It’s with good reason that Creation Wines in the beautiful Hemel-an-Aarde Valley keeps picking up awards for its innovative food-and-wine offering. You’ll be spoilt for choice with a menu that offers myriad ways to discover the estate’s contemporary Winelands cuisine. Bonus: There’s also a great list of activities for kids.

Expect hearty, but innovative fare. Photo supplied.

Fast facts

Serves: Contemporary winelands fare
Best for: Lunch in the winelands – even with kids
Cost: Average main course is R185
Star ratings: Food and wine 5, service 5, ambience 5

Go all-in with the seven-course tasting menu, or just opt for something off the à la carte menu. Photo supplied.

Food

The stand-out is the ‘The Story of Creation’, a seven-course degustation where each ‘chapter’ is paired with an estate wine. The pickled hake and poppadom is a lively match for the aromatic viognier; the hearty lamb shank pairs wonderfully against a syrah-grenache blend. If you haven’t time for seven courses, there are three-course options, charcuterie platters, chocolate pairings (ideal for dessert) and, lastly, an à la carte blackboard that offers the likes of squid-ink calamari risotto, or silky pasta tossed with salmon, asparagus and pine nuts. Provenance is highlighted here too, with a list of the local, ethical suppliers.

Many of the ingredients used come from local suppliers. Photo supplied.

Happily, younger diners are well taken care of, with a small menu of kids’ fare alongside a five-course pairing menu.

Drinks

Creation’s award-winning wines are available at cellar-door prices and served in superb stemware. All available by the glass, too.

The wine farm is situated in the beautiful Hemel en Aarde Valley. Photo supplied.

Service

You’ll get slick yet personable service from waiters who know the wines backwards and are adept at explaining the pairing with each dish.

There is also the option of a dessert pairing. Photo supplied.

Ambience

There’s a charming country bustle in this light-filled space, where picture windows offer stellar views of the surrounding vineyards. Creation’s décor is both upmarket yet relaxed, with tables of upcycled wine boxes adorned by bouquets of fynbos and seed pods. In summer, phone ahead for a terrace table.

And…

Take time to discover the wonderful sculpture and artworks scattered through the fynbos gardens.

Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.

Have you been to Creation Wines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley? Write a review now.

An apple tart. Photo supplied.