SA ‘sporting’ wine route features golf, cricket and rugby
Jacques Kallis |
The late cricketing great Eddie Barlow did it in Robertson with a farm he named Windfall, and former rugby star Jannie Engelbrecht did it in Stellenbosch with the superb Rust en Vrede, now run by his son Jean, a friend of golfing great and winner of this year’s British Open, Ernie Els.
Ernie Els |
Schalk Burger Jnr |
Just as mind-bending was when Ernie the golfer rather than Schalk or another of the big names who’ve represented South Africa in the green and gold – such as ‘Boland’ Coetzee of Vriesenhof or ‘Hempies’ du Toit at Annandale – was awarded the licence to produce a couple of SA Rugby wines in the build up to the last World Cup!! But hey, you be the judge…
AMONG THE HIGHLY RATED ‘SPORTING’ WINES OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS:
Annandale Shiraz 2001
David Frost Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2000
David Frost Par Excellence 2002
Ernie Els Big Easy Red 2009, 2010
Ernie Els Big Easy White 2012
Ernie Els Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, 2010
Ernie Els CWG Auction Reserve 2009, 2010
Ernie Els Merlot 2010
Ernie Els Proprietor’s Blend 2003 – 2010
Ernie Els Signature 2000 – 2010
Meerkat Burrow Blend 2008
Meerkat Pinotage 2009
Rietvallei The Innings Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification 2006 – 2008
Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2000, 2006
Rust en Vrede Estate 1998 – 2009
Rust en Vrede Merlot 2003 – 2011
Rust en Vrede Shiraz 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010
Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard Syrah 2007, 2009, 2010
Schalk Burger & Sons Myra 2007
Vriesenhof Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Vriesenhof Chardonnay 2009, 2011
Vriesenhof Enthopio 2002
Vriesenhof Kallista 2001, 2003
Vriesenhof Pinot Noir 2003, 2007
Welbedacht Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2005
Welbedacht Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2005
Welbedacht Barrique Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Welbedacht Barrique Select 2003, 2005, 2007
Welbedacht Hat Trick 2005, 2006
Welbedacht Pinotage 2006, 2008
Windfall Shiraz 2007
For details of the latest reviews together with the prices of the top-rated SA wines with a sporting connection, click here.