In our little piece of paradise, every dawn brings an exciting new challenge, and innovation is a way of life. We are inspired by the exquisite offerings of our region and our pristine environment – our town proudly received the UNESCO Gastronomy Listing in 2019.
We have exceptional local suppliers, ranging from our fishermen and cheesemakers to our wheat farmers and their organic flour mills, our livestock farmers, and our fruit, vegetable and flower producers – to mention but a few. We are proud of our local restaurants and coffee shops, our arts and crafts markets and our magnificent nature reserves. And then our scenic region boasts a host of outdoor activities including hiking, trail running, mountain biking and a glorious array of water sports.
The Festive Season is a joyous time at Creation, and this year as always, we will be welcoming our guests with love and gratitude. On two days every year however, we take a break: Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. That’s when our entire team spend precious time with our loved ones, making our own memories. Come 16h00 on the 24th of December and we all will be clinking a glass of Elation MCC and feasting on homemade Christmas cake before heading home to our families.
We as a family will be celebrating in Swiss-South African tradition without much fuss or formality. We’re all working this time of the year, including our children who are now young adults, so we just want to catch up, enjoy each other’s company and have a family Christmas. We all prefer simple dishes and are planning our menu to include local fares such as salmon trout from the Langkloof Farm in Stanford and gammon from our Praise the Lard charcuterie in Caledon. There’ll be some delicious cheeses from Klein River Farmstead and Stonehouse, berry trifle (our region is also famous for its berries) and then our favourite Swiss-style Christmas biscuits. We are lucky to have a few winemakers in the family as well as winemaker friends from around the world. Sharing some fine wines is always a highlight.
Bright and early on Christmas morning JC does a leisurely tour of the vineyards, usually with his dad from Switzerland. We hope to see his family in the New Year but this year JC will no doubt be accompanied by our son Glenn, who is studying Oenology at Stellenbosch University. A family walk on the beach at sunset is another family tradition. Walker Bay is one of the reasons we live where we do and our stroll on the beach is as much to enjoy the fresh champagne air as it is an acknowledgement of the role of the ocean in creating our wines of distinction.
Come the 26th and the Creation Tasting Room doors will be wide open again to welcome our guests. We recently launched a new pairing menu titled ‘The Summertime Story of Creation’ which showcases the estate’s award-winning wines along with the fresh, seasonal produce from local producers in the Overberg/Overstrand region. The menu is about grace and gratitude and counting our blessings. It’s about our deep thankfulness to Nature, our dedicated team and our loyal clients for having made it possible to overcome the restrictions imposed on us by Covid-19. The menu comprises six courses and eight wines. The Small-Plate option is priced at R695 per person; the Canapé option at R395 per person. We also offer a Canapé version with one upsized plate which is ideal for lunch for most, at R495. For reservations, please go to reservations@creationwines.com or phone 028 212 1107.
When it comes to Christmas gifts, Creation has an attractive range for family, friends, colleagues and clients. Click here to shop and ask your Creation Personal Shopper to assist you with personalised gifting, including wrapping and delivery.
On the other hand, you have the opportunity of sponsoring a child in the Hemel-en-Aarde Pebbles Education Project. The Pebbles Academy is a registered, independent school to provide the children living in and around the Hemel-en-Aarde area access to quality education. It is a no-fee school and relies entirely on donations. For more information, go to www.pebblesproject.co.za or contact madelein@pebblesproject.co.za.
We wish you a happy, blessed Festive Season! May your celebrations sparkle with joy and wonder, friendship and love. – Carolyn and Jean-Claude Martin and the Creation Wines Team