In a sport that can enrage even the coolest of heads, many golfers like to enjoy a small glass of wine to decompress and reflect on where their round went wrong (or right, occasionally).
It just so happens that some of the most famous figures in the game have a passion for this grape-fuelled beverage, so much so that they have invested and had their names ingrained in its industry.
Golfers with wine labels
Greg Norman Estates has a vast wine portfolio in California, Australia (where the two-time major winner is from), and New Zealand. His contemporary Sir Nick Faldo also once launched his own line of Selection Cabernet, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc, all produced in South Australia’s Coonawarra region.
How could you not shop for some Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet, or some Russian River Chardonnay on the Great White Shark’s website? You only need to read the first paragraph of the ‘About’ section to be hypnotised:
“While his well-documented wins on the golf course have assured his place in golf history, off the course, Greg Norman’s enthusiasm for wine and zest for living well have combined to create a stunning collection of high-quality, accessible wines from some of his favourite places in the world.”
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Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have their names ingrained in this world too, but the golfer with arguably the most impressive portfolio and website must be Ernie Els.
Even just the website is impressive. Bravo, Ernie and your web design team. The four-time major champion’s winery is framed by panoramic views of Cape Town and Table Mountain in his native South Africa, with Stellenbosch and the Helderberg Mountains to the east.
A short scroll down will bring you to the wine list, starting with a Big Easy Chenin Blanc, a Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon and a Big Easy Box, if that takes your fancy.
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In fact, the wine world celebrated 25 years of the Ernie Els estate last year. “The first vintage of Ernie Els was in 2000. We asked ourselves: what wine do we make? And I sat down with Ernie, put five wines in front of him and said you choose numbers 1-5. And that day the Ernie Els Signature was born,” said winemaker Louis Strydom.
Not only is there wine to be enjoyed, there’s also a restaurant, chilli shed, and an espresso bar to be enjoyed by visitors to the Big Easy’s impressive complex.
Given the size of the mansions that professional golfers find themselves living in, you will also likely find a wine cellar if you dig deep enough. Tiger Woods is said to have one in his Jupiter Island castle, although his passion for this particular drink isn’t exactly public information.
In previous Masters Champions Dinners that he has hosted, he’s chosen Napa Valley Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. How’s that?
Masters champion Jon Rahm is also said to have a wine cellar in his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. When he hosted the Masters Champions Dinner, he chose Imperial Gran Reserva 2012 and Contino Blanco 2020 from the Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España winery. This is a man who knows his stuff, it seems. His liking for Imperial Gra Reserva links him to his grandfather.
Another player who has previously spoken about his passion for the bottle is Rory McIlroy. He told Australia Golf Digest in 2020 that he is a collector of wine, and the bricks that were once part of the entrance to his Jupiter residence now form the walls of the wine cellar.
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They are red Chicago bricks, too, a place of great significance for the McIlroy family. This was where he and his wife Erica first met in 2012 and where he celebrated his 30th birthday.
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“I have an app on my phone called CellarTracker,” McIlroy said in the interview. “You can label every bottle. I can go into the cellar for two or three hours at a time and just sort it all out.
“Organise everything. I get lost in my own little world. I can go into the cellar for two or three hours at a time and just sort it all out. Organise everything. I get lost in my own little world.
“I love French wines. I love Bordeaux. I love white Burgundy. I still have to get into red Burgundy; I’m not quite there yet. I’ve also been collecting a lot of Napa wine.”
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