Golfers are no strangers to wine. For some, a wine label is a business into which they pour their hearts and souls, while for others it is one of many lucrative endorsement opportunities, writes BRENDAN BARRATT.
Greg Norman
The Great White Shark is considered by many to be the godfather of golfing winemakers. The Aussie legend has been producing some of the finest wines for over a quarter of a century from vineyards in his homeland, as well as New Zealand and the USA. In 1999, Wine Spectator magazine named Norman’s Reserve Shiraz the eighth-best wine in the world, which is no mean feat, and he has received rave reviews for many of his varietals since then. With his business interests these days seemingly focused on heading up the breakaway LIV Golf Series, Norman’s daughter Morgan-Leigh manages the day-to-day running of the wine business.
Luke Donald
The former world No 1 launched the Luke Donald Collection in 2008, producing some decent Claret-style reds out of Napa Valley in California. Unfortunately, a little like his golf game, the wines are no longer being produced, although there is hope that Donald will resurrect his winemaking career after the 45-year-old hangs up his golf spikes.
Ernie Els
The Big Easy launched his wine label in 1999, in partnership with good friend Jean Engelbrecht, to produce wines out of Els’ Stellenbosch wine farm. The four-time Major winner and former world No 1 seems to favour a strong Bordeaux blend and his Proprietor’s range of wines are very highly rated. He also produces the Big Easy range, which is a more affordable option and features rather tasty reds, whites and rosés that are widely available.
Retief Goosen
South African golf legend Goosen’s wine farm can be found in the Upper Langkloof region, along the Garden Route, in an area that is considered to be the coldest wine-growing region in South Africa. You don’t win two US Opens without being able to handle some adversity and despite the challenging weather conditions, Goosen produces a wide range of wines, including two whites and five reds. The Goose 2014 Expression, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, is the golfer’s flagship wine.
Louis Oosthuizen
A relative newcomer to the wine scene, Louis has wasted no time in creating a full range of 10 Louis57 wines across numerous varietals and price points, all produced at Boschkloof Winery in Stellenbosch. Never one to miss out on a commercial opportunity, Louis has also put his name to a craft gin and a craft brandy, while you can purchase anything from clothing to memorabilia from the Louis57 website. Louis’ flagship wines are the Private Collection Syrah and an outstanding Bordeaux blend he named the Jasoma Conclusion.
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Gary Player
Despite confessing to being a teetotaller, Player launched his Black Knight wine label in 2003 with a wine named after his first Major championship win. The Muirfield 1959, produced by Quoin Rock Winery, is an excellent wine that celebrates Player’s breakthrough Open Championship triumph and while the plan was to produce a wine for each of his nine Majors, the production seems to have come to a halt a little earlier than expected.
Cristie Kerr
Another former world No 1 who has stepped into the wine business, Kerr launched her Curvature range in 2009. As a Level 1 sommelier herself, she clearly knows her stuff and her wines, including a second range called Kerr Cellars, consistently receive some of the highest ratings by independent wine critics. Kerr Cellars’ 2013 Reserve Proprietary Red was rated at 98 points by Robert Parker, while her Wappo Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 received 97 points from James Suckling, which places the double Major winner at the top of the wine-producing golfers list.
David Frost
Born into a winemaking family, Frost used to practise his golf game by hitting balls in the family’s vineyard. He used the pocket money he made from picking grapes to buy his first set of golf clubs and, in 1994, while still playing on the PGA Tour, he bought a 300-acre vineyard in Paarl. Frosty’s first vintage was released in 1997 and these days he produces a range of excellent easy-drinking wines. His 2019 David Frost 5 Barrels Cabernet Sauvignon received a wine rating of 92 points.
Mike Weir
The 2003 Masters champion launched the Mike Weir Estate Winery in 2005 in Canada’s Niagara Region, where he grew up. Weir’s first vintage was a 2007 Cabernet Merlot and he produced a range of wines in the years to come before the business was placed under administration in 2019.
Jan Stephenson
Aussie golfer Jan Stephenson won 16 times on the LPGA Tour, including three Major Championships. She produces a full range of reds and whites and even has a selection of three fruity (passion fruit, mango and pineapple) rums available.
Other golfing greats who have lent their names to wines, but weren’t quite as actively involved in the production, include Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Nick Faldo.
– This article first appeared in the June 2023 issue of Compleat Golfer magazine.
