All the latest releases, news and offers from the team at Ernie Els Wines.
1. Be the first to get your case of new Big Easy Cabernet Sauvignon! Now available to order!
Ernie Els Wines has taken the next step to fulfil our vision to be the foremost Cabernet Sauvignon producer in South Africa with the launch of a new entry-level Cabernet Sauvignon to become the latest extension in the highly popular ‘Big Easy’ range. The Ernie Els Wines team has taken the Big Easy Cabernet Sauvignon on the road, kicking off with The Big Easy Burger Bash at the Ernie Els winery, followed by launch events in at Steyn City Golf Course in Johannesburg and The Big Easy Winebar & Grill at the Hilton Durban.
The Big Easy Cabernet Sauvignon is now available to order via the Ernie Els Wine Club:
http://www.ernieelswines.com/Page.aspx?PAGEID=2758&CLIENTID=4975
Ernie Els Wines is committed to become the foremost Cabernet Sauvignon producer and to showcase the different styles and characters that this noble variety can produce. Follow our progress in #drivingcabernet on Twitter by joining the @ernieelswinery community.
2. Book now! 6th Annual Harvest Classic Golf Day – only 15 fourballs available
The Ernie Els Wines Harvest Classic Golf Day is one of the highlights of our calendar. This year the Harvest Classic will be held at the prestigious Erinvale Golf Club. Teams of two (betterball stableford format) will have an early morning tee-off on Wednesday 23 March, before enjoying lunch and wine tasting at Ernie Els Wines. The entry fee is R 1000 per person and includes:
– Green Fees and Golf Cart
– A new release Ernie Els custom golf shirt
– An Ernie Els Wines gift
– Halfway house
– A lunch and wine tasting at Ernie Els Wines
– A fun chipping competition on the lawns in front of the winery
To enter please contact Nadia Hefer: email nadia@ernieelswines.com
3. A Dream launch for Ernie Els Wines in Hong Kong
In celebration of the New Year, our new Hong Kong importer ‘Dream Wines’ held an exclusive trade and media lunch wine tasting on 25 January at Amuse Bouche restaurant to launch two celebrity wine brands of its portfolio: Yao Family Wines from Napa Valley, owned by former NBA star Yao Ming, and Ernie Els Wines from South Africa.
These two very successful sports athletes are passionate about wine and are driven by their commitment to excellence infused in their award winning wines. F&B Directors and Sommeliers from hotels, restaurant groups and membership clubs attended the lunch including Shangri-La, Marriott Hotel Group International, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong Cricket Club, On Dining Group, Ce La Vie and many others. Meanwhile, the guests explored a selection of wines from both wineries during the lunch and were impressed by their quality and their great value.
Tersina Shieh, wine consultant of WOSA (Wines of South Africa) shared that the region selected by Ernie Els in the heart of the South African wine making region was the perfect site within the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Stellenbosch for producing premium wines. Since its launch in 2000, Ernie Els Wines has matured into a successful and multi-award winning enterprise with a magnificent portfolio of South African wines. Every vintage of the Ernie Els Signature wine, a classic Bordeaux-style blend has been awarded 90+ points by the prestigious Wine Spectator Magazine.
“Dream Wines is dedicated to promoting boutique wineries from the world’s top wine regions,” said Dream Xia, Founder and Managing Director of Dream Wines. “With a vision to inspire, Dream Wines will focus on introducing unique, high quality wines with inspiring personalities and stories to Hong Kong consumers.”
For information for Ernie Els Wines in Hong Kong, please contact info@dreamwines.hk
4. Ernie Els Wines tees off the year in the Home of Golf
The year got off to a flying start for Ernie Els Wines with a trip to the Home of Golf, Scotland, to firm up the relationships with our new partners in that country. Travelling to Scotland is in many ways a pilgrimage for our brand and its employees, given the obvious connection between Ernie and the Home of Golf. The objective of the trip was to meet with our latest UK based partner, Corney&Barrow, and give a presentation on the product range and history of the vineyard. We were thrilled to have received a warm welcome from the market and look forward to exciting progress in the market.
Corney&Barrow are among the most well respected importing and distribution companies within the liquor industry and we are thrilled to be associated with them. The partnership was born out of the need for our wines to be better positioned within this notoriously competitive market.
We are very excited about what is to come from the Scottish market and will be working hard at making our wines widely available. For more information on Ernie Els Wines in Scotland, please contact: www.corneyandbarrow.com
5. Winemakers corner: Introducing our first female assistant winemaker, L’Ré Burger
Ernie Els Wines is pleased to introduce our new assistant winemaker, L’Re Burger. As an experienced wine lover and global traveller, L’Ré brings a unique blend of passion and scientific knowledge to Ernie Els Wines. Born and bred in Stellenbosch, L’Ré was exposed to the rhythm of the winelands from a young age. The hustle and bustle of the tractors during harvest time and the ever changing colour pallet of the vineyards sparked an interest in agriculture. L’Ré thus decided to combine her love for science and agriculture by completing her BSc Oenology and Viticulture at Stellenbosch University in 2007. L’Ré furthered her studies and completed her MSc Wine Business at the prestigious Burgundy School of Business in Dijon, France.
L’Ré explains her winemaking philosophy as: “Great wine reflects terroir, vintage and personality. It comes from a deep understanding of vineyard management, wine making techniques, and sustainable practices. In essence, old world philosophies with new world techniques.”
L’Ré has completed several harvests overseas, including in California, Marlborough, Barossa Valley, Bordeaux and the Great Western in Australia. Locally, L’Ré has worked as assistant wine maker at De Morgenzon Wine Estate and Waterford Estate.
“I believe that it is an exciting time in the wine industry in South Africa,” says L’Re. “The industry is moving towards an origin-focussed methodology. We are showcasing the unique terroirs our country has to offer. It has always been my dream to make wine in the Helderberg. The rich Hutton-Clovelly soils and north sloping vineyards are the perfect building blocks for bold red wines.”
Working closely with head winemaker, Louis Strydom, and viticulturist, Leander Koekemoer, L’Re will be involved in the wine making process from vine to bottle. L’Re will continue the Ernie Els Wines vision to be the leading Cabernet Sauvignon producer in South Africa but her fresh approach will bring exciting new elements.
