A New Beginning and a Celebration of Patience.
Harvest 2026 and the Release of Elation 2022
Southeast of Cape Town, in the cool, high Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, amid extraordinary biodiversity and ancient schist and quartz soils, our 2026 harvest begins. The first grapes to grace the cellar are the young vineyard blocks of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fruit, heralding the creation of our next Elation Cap Classique. Each bunch is a symbol of promise, gathered in still, pale light before dawn.
Tradition guides our choice to pick from younger vines. Their lighter yield ripens earlier, producing grapes with a natural freshness and bright acidity ideal for the finesse and balance we seek in our Cap Classique. By harvesting early, we give the vines time to strengthen and establish themselves, ensuring resilience for the vintages ahead. Once in the cellar, these grapes begin their slow transformation into sparkling wine, destined to rest on the lees for 48 months before release in 2030.
Here on the Ridge, the cool oceanic nights and pristine valley air shape fruit of remarkable clarity. Over time, this purity is transcribed into fine, dynamic bubbles; notes of citrus, nectarine, raspberry and brioche; and an elegant, mouth‑watering acidity that gradually deepens with the dimension of Pinot Noir.
And as one journey begins, another comes full circle: we’re delighted to share that our Elation Cap Classique 2022 has just been released. After four years of patient lees ageing, this new vintage embodies the poise, texture and vitality that define Elation. It stands as a testament to time, place, and the quiet precision of our craft – the perfect mirror to the promise now unfolding in our 2026 harvest.
If you haven’t yet celebrated the Power of Love at Creation Wines this summer, let Bianca Coleman tempt you to do so on Eat Play Drink Cape Town, where she shares her most recent experience of indulging in our Eat Out-starred, plant-forward perfection. To read her blog post, please click here.
Hermanus has always been a place where the wild southern ocean, mountain light and vineyard creativity seem to conspire in something distinctly South African – a southern spirit that feels both familiar and surprisingly new. From whales rolling through Walker Bay, and kayaks skimming across the Klein River lagoon, to art-lined cliff paths, abalone tours, craft beer, and world-class wine safaris in the Hemel-en-Aarde, this coastline has quietly reinvented itself as one of the country’s most inspiring local travel playgrounds.
So writes Keith Bain in an article for Discovery’s Vitality Traveller magazine, inviting readers to slow down, stay longer, and experience the region the way passionate locals do.
In particular, he describes how Creation has become ‘a crucial stop – for tastings and lunch – on any wine aficionado’s bucket list’. Sharing how our chefs have not only done stints in Michelin-star restaurants in Europe, but also work with nutritional health experts to create our seasonal pairing menus rooted in Ayurvedic principles, he writes: ‘The whole meal is a kind of interactive sensory experience – immersive, educational and quite delicious. And, unlike so many lengthy tasting menus, there’s nothing overwhelming nor exhausting about this one… This means that by the time you head back to Hermanus, you’ll feel energised and ready for more, rather than needing a nap.’
To read the full article, please click here.