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Creation Wines, the acclaimed Hemel-en-Aarde winery, has launched its most ambitious culinary project to date.

‘The Power of Flowers’ is a limited-season menu that transforms the Cape Floral Kingdom – a UNESCO World Heritage site – into an extraordinary dining experience. Available through November, this innovative concept elevates indigenous South African botanicals from mere garnishes to integral wellness ambassadors, creating what the winery calls its ‘Kingdom and Queendom’ celebration.

Located just 8km from the Atlantic Ocean in the heart of the world’s smallest yet most biodiverse plant kingdom, Creation Wines has pioneered a dining philosophy that transcends traditional wine and food pairing. The experience begins with a handwash ceremony using rose geranium-infused water and Creation olive oil, accompanied by a specially curated Spring Soundscape featuring natural birdsong and wind through flowers.

‘We’re not just serving lunch, we’re orchestrating a symphony of seasonal awakening where ancient Ayurvedic wisdom meets modern culinary artistry,’ explains Carolyn Martin, Creative Director at Creation Wines. ‘Every element is designed to harmonise guests’ senses with the natural rhythms of spring, from the endemic waterblommetjies that grow in our dam to the viola flowers that represent the essence of Pinot noir.’

INDIGENOUS TREASURES MEET GLOBAL WELLNESS

The spring menu showcases indigenous flowers including waterblommetjies (found nowhere else on earth), rose geranium native to South Africa, and confetti bush from the Southern Cape, alongside carefully selected healing botanicals from around the world. Each botanical component serves a dual purpose: enhancing flavour while providing traditional wellness benefits ranging from emotional balance to natural antibiotic properties.

THE POWER OF FLOWERS WINE & FOOD JOURNEY

Each wine in our spring collection has been poetically named to capture its essence, paired with dishes that celebrate our botanical philosophy:

Welcome: Roussanne Grenache Blanc Viognier ‘Spring Herb Garden’
Herb and flower consommé with floating confetti bush flowers and chervil
The wine’s flowery herbal tea aromatics and jasmine notes create perfect harmony in our welcome ritual.

Chapter 1: Sauvignon Blanc Semillon ‘Ocean’s Gift’
Umfino wild greens in cos lettuce taco with nasturtiums
Maritime saltiness from the nearby Atlantic Ocean meets foraged coastal elements, connecting terroir to plate.

Chapter 2: Reserve Chardonnay ‘ABC (Absolutely Brilliant Chardonnay)’
Trout, peas, potato / Artichoke, peas, potato (plant-based)
While tasting the Chardonnay, touching a silken scarf provides a tangible sense of how malolactic fermentation softens acidity in wine.

Chapter 3: Reserve Pinot Noir ‘Red Velvet’
Pelargonium herb-crusted lamb with waterblommetjies and viola / Oyster mushroom skewer (plant-based)
Rose petal aromatics echo the indigenous ‘little water flowers’ growing in our dam, while viola – the flower of Pinot noir – creates the perfect aromatic bridge between wine and terroir.

Chapter 4: Reserve Syrah ‘Sophisticated Syrah’
Braaibroodjie with rosemary and black pepper
Piquant pepper notes in the wine perfectly complement the traditional South African braai experience.

Chapter 5: Cape White ‘Jasmine Neroli Elixir’
Malva pudding with honey bush gelato / Milk tart with seasonal berries
Fortified Viognier with jasmine and neroli aromatics – a perfumed finale to our botanical journey.

UNIQUE SENSORY EXPERIENCES

Creation Wines has developed signature rituals that enhance wine appreciation through multi-sensory engagement. The ‘Silken Scarf Ceremony’ allows guests to feel 100% silk between their fingertips while tasting Reserve Chardonnay, demonstrating how malolactic fermentation softens acidity in wine. The ‘Nose Accordion Experience’ uses aromatic test tubes to reveal hidden layers in Art of Pinot Noir.

‘These aren’t gimmicks – they’re educational tools that help guests understand the science and artistry behind our cool-climate wines,’ notes Carolyn Martin. ‘When you feel silk while tasting our Chardonnay, you’re experiencing the exact transformation that occurs during malolactic fermentation and its neural translation.’

HERITAGE CUISINE ELEVATED

Chef Eleanor Coetzee transforms traditional South African dishes into contemporary fine dining presentations. Waterblommetjiebredie – once a humble Khoisan stew – becomes pelargonium herb-crusted lamb rack, while beloved umfino (maize meal cooked with indigenous leafy greens) transforms into elegant tacos. Even the iconic braaibroodjie receives sophisticated treatment while maintaining its authentic communal spirit.

‘We honour South African culinary traditions while elevating them through our botanical philosophy,’ explains the chef. ‘Every dish tells a story of this land, from Khoisan heritage to modern sustainable agriculture.’

FLEXIBLE DINING OPTIONS

Recognising diverse guest preferences, Creation Wines offers multiple ways to experience ‘The Power of Flowers’:

• Complete Wine & Food Pairing Experience (R1,460 standard, R1,570 including Art of Creation wines)
• À la Carte Heritage Menu for customised experiences
• ‘Morning in the Queendom’ breakfast menu featuring dishes such as our avocado garden and elderflower-garnished overnight oats paired with Sauvignon Blanc
• ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ young adults menu introducing children to terroir appreciation

All courses offer plant-based alternatives, from artichoke ‘protea flowers’ to grilled oyster mushroom skewers, maintaining the same botanical philosophy for diverse dietary requirements.

COMMUNITY IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Creation Wines’ commitment extends beyond culinary excellence to meaningful community development. By enjoying a menu sourced 80% locally – not only food but also flowers and even crockery – every guest visiting Creation creates employment for 11 people in the local community.

The winery’s partnership with the Pebbles Project demonstrates their investment in long-term community development. This educational initiative creates meaningful employment opportunities for young people throughout the Hemel-en-Aarde region, with Creation Wines employing several programme graduates.

‘At Creation, we believe in turning jobs into careers,’ states Human Resources Manager Salome Geldenhuys. ‘We’ve watched young adults develop through the Pebbles Project’s training programmes and become valued team members. It’s a circle of care that nourishes both body and community.’

LIMITED SEASONAL AVAILABILITY

‘The Power of Flowers’ experience operates according to nature’s schedule, with indigenous blooms following ancient seasonal rhythms. Waterblommetjies appear when the soil and sun decree, while nasturtiums and violets bloom according to natural cycles rather than commercial convenience.

‘This isn’t a permanent menu – it’s a celebration of a specific moment in our terroir’s annual cycle,’ emphasises Carolyn Martin. ‘Guests are experiencing something that exists in harmony with nature’s schedule, making it precious and unrepeatable.’

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

Creation Wines operates in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, Cape South Coast region. Some international critics call the Hemel-en-Aarde ‘the little Burgundy of South Africa’, producing wines that express unique terroir through ancient quartz and Bokkeveld shale soils. The cool maritime climate, influenced by Atlantic Ocean breezes, allows for extended grape ripening while maintaining natural acidity – conditions that also support the diverse botanical ecosystem integral to the dining experience.

By Carolyn Martin