A wine estate called Creation lies in the Hemel-en-Aarde (heaven and earth) valley. It’s just too easy to imagine haloed beings sprinkling magic dust over the vineyards to create their divine nectar. But when you visit Creation and chat with owners Jean-Claude and Carolyn Martin – who are almost always on the floor looking after their guests – you’ll find that their secret ingredients are not only heavenly, but down to earth too: true love and hard work.

On a scorching spring day, when the heat hangs heavy along the Hermanus Wine Route, the Creation tasting room is a cool oasis overlooking a still dam, budding vineyards, and mountains that link the earth to the skies. Gentle music wafts through the doors and the full bloom garden appears to hum with joy as the weekend crowd fills the outside tables, oohing and aahing at the glorious scene. The Creation angels draped in royal blue whisk us to a table and we are overcome with relaxation – not yet aware of the delights in store…

After tasting the canapé and wine pairing, it’s easy to understand why Creation won the inaugural Klink Award for Best Food & Wine Pairing. They’re contenders for the Klink Award again this year and, according to the angels jiving on my taste buds, the only thing that could beat them is a mythical nymph serving ambrosia (food of the Greek gods).

Canapé & Wine Pairing

Having been there for only 6 weeks, our hostess, Annie, expertly described each wine and how the canapés drew out the various tastes and flavours. On top of the food pairing, each wine was served in a different-shaped Riedel glass to showcase its distinct characteristics. It turns out there is a lot more to a wine glass than simply red or white!

It’s impossible to pick a favourite pairing, but the most surprising was the Merlot paired with cauliflower and gorgonzola soup. The unusual combination was creamy, smooth, warm, and rich with a delicate hint of berries and spice.

Now, before you read the tantalising canapé pairing menu, I suggest you have a tissue handy as you may need to dab the excess water from your mouth…

• Creation Sauvignon Blanc 2014: Pineapple and basil gazpacho with scallops.
• Creation Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2014 (no pairing).
• Creation Viognier 2014: Apple, camembert, and prosciutto tartlet.
• Creation Chardonnay 2014: Avocado and prawn with citrus and vanilla mayonnaise.
• Creation Pinot Noir 2013: Beetroot, goat’s milk cheese panna cotta, and lentil salsa.
• Creation Reserve Pinot Noir 2013 (no pairing).
• Creation Merlot 2012: Cauliflower and gorgonzola soup with sourdough herbed croûtes.
• Creation Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot 2012: Rare roast springbok, greens, and valley mushrooms.
• Creation Syrah 2012: Asian five spice pulled pork wonton with prune and Darjeeling purée.
• Creation Syrah Grenache 2013: Buchu scented duck confit with Malay aioli.

Canape pairing costs R125. Low carb high fat and vegetarian options are available.

Wine & Dishes Pairing

Mirroring the canapés, Creation offers a menu of full-portion dishes that pair with the estate wines. By no means will you be starving at the end of a canapé pairing, but the Creation angels know you don’t really want to leave, so they’ll insist you sit and savour a while longer. And when you’ve finger- wiped the last traces of Bordeaux-style blend reduction from your plate of rare roast loin of springbok, you’ll magically find that extra bit of room for a raspberry schnapps cake. And because no one is unhappy in heaven, you would not have gained a gram of weight at the end of it all…

Dishes range from R50 – R135.

More Pairings

• Platter Pairings: Choose from an Artisanal Cheese Selection (R90) and Antipasti Platter (R125 for 1 or R220 for 2) paired with individual wines.
• Creation Secret Pairing: 4 magical entrée-sized surprises paired with 4 Creation wines. 24 hours pre-booking essential. R250
• Young Adults Menu: 5 delectable pairings of food with 5 surprise drinks. R75
• 10am Brunch Pairing: 8 breakfast-themed tapas with 8 premium wines. 48 hours pre-booking essential. R375
• Paradoxical Wine & Chocolate Pairing: 4 velvety smooth chocolates matched with 4 wines. R75
• Non-alcoholic Pairing: An 8 tea pairing that runs parallel to the canapé pairing. Ideal for designated drivers, expectant moms, and those who prefer not to drink alcohol. R205

Details

Wine tastings: Daily between 10h00 and 17h00.

Wine & Food Pairing & Lunch: Daily between 11h00 and 16h00.

Contact: +27(0)28 212 1107

Email: info@creationwines.com

Address: Hemel-en-Aarde Road (R320),halfway between Hermanus and Caledon. There are currently major road works on the Caledon end, so be prepared for dirt tracks and road blocks if you’re coming from that direction.

GPS: S34 19’54.40″, E19 19’54.92″

Do your soul a flavour and visit Creation Wines. If you love the Creation Wines food and wine pairings as much as I do, don’t forget to support them in the Klink Awards!

Feature image courtesy of Creation Wines