Winemaker
Jean-Claude Martin
Co-owner, Viticulturist and Cellarmaster, Creation Wines
- Discipline
- Winemaker
Portrait of Jean-Claude Martin
i. Biography
Jean-Claude Martin trained at Wädenswil and the Swiss Federal School of Changins, two schools that gave his winemaking a disciplined technical base. That early training shows up in a style built on the basics: steady method, exacting control, and the patience to let fundamentals do their work before anything else is asked of them. At Creation Wines, Jean-Claude Martin holds the roles of co-owner, viticulturist and cellarmaster, placing vineyard work and cellar decisions under the same hand.
The position requires reading the vines, directing the cellar, and keeping authorship and precision aligned across the estate. In practice, that means his training is translated into the daily rhythm of the farm and the cellar alike.
The Sunday email
Read about winemakers like Jean-Claude Martin in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.
Where They Are Now
Jean-Claude Martin’s working perspective was shaped in Europe, where volatile weather meant dealing with a wider range of conditions. On the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, the climate is more stable, and that consistency changes the kind of attention the work demands. The result is a setting that rewards close observation rather than constant correction. The vineyard’s physical base is the starting point: 450-million-year-old Bokkeveld shale and drained clay loam soils, together with a cool climate.
Those conditions give the wines structure and freshness, and they set the terms for the work Jean-Claude Martin does at Creation Wines. In that framework, the vineyard is not a prelude to the cellar; it is where precision begins.
Signature
Jean-Claude Martin’s signature wines include The Art of Chardonnay, Art of Pinot Noir, Glenn’s Chardonnay, Emma’s Pinot Noir, and Creation Art of Pinot Noir. They sit within the same house style at Creation Wines, each one carrying a distinct name while reflecting the same standards of care and consistency across the range.
In Their Words “Working in volatile weather conditions in Europe prepared me for many eventualities, however here on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge we’re fortunate to have very stable conditions.” “First of all we have 450-million-year-old Bokkeveld shale and drained clay loam soils which combined with our cool climate create excellent winegrowing conditions.” Creation Wines says the estate was established in 2002 by Jean-Claude and Carolyn Martin.
He is the winemaker and notes he planted the first vineyard in 2003 and helped move the business into its own winery by 2007. he planted the first vineyard in 2003 and helped move the business into its own winery by 2007.
FAQ
Asked of Jean-Claude
What is Jean-Claude Martin's current role?
Jean-Claude Martin is Co-owner, viticulturist and cellarmaster.
Where did Jean-Claude Martin train or study?
Jean-Claude Martin trained at Wädenswil and Swiss Federal School of Changins.
Explore
In the same rooms
Similar Winemakers
The Sunday email
Read about winemakers like Jean-Claude Martin in the Sunday email.
Every Sunday we send a lead story and up to four more about the chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and hoteliers behind the restaurants, bars, wineries and hotels we cover.
Recent stories
Free. One email a week, and you can unsubscribe from any issue.