About Ernie Els
Ernie Els is one of the most famous South African wineries residing on the Helderberg Mountain slopes. The fame of the wines estate primarily comes from its owner and founder of the same name. Ernie is an exceedingly recognisable and notable face in the world of sports, especially golf. The concept of the winery emerged in 1999 after the golfer became exposed to the art of winemaking.
Ernie learnt winemaking and started appreciating the entire process and its end products during his numerous travels abroad. It inspired and encouraged him to create his winery and pursue his passion. Ernie chose the city of Stellenbosch as his base and place of operation. It was a fitting choice as the region has all the beneficial factors and features that can promote and enhance the growth and production of grapevines and wines, respectively.
The vineyards owned by Ernie Els are primarily north-facing. They remained in rows that run in an east-west direction. It allows all the planted grapevines to receive an optimal and desired amount of sunlight exposure. In addition, the Mediterranean climate of the region provides the vineyards with about 650 mm of rainfall every year. This parameter, combined with the closeness to the Atlantic Ocean and the hot summers, results in cold and refreshing wind currents and sea breezes. They regulate the temperatures of the parcels and keep them low to permit the slow maturation of the grapes. It helps the fruits become juicy, plump, aromatic, and flavourful by the season they become ripe.
The soil of the vineyards has clay and oak-leaf components present on top. Deeper into the ground, a substantial quantity of granite exists. Overall, six different grape varieties get planted and grown on these soils. They consist of the Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Shiraz.
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