Ernie Els Wines is the Modern Embodiment of Wine Excellence
Ernie Els Wines is my 130th wine farm visit out of 800 in South Africa. As part of the Stellenbosch Wine Route, this winery has neighbours such as Hidden Valley, Peter Falke, Alto and Guardian Peak Wines. A super area to explore some of the valley's most exceptional red wines with the most famous being the Cabernet Sauvignon varietal.
Ernie Els Wines has been closed for renovations for a few years so I was super excited to visit when they opened their doors again in November. The outside wine tasting and restaurant area is by far the best place to book a table. The views are just incredible!
What's more, is that you can play golf too! This winery is probably the only winery on earth where you can play golf and drink wine at the same time :) It does take a bit of guts though, because you are performing, smack bang in the middle of everyone's view haha. If you are a golf fanatic, you may also enjoy the "golf museum" room and shop.
Ernie makes you feel Welcome
Upon entrance, get your temperature checked and hands sanitized before being offered a welcome drink. I must say, the welcome drink was a very nice touch and we were escorted to our reserved table. I was able to pre-book online.
Ernie Els Wine Tasting
There are various types of wine tasting for you to choose from depending on your preference. I opted for the Major tasting at R100 per person to taste four wines. The wine is served to you in generous portions in magnificent, quality glasses.
With the winery being quite recently re-opened, the young staff are still being trained but are so far, trying very hard to be as knowledgeable as possible about the wine so that they can explain each as they pour.
Below are some pics I took of the wine tasting menus.
I was feeling rather peckish after all the wine and ordered the cheese and Charcuterie platter for R200 which was plenty for two people to share, offering good value. The platter included Dalewood Cheeses – Camembert, Blue Brie, Boland, Salami, Roasted Beef Pastrami with Apricots, Walnuts, Calamata Olives, Hummus & Breads.
To view the latest wine tasting menu, visit: https://ernieelswines.com/tasting-room/tasting-room-menu/
Indulge at the Restaurant
If you feel that a platter will not be enough to satisfy your hunger, Ernie Els has a fabulous restaurant which you will definitely need to book in advance. The Executive Chef is Saskia Nel. Saskia always adds “a little extra love” to all her dishes by making use of fresh, locally-sourced seasonal ingredients and presenting them in a generous farm-to-table style.
The decor is fantastic. It has sort of a modern spin of being inside a wine barrel or barn (check out all that oak!). It feels both welcoming and opulent at the same time.
I had a fantastic time at Ernie Els wines and would recommend this winery for 2 - 6 people in the summer months. If it is rainy, there is seating inside too however one cannot beat sitting outside overlooking the magnificent views. This winery is not recommended for small children.
Check out my instastory on my visit:
Contact Ernie Els Wines:
E-Mail: info@ernieelswines.comTo Book: bookings@ernieelswines.comTelephone: +27 21 881 3588