Celebrate International Chardonnay Day with Creation
Today is International Chardonnay Day, and we suggest that you celebrate with our flagship Creation Art of Chardonnay 2023—a limited-release masterpiece that exemplifies why South Africa’s Hemel-en-Aarde region has earned global recognition as a ‘Chardonnay paradise’.
Drawing its distinctive character from the unique terroir of Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, our Art of Chardonnay 2023 represents the pinnacle of South African winemaking. Only 6,521 individually numbered bottles were produced, offering collectors and connoisseurs a rare opportunity to experience what Masters of Wine have described as ‘pristine, with a very cool feel on the palate’ and displaying ‘a powerful saline character’ that promises beautiful ageing potential.
‘Hemel-en-Aarde produces Chardonnays of great elegance and finesse,’ says cellarmaster Jean-Claude (JC) Martin, whose passion for Chardonnay has guided Creation’s approach since planting South Africa’s first post-1994 virus-free mother block in 2003.
At 264 meters above sea level, with cooling Atlantic influences, morning cloud cover, and a diurnal temperature fluctuation of 12°C, carefully selected Burgundian clones (95, 96 and 548) thrive in our clay-loam soils of 450-million-year-old Bokkeveld shale, with seams of 590-million-year-old quartz sparkling through them.
‘One recognises the architecture of the geology in the wine,’ says JC.
Please click here for the full story, including tasting notes as well as vinification and technical details.
To purchase the wine, please click here.
Having received outstanding 90+ point ratings for eight of our wines from Tim Atkin MW in his South Africa Special Report 2024, Creation was included in The Best of South Africa 2025, held last week in London.
Carolyn and Emma presented our wines at the inaugural event, which attracted 348 members of the trade (including importers, sommeliers, on-trade buyers, off-trade buyers and press) alongside 250 wine lovers who had purchased tickets (with a further 72 on the waiting list!).
On Tim’s behalf, the team at Island Media wrote: ‘Thank you for bringing your wines to the inaugural The Best of South Africa 2025 tasting. It gave us an immense amount of pleasure to play a part in sharing your amazing wines with a very appreciative UK audience.’
IMAGE CREDIT: ‘Aga King – Tim Atkin MW’s Best of South Africa Tasting 2025’
This week, the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) has arranged for 83 sommeliers to visit Cape Town, and JC will be meeting them at a Chardonnay Association conference where they will taste some of the best Chardonnays produced in South Africa.
Why is their visit so important?
We believe the future of South African wine in international markets is inextricably linked to the advocacy of knowledgeable sommeliers who can effectively communicate our unique story, quality and value to their guests.
Please click here to read more.