‘It’s Heaven and Earth combined in a glass.’ — Alan Pfister, Food and Beverage Manager, Centurion Country Club
Recently, Creation Wines had the privilege of hosting 11 distinguished sommeliers from across South Africa for an immersive getaway experience. These wine professionals, representing some of the country’s finest hotels, lodges, and restaurants, joined us for a unique adventure that included harvesting Grenache Blanc grapes, in-depth tastings, and memorable dining experiences with JC and Carolyn Martin at their home.
The Creation Experience: A Symphony of Senses
The sommeliers were unanimous in their praise for Creation’s distinctive approach to winemaking and hospitality. For many, the visit marked a profound shift in their understanding of South African wine, turning them into powerful ambassadors for the Creation brand across South Africa’s finest establishments.
‘The visit changed me completely. Completely. After hearing what the media had been saying, I was here for the first time. I tasted the wines, and they are beautiful, fantastic, amazing.’ — Newman Sigoga, Head Sommelier, Codfather Group, Sandton
The experience of harvesting grapes proved particularly impactful, connecting these industry professionals directly to the source of what they serve daily.
‘The harvest was amazing, an experience that any sommelier in the world deserves to get. I always thought it was an easy job, but it absolutely isn’t. I think a lot of people need to start appreciating wine because it all starts from here.’ — Nathi Xaba, Head Sommelier, Marble Group, Johannesburg
Handcrafted Excellence: Craftsmanship in Every Detail
The visiting sommeliers were particularly impressed by Creation’s handcrafted approach to winemaking, where meticulous attention to detail takes precedence and is a defining characteristic that sets Creation apart:
‘Small farm, good people, not mainstream stuff at all… Whatever’s in the glass doesn’t lie. You can taste the attention to detail that goes into every little thing, for example, this whole bunch into that oak barrel, but also the love and, well, blood, sweat and tears. At the end of the day, you can taste it all in the glass.’ — Conrad Cooke, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve
‘For me, the elegance of the wines comes from how they make them, how they treat their vines, actually how they treat their grapes. They do not use any machinery to harvest. It’s all handpicked, handmade, an art. — Brian Nyamara, Saxon Hotel, Steyn City
‘One thing that makes Creation different is that they’ve been around for over 20 years, and they can still take you back to their old vintage wines, for you to taste and understand where they’ve come from in 20 years of winemaking, instead of only showing current vintages.’ — Nathi Xaba
The Magic of Hemel-en-Aarde: Where Heaven Meets Earth
The Hemel-en-Aarde’s unique position as a premier wine-growing region was a revelation to many of our guests.
‘In terms of winemaking, the Hemel-en-Aarde is incredible. It’s got its footprint…and its fingerprint. I think producers like Creation, where we are now, have put their hand up to say, we are out to make the best Chardonnays. We are out to make the best Pinot Noir.’ — Gray Simxole, Potluck Club at The Peach Hotel, Gauteng
The Hemel-en-Aarde’s distinctive terroir and climate feature prominently in how these professionals describe our wines to their guests.
‘Hemel-en-Aarde is a very special place. [At Creation] you can feel quite a bit of wind coming through, but nothing too harsh, and this really slows down the ripening process, allowing the grapes to hang on the vine for an optimal amount of time, giving the wines extreme fruit concentration.’ — George Young, Dusk Restaurant, Stellenbosch
Handcrafted Production: Flagship Wines That Leave a Lasting Impression
When asked about their favourite Creation wines, our sommeliers were quick to share their personal connections.
‘I love the Creation Art of Chardonnay. Limited production and amazing. My go-to wine.’ — Newman Sigoga
‘I still got goosebumps with the Art of Chardonnay… It’s very elegant, quite stunning. And the Pinot Noir is the most “classic” Pinot Noir I’ve had from South Africa. It’s really out of the fold.’ — Brian Nyamara
‘My first memorable Creation experience was having the Pinot Noir with guests that had just come back from an amazing morning safari, seeing lions kill a buffalo. They said, “We want to have an amazing bottle of wine, a Pinot Noir.” I suggested the Creation and they were so happy, they invited me in for a glass. When I think about Creation Pinot Noir, I always think about those guests in their very, very happy place.’ — Conrad Cooke
Quality Without Compromise: The Creation Standard
The sommeliers repeatedly highlighted the exceptional quality of Creation’s wines, noting how this quality-first approach has established the winery’s reputation in both local and international markets:
‘I would say there are only a few really good Pinot Noirs in South Africa, and Creation’s is one of the best. It’s savoury and hits all the notes.’— Leigh Roux
‘When you’re trying to sell and can say, “Listen, guys, it’s a Creation wine!” because you just know it will show well. Everything you can think of looking for in a Pinot Noir, the characteristics, the viscosity, you’re going to find it in a Creation wine.’ — Nathi Xaba
‘There’s only a handful that you can put into that category of being really the best in the business, that can stand up against anything in the world.’ — Conrad Cooke
‘The clarity, precision, and balance in these wines demonstrates an unwavering commitment to quality at every stage. When you taste a Creation wine, you’re tasting the result of countless decisions all made with one goal: excellence without compromise.’ — George Young
Beyond Boundaries: Creation’s Global Standing
Many of the sommeliers emphasised how Creation wines stand confidently alongside international offerings, helping them encourage guests to explore South African wines.
