Creation Estate is a relatively young winery located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, a sub-region within the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Twenty kilometers further lies Hermanus, the coastal town on Walker Bay, also known as the whale-watching capital of South Africa. Besides the high chance of whale watching, the area boasts an ideal climate for viticulture. Warm days that don't rise above thirty degrees Celsius, a fresh sea breeze, and vineyards situated slightly higher than most vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde area, create the ideal ingredients for quality wines. In 2002, Jean-Claude and Carolyn Martin took on the challenge of establishing a winery in a remote corner of the Walker Bay wine region. They were convinced that this location offered the ideal conditions for producing excellent, top-quality wines. Both grew up in wine-loving families and, armed with the necessary knowledge, were determined and convinced of the area's potential. And so, five years later, they were ready for their first harvest. Since then they have been working hard.
The grapes for this Chardonnay come from a single vineyard in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The ideal climate allows the grapes to develop a beautiful balance. The grapes are pressed, and the juice is fermented in oak barrels at a controlled temperature of eighteen degrees Celsius. The wine then matures for ten months in oak, forty percent of which is new. The final result is a delicious white wine with vibrant aromas of fresh grapefruit and fragrant apple, mingling with a hint of honey and a touch of cinnamon. These are reflected in the oh-so-pure and clean palate, where buttery nuances are beautifully balanced by the characteristic minerality, a hallmark of freshness and finesse. This Creation Chardonnay Reserve is aged for 10 months in oak, with 40% of the barrels used being new.
