Phil Murray

Food
The Tasting Room at Creation Wines is set against the rugged beauty of the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, but the star of the show is the pairing menu, featuring the wide selection of Creation wines and designed to elevate the wine experience into something unforgettable. The staggeringly ambitious six-course pairing featuring eight different wines is an adventure that changes every few months.

As soon as one is seated, the generosity of the welcome along with a complimentary wine taste, the inventive roasted seaweed flatbread and home-baked sultana loaf with blood orange butter sets an air of opulence and great value for the price.

The dark and deeply sticky ostrich fillet with stir-fried vegetables, sesame and soy was sensually salty and sweet and best enjoyed with Creation’s Syrah, Grenache 2017, while the freshness of the prawn ravioli wrapped in paper-thin slivers of radish, served with Creation Chardonnay, was as light and refreshing as sea spray. The duck bobotie with grated cured egg yolk and spicy mango atchar was the show-stealer – cleverly recognisable as a familiar local favourite, but served fit for a sultan!

The restaurant is popular with people sitting both inside and in the garden, and there are children’s food and juice pairing options, a non-alcoholic option of elegant tea and canapé pairings, and also a vegan pairing platter.

For the sweet-toothed, creamy locally sourced gelato and chocolates are also paired with wines.

Drinks
Wines are served by the glass and at cellar-door prices. Creation has found a way to showcase their own wines inventively. They’re best known for their pinot noir and chardonnay, but each wine is so well presented, served in the best glassware and at the perfect temperature, that one instantly becomes a Creation worshipper.

Service
The staff is highly trained and professionally attentive, and the booking experience and follow-up is smooth enough to lead you to believe you’ve made new friends.

Ambience
Creation brings the outside inside. The light and the season floods the modern restaurant and local art sculptures stand in the garden, and adorn the tables, making it interestingly accessible.

Best for…
Long leisurely lunches during which you can surrender to an indulgent, fine dining celebration of food and wine.

(August 2019)

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