www.thevillagenews.co.za
19 August 2020
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Upskilling staff part of Creation’s lockdown innovations Writer & Photographer Tweet Gainsborough-Waring
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ith the local wine industry suffering severe financial and job losses as a result of the government’s ban on alcohol sales, producers have had to think out of the box to keep staff and maintain an income, even if somewhat depleted. At Creation, co-owner and marketing manager Carolyn Martin has seized the ban on international travel as an opportunity to focus on the local market and on streamlining their operations. Lay-offs have been inevitable and the restaurant at the tasting room, for example, has lost seven of its chefs. The significant drop in guest numbers, however, gave the three remaining chefs the time to develop an entirely new menu of local fare from quality seasonal produce, which they were
ready to serve when local tourism started reopening. Another innovation for the chefs was the serving of delicious ‘street food’ at the Hermanus Country Market. “With the farm busier than expected over the recent Women’s day long weekend, we have been able to recall some of our staff,” says Carolyn. “This means an extra chef in the kitchen, and some of the tasting room staff are back serving breakfast to cyclists and other passing guests, as well as lunch and afternoon tea.” Not that the tasting room staff had just been sitting around with time on their hands, though. Instead they were encouraged to attend a pruning course, run by The Old Vine Project (OVP). Carolyn was enthusiastic about the course as it meant the farm could now draw from its own staff when pruning gets into full swing this
month. In addition the knowledge could be used when giving presentations to guests. At the course the OVP’s Project Manager, André Morgenthal explained the ABOVE: The team from Creation with viticulturist, Rosa Kruger of the OVP in the importance of good prunvineyard to learn all about pruning old vines. BELOW LEFT: From left are Kirsten ing when working with old Myburg, JC Martin, Rosa Kruger and Glenn Martin. vines. He said it could give an older block a second chance at life. Different to pruning connoisseurs. The search for old vineyards is carried young vines, he described it as a out across regions and cultivars. more gentle approach, and likened The OVP is funded by South African Currently only 5% of South Afriit to talking with your grandparents. business mogul, Johann Rupert, who can vineyards fall into the old vine “The vine has spent years surviving has a keen interest in heritage and category. They are mostly Chenin extremes of climate that have given old vines. They began the search for Blanc because it was one of the first it a built-in ‘wisdom’ which demands old vineyards in 2002. It was greatly varieties to arrive in the country and respect,” he said. It was essential to helped by the fact that the South later the KWV encouraged farmers have skilled pruners, he added, as African Wine Industry Information to grow it for distillation into brandy. poor pruning was detrimental to the and Systems (SAWIS) Association had OVP believes the future is in the 24- to long-term health of the vine. records of every vine planted, which 34-year-old vineyards and farmers has helped producers looking to are being encouraged not to pull out The OVP started running pruning satisfy the criteria required for a SAWIS the older vines but rather to keep courses for members in 2017. NumCertified Heritage Vineyards Seal. them for the heritage wines which bers are kept to 12 to 14 students South Africa is the only country with a are gaining in popularity. It is hoped per course, and participants must dedicated certification by which you this will give a long-term boost to the include the farm manager and the top can trace an old vine wine to its origin. wine industry. pruner. This is because OVP believes in training the trainers, who can pass the The preservation of old vines comes The production of wine from old knowledge on to their pruners using with considerable benefits both for vines is close to the heart of Creation’s the terminology they understand. the aficionado and the producer. Mor- Swiss winemaker and co-owner, JeanClaude Martin, who comes from a genthal said that when you buy an Creation is a member of the OVP, old vine wine it goes beyond buying a tradition of producing wine from old as are Hamilton Russell Vineyards, vines. He has committed all the farm’s commodity, as it has a strong humanGabriëlskloof, Beaumont and Alheit vineyards to the project, considering itarian aspect to it. It becomes emoVineyards. The object of this project it to be, along with upskilling his staff tional, because with that purchase is to find and preserve old vineyards to prune effectively, an investment in you are not only supporting a legacy, (35 years and older). These older the tradition and future of the local but also helping to better the lives of vineyards produce grapes that bring wine industry. those involved in the production of another dimension and character to wine. He believes old vine wine will a wine. Sculpted by the elements, old become a niche market pushing point vines tell a story of the land, its culture of sale prices higher. This will benefit More information on The Old Vine and history. Globally these wines Project can be found at oldvinethe farmers, and those dependent on are becoming sought after by wine them. project.co.za/
