10th anniversary we will be hosting a sumptuous Raclette lunch on Sunday 15 July. Raclette, of course, originated in Switzerland and is a much loved tradition in that country. With good reason: it is a relaxed, interactive, fun and festive way of sharing a meal. (For interest sake, the name ‘Raclette’ comes from the French word ‘racler’ which means ‘to scrape’ and refers to the way the melted cheese is scraped off the grill.)

At Creation our authentic Raclette lunch involves half heads of specially imported cheese being melted under a huge grill. The deliciously bubbling result is then served with steamed new potatoes, crunchy pickled Italian-style vegetables, delectable prosciutto and spices – a truly irresistible combination! Our terrific wines will of course enhance the pleasure while a blazing fire will add to the hearty welcome. So, do join the Creation family for this joyous occasion. Booking is essential.

EVENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MONTH

4 July – More Restaurant Wine and Whiskey tasting – www.morerestaurant.co.za
7 July – Creation tasting at Wine at the Mill in Woodstock – www.wineatthemill.co.za
7 July – Creation tasting at The Palms Market in Woodstock – www.palms.co.za
9 and 10 July – Knysna Wine Festival – info@knysnawinefestival.co.za
14 July – Bastille Day Celebration at Brasserie de Paris in Pretoria – helene@bertusbasson.com
14 July – Bastille Day Celebration at Sel et Poivre at the Quatermain Hotel in Morningside, Sandton – restaurant@quatermain.co.za
14 July – Creation, Comedy and Curry with Mark Palmer at Creation – info@creationwines.com
15 July – Raclette Lunch at Creation – info@creationwines.com
16 to 18 July – Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival at Summer Place in Sandton – www.julietcullinan.co.za
20 July – Creation and Canape pairing with Chef Coco at Sel et Poivre at the Quatermain Hotel in Morningside Sandton –info@creationwines.com
21 July – Lesotho Sun Wine tasting event
24 July – Lombardy Hotel Wine and Food pairing dinner in Pretoria – www.lombardy.co.za
25 July – De Kloof Wine and Food pairing dinner in Pretoria – charl@dekloofrestaurant.co.za
26 to 28 July – Die Burger Proefees at Tygervalley – jeremy@hazell.co.za
27 to 28 July – Limpopo Wine Show, Polokwane – monica@outsorceress.co.za