We bring you all the latest news from Ernie Els Wines.
1. Be Quick! The Ernie Els Wines Harvest Classic is almost sold out
The 5th annual Ernie Els Wines Harvest Classic on Thursday 16 April promises to be a fantastic day for friends and guests of Ernie Els Wines to enjoy golf, good wine, good food and great company. This year we will be hosted at the magnificent De Zalze Golf Club, which is hardly more than a chip and a putt away from the Ernie Els Winery in Stellenbosch. An early morning tee-off is the tradition, as the teams of two (Betterball stableford format) will set out to try and get their hands on the impressive floating trophy, the 18-litre bottle of Ernie Els Wine!
After the round, the thirsty golfers will head up the mountain to the Ernie Els winery for some icy-cold, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and our new Big Easy Rosé that will be accompanied by some delicious canapés on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. A wholesome lunch and some brilliant reds will follow. For those who have not managed to master the longer format on the golf course, there will be another chance at glory in the customary chipping competition off the tee-box on the lawn in front of the wine cellar.
We are almost fully sold out, so secure your place by contacting Lenchen Kuhn at lenchen@ernieelswines.com. The cost is R950 per player and includes your golf plus golf cart, halfway house, a bottle of Ernie Els wine, and Ernie Els golf shirt, and a meal at the Ernie Els Winery afterwards.
2. Taste-bud alert! Autumn has arrived on the menu
The gold and bronze leaves have announced the arrival of autumn in the Stellenbosch and, to mark the transition of the seasons, chef Amelia Hanekom has prepared a delicious new menu at Ernie Els Wines. The crowd favourite sirloin will wear a new jacket this year – dry aged beef sirloin with a mixed mustard spread, served with roasted cherry tomatoes and potato chips. This mouth-watering sirloin merges beautifully with the bold flavours of the Proprietor’s Blend.
Spice up the chilly days with the Mexican Beef Burger served with crispy bacon, tequila jam, pickled jalapenos, and smoked jalapeno mayo topped with a slice of cheddar cheese. On the lighter side, try our green salad with crispy apple, crunchy celery, avocado, Danish feta and grilled chicken or our pulled pork wrap with pickled red onion and rocket. During Autism Awareness Month in April, we will be serving all of our meals with blue bread to support Els for Autism.
Our tasting room is open from Monday to Saturdays, 09h00 to 17h00 with lunch served from Tuesday to Saturday, 12h00 to 15h00. For more information please telephone (021) 881 3588 or email tastingroom@ernieelswines.com
3. Release of Signature 2012 attracts great reviews
We’re once again looking forward to the next vintage release of our flagship wine, Ernie Els Signature 2012. This becomes the 13th edition of this stellar wine and is sure to make a statement as it continues Ernie Els and winemaker Louis Strydom’s vision of producing ultra-premium quality wine. Its predecessors have laid a solid foundation in establishing this wine as one of pedigree with the acquisition of global accolades. The vintage proved to be a fine one in Stellenbosch and this is evident from preliminary tastings of this youthful wine.
Wine Cellar – Fine Wine Merchants & Cellarers’ wine specialist, Roland Peens had this to report after his tasting: “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux-style blend really shines in the epic 2012 Stellenbosch vintage. It shows an intensely purple rim and deep crimson core, leading to impressive concentration and startling depth. Rather closed at first, nuances of fig jam, cigar box and meat spice slowly arise from the glass, complemented by ripe red cherries and a hint of fine milk chocolate. The palate is supported by ultra-fine, layered tannins that are seemingly wrapped in mixed red berry fruits. Pure and elegant, the finish lingers with juicy cassis and a salty, mineral tail. This is not the most powerful of Ernie Els Signature’s, but it perhaps holds the most impressive structure and will provide for long aging ahead. Enjoy now through to 2027+.”
To order your wine for home delivery (South Africa only), please click here. Alternatively, for information on our network of international distributors and agents, click here.
4. Harvest Report
The 2015 vintage started with dry and warm conditions causing the grapes to race to ripeness. The almost perfect set period resulted in small and compact berries, which will lead to deep and concentrated wines. Early harvests normally mean great quality and Stellenbosch experienced the earliest harvest in four decades and the warmest day in 100 years. Almost no rain during the harvest period ensured that the grapes were in perfect condition when picked. Raging wild fires caused some nervous moments, but luckily the fires were extinguished with little damage to the Helderberg.
“We are extremely happy with the 2015 vintage. You can expect outstanding quality with an incredible ageing potential of the wines” summarizes winemaker, Louis Strydom. “We experimented with the basket pressing of hand selected super premium Cabernet Sauvignon to improve palate length and whole bunch fermentation of Syrah to provide a more spicy character.”
5. Visit Ernie Els Wines and discover our magnificent portfolio
Come and join us at our beautiful winery in the heart of Stellenbosch, enjoy lunch, taste our wines, tour Ernie’s trophy room and discover more about our magnificent portfolio of South African red and white wines offering quality for everyone at various different price-points. Ernie’s passion for wine, combined with winemaker Louis Strydom’s considerable talents, has proved a winning combination. Ernie Els Wines has won plaudits and many prestigious awards around the world and the team continues to make a big impact on both the South African and international wine markets.
