Creation. Wine and Wellness
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of partaking in the panel discussions hosted by the World’s Best Vineyards (WBV) in Rioja, Spain. WBV is an annual listing that highlights the best winery destinations in the world. The list spans five continents and is created after the nominations of some 500 wine, travel and wine tourism experts have been counted and collated.
Our panel discussions focused on ‘How do we make wine tourism more sustainable?’ and the keynote speaker was Dr Laura Catena, a fourth generation Argentine vintner, physician and author who is often referred to as ‘the face of Argentine wine’.
I was invited to deliver papers during the first and second rounds of our discussions. Last week I shared some thoughts from my first talk on ‘Place, People and Purpose’. Here are some extracts from my paper titled ‘Wine and Wellness’.
What do wine and wellness have in common? NATURE. Nature heals … everyone knows the saying. Working with nature is the very inspiration and innovation that is Creation.
The Creation experience begins from the moment guests arrive through indigenous gardens fragrant with natural vegetation. Our guests are encouraged to explore these surrounds and immerse themselves in the natural biodiversity. We have also brought nature right into the Tasting Room and our indoor green biome is a visual reminder of how we live in harmony with nature.
The ingredients for our menus are locally sourced, ensuring that we only use the best quality produce, foraged, in season on our farm or sourced within an 80-kilometer radius. Our menus are aimed at integrating the eight senses in a conscious, rewarding way. They are designed by our chefs in cooperation with medical doctors, naturopaths, nutritionists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and occupational therapists. Both anti-inflammatory and flexitarian, our menus are planned to be enjoyed in a sequence to keep blood sugar levels low and energy levels high. We accommodate all dietary requirements.
Our team members receive ongoing training to enhance their personal health and productivity as well as to offer our guests the best authentic wine and wellness experience. Our chefs proudly bring their heritage to our tables, exposing our guests to unique, indigenous tastes and traditions. In the average two-and-half hours that we host our guests, we have time to talk about sustainability, freshness, health, community support, and the environment. Thus the joy of wine and food is savoured as part of a convivial and healthy experience.
Plant health is enormously important in the production of quality grapes. This is why we work with scientists to understand nature better. We work with nature in the vineyards and release natural predators like ladybirds and wasps to ensure that our vines are healthy. The cuttings from our virus-free mother blocks are used to propagate clean material for the rest of the South African wine industry and this widens our wellness ethos.
At Creation guests leave having been engaged in a fine wine and food journey that reflects a natural sense of place, imprinting what is both a mentally calming and wellness-enhancing experience.
Carolyn Martin – Creative Director and co-owner, Creation Wines