‘It has been an amazing experience to see the work that’s happening here at Creation Wines, at all the neighbouring farms in the Hemel-en-Aarde. One can quickly see that our wines are top-class, on par with any Pinot Noir from Burgundy, for example.’ — Eben Mupupa, Coy Restaurant, Cape Town
‘I always call Creation my small Burgundy because they do a beautiful Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. My guests can actually compare the Art of Chardonnay with a Burgundy, with outstanding results from both glasses. If it’s blind tasting, some people cannot actually tell what is what.’ — Brian Nyamara
The Art of Sensorial Pairings
Creation’s pioneering approach to food and wine pairing left a strong impression on our visitors, particularly in the way it enhances the overall wine experience.
‘The pairing is incredible. The food is amazing. That’s why most people, whenever they visit this valley, don’t miss the Creation food and wine pairing because it stands out among the rest.’ — Newman Sigoga
‘The pairing shows that wine and food go hand in hand. You taste the wine, then take a bite, and when you taste the wine again, it’s totally different. It’s also a nice way of teaching people about alcohol awareness. Wine is not just something you drink because you want to get drunk. It can be an experience. — George Young
‘To enjoy wine, you have to pair it perfectly with food… As sommeliers, we focus on that quite a lot. It’s on another level in this world.’ — Brian Nyamara
Sustainability and Innovation: The Creation Philosophy
The sommeliers were particularly impressed by Creation’s commitment to sustainability and ongoing innovation.
‘Three words will come to my mind to describe Creation. The first is sustainability. We are custodians here on earth to look after earth for the next generation. We have to leave this place better than when we found it. The second is innovation because the type of innovation taking place on this farm is next level. The third is winemaking because essentially that’s the most important thing here, a love for winemaking.’ — Eben Mupupa
The Human Touch: Passion in Every Bottle
Most touchingly, many of the sommeliers spoke about being able to taste the dedication and passion of JC and Carolyn in every glass.
‘I always tell our guests the story of JC and Carolyn setting up this award-winning farm in the Hemel-en-Aarde and just making the best that they possibly can out of this amazing terroir. You talk to JC, and you can just hear how he thinks about it from the moment he gets up in the morning to the moment he goes to bed. You taste that in the glass, too, the absolute love and dedication and passion.’ — Conrad Cooke
‘At Londolozi Game Reserve, we really focus on feeling like family and being at home, and I think Creation exudes that, too. JC and Carolyn are such hospitable hosts. You feel so welcome, so comfortable, and it’s just fascinating listening to their stories.’ — Kim Drake, Londolozi Game Reserve
‘I normally deal with tourists who are used to foreign wines, like French wines, New Zealand wines, Malbec from Argentina. So, at my first encounter with them, I like to introduce them to Creation’s wines, especially the Art of Pinot Noir which has the same profile as a French wine. They really like it. They REALLY like it. So, they go with a different perspective to the South African wine industry.’ — Jethro Chinho, Vee & Forti Wine Emporium, Pretoria
As we reflect on this special gathering, we’re reminded that our wines are not just about what’s in the bottle, but also about connecting people to place, passion, and each other. Whether you’re a wine professional or an enthusiastic private client, we invite you to experience what these sommeliers discovered at Creation: that we truly offer a taste of heaven on earth through our handcrafted, quality-focused approach to winemaking.
Visit us soon to experience the magic for yourself, or look for Creation wines at fine hotels, lodges, and restaurants throughout South Africa and beyond.
‘Creation was voted the third-best wine farm in the world. It is the best wine farm in Africa. That’s testament to the wines being produced here.’ — Eben Mupupa