It is widely acknowledged that we not only live and work in a pristine environment here in the Hemel-en-Aarde, but that it is one of the world’s most biodiverse wine and food regions. We are blessed with ideal climatic conditions because of our proximity to the cold Atlantic Ocean and good winter rainfalls — both critical to the success of growing agricultural products.

In 2019, the Overstrand-Hermanus region became South Africa’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the first on the African continent to receive this distinction. We have a golden opportunity to showcase the finest, nutritionally rich produce. There is another factor that is absolutely key to our unique position. We have a very talented and large enough workforce to train a significant number of people to become farming experts. By combining artisanal skills with science and a better understanding of the role nature plays in what we grow, we are better placed to deliver exceptional products to the local market. We have also become a highly attractive source of quality products for an international market.

Tourism is a key economic driver and here we have the natural advantage of our beautiful surroundings.  And while there is a lot of discussion about AI and what role technology will play in creating significant careers in the future, so will wellness tourism. Our job in this region is to emphasise our natural assets, differentiate our offerings and highlight careers in wine, food and hospitality.  At Creation we ensure that we work with the raw material in a responsible, creative, and inspirational way, to deliver the most nutritious and healthiest of menus without sacrificing taste and style. This is what we have strived to achieve over the past 21 years.

The making of our fine wine is a rare combination of art, science, people, and a sense of place. We want visitors to experience all of that when they visit us, and become unofficial ambassadors for our region. Every visitor to our farm and Tasting Room creates 11 extended jobs each day. In other words, while our guests are enjoying themselves, they’re also making a valuable contribution to local economic development.

The Fine Team that is Creation

We like to refer to our current ‘Community of Taste’ menu as a celebration of fine wine, fine cuisine and fine people. Over the next few months, we will be featuring a series of blogs to introduce some of the fine people in our team. Please click here to read about Nomvula Ngqolwa.