A year of energy, courage, connection and the power of love on Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge.
Dear Friend of Creation,
This lunar Year of the Horse feels deeply personal to me. I grew up on Stellenbosch wine estate Blaauwklippen between the ages of seven and seventeen, surrounded by twenty‑seven horses – from small black pit ponies that I harnessed to tiny carriages as an eight‑year‑old to magnificent Friesians that pulled the old omnibus carriage. My greatest joy was riding my Arab‑crossed palomino, Bronze, after school, climbing into the Stellenbosch mountains above Paradyskloof, wrapped in her rhythm, the scent of fynbos and the changing light on the slopes. Horses move with purpose; they are social, finely attuned and always ready to explore new terrain. Being immersed in nature and able to think creatively and freely on those rides shaped how I see the world today – and underpins how we connect, collaborate and innovate at Creation.
In many ways, Creation was founded – and continues – in that same spirit. We chose a wild, windswept corner of the Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge and trusted in its potential, much as a rider trusts a mountain pony on a challenging path. I often think of Flash, my Basotho pony, and how calmly she navigated steep, stony tracks – the same blend of trust, balance and quiet courage that guides our choices at Creation. Our collaborations with chefs, neighbouring farmers and artisans – from apple growers for our harvest desserts to specialists who supply remarkable pantry ingredients – reflect a simple belief: we go further together than we ever could alone.
At Creation, our vineyards are at the heart of everything, and we honour the viticultural team who tend them, from pruning through to harvest, season after season. Their knowledge of each block – how it responds to weather, soil and canopy decisions – is woven into the character of the wines you taste. We tune into the nuances of nature and weather – the wind shifts, temperature changes, sunlight patterns and seasonal rhythms – and then bring science alongside that intuition to understand and care for our vineyards better. It’s an ongoing conversation between instinct and evidence, between what we sense and what we can measure, and it allows us to craft wines and experiences that are genuinely of the Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge.
Innovation naturally flows from this way of working. We love pairing our wines with an adventurous, delicious and health‑conscious menu that celebrates local ingredients – from ocean‑fresh food such as foraged dune spinach, samphire and sea lettuce to indigenous meats like ostrich and springbok, thoughtfully sourced vegetables, heritage grains and vibrant plant‑based dishes. In the same spirit of exploration, we collaborate with experts such as neuroscientists and other specialists to better understand how people experience flavour, memory and emotion, so that we can design experiences that truly engage the senses and the heart. Ultimately, everything we do – from vineyard decisions to what arrives on your plate – is about connecting more deeply with our guests and creating moments that feel personal, meaningful and joyfully unforgettable.
This season, our Power of Love menu gathers these threads into a single, flowing story – a sequence of dishes and pairings that trace a path from ocean breeze to herb garden to the comforting depth of slow, soulful flavours. It’s less about one menu, though, and more about the momentum behind it: a continuous journey of learning from our land and from the people who visit us. Much of our innovation has grown out of conversations with you, our guests – from your feedback at the table to the inspiring talks some of you have shared with our team. Your curiosity, questions and generosity of thought help shape the experiences we offer today and nudge us toward new ideas and better ways of doing things.
In this Year of the Horse, we invite you to journey with us – to connect, collaborate and innovate alongside our team at Creation. Come and experience our current pairing menu, walk the vineyards, taste the wines and share your own stories around our tables. Whether you visit us on the Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge or open a bottle of Creation at home, you are part of our Creation family, moving with us into this vibrant new year.
With warm regards,
Carolyn Martin
Creation Wines, Hemel‑en‑Aarde Ridge