Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/551222
august 2015 / the tasting panel / 61 The wine industry, however, floundered under Dutch control, and it wasn't until the mid-19th century that wine production skyrocketed under the British invasion of the Cape. At its height, some six million bottles of wine were being produced annually. By 1861, conflicts between the British and French resolved, however, and in 1886 phylloxera had infiltrated the Cape; these two incidents led to the widespread decimation of the wine industry in South Africa. In 1918, the creation of a major cooperative called the Ko-operatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid- Afrika Beperkt (KWV) ushered in an era of regulation of production and prices, bringing stability, which ultimately set South African wine production on the road to success. In 2009, the country celebrated 350 years of wine- making, which is ironic given that we consider Africa a New World wine region. However it's sliced up, today's South African winemakers are rooted in tradition and driven by innovation—two ingredients that get Bill Terlato's wine swirling. Looking to make a mark in both the luxury and quality categories, Terlato Wines is focused on becoming a leading importer of the best wines South Africa has to offer. "We saw significant quality potential in many of the South African wines we tasted," says Bill Terlato, CEO of Terlato Wines. "In addition, we anticipated that consumers were open to exploring and discovering new wine regions." Ask Terlato what impresses him most about South Africa and you'll be regaled with stories of the country's geography: ancient soils, tower- ing mountains that slope into deep valleys, rich biodiversity and a place home to over 9,600 plant species. Add to that a Mediterranean climate with its warm summers, cool winters, ocean breezes and plantings of nearly every red and white grape variety you can list. Terlato has spent the better part of a decade seeking out a select group of wines that the company believes has given it a solid base of unique offerings that are ideal for consumers looking to experiment—looking beyond the norm. "Today, our South African wines from Ernie Els, Rust en Vrede, Guardian Peak and Anthonij Rupert—including Protea—are consistently growing in restaurant distri- bution and sales volume in the U.S.," says Terlato. Map data © Cosmographics Ltd. UK., 2015. Stellenbosch Paarl Botrivier Grabouw Strand Khayelitsha Kuilsrivier Parow Claremont Hout Bay Wynberg Muizenberg Milnerton Bloubergstrand Melkbosstrand Brackenfell Kraaifontein Blue Downs Airport Durbanville Mitchells Plain Somerset West Caledon Hermanus Kleinmond Betty's Bay Pringle Bay Wellington Cape Town Swartland Wellington Breedekloof Tygerberg Stellenbosch Cape Point Paarl Elgin Franschhoek Valley Overberg Overberg Walker Bay COASTAL REGION BREEDE RIVER VALLEY CAPE SOUTH COAST Theewaterskloof Dam D ieprivier B er g r i v i e r Robben Island Table Mountain Cape of Good Hope F a l s e B a y A t l a n t i c O c e a n Table Bay 500 500 500 500 500 1000 1000 1000 3000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 2000 2000 2000 3000 3000 2000 3000 500 500 1000 WEST CAPE 0 0 5 10 15 kilometers 5 10 15 miles Wine of Origin region Wine of Origin district Local winery Place of interest Contours (heights in feet) COASTAL REGION Swartland Pretoria Rust en Vrede Protea Ernie Els Anthonij Rupert Guardian Peak 1652 The Dutch East India Company (DEIC) set up a refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope under the command of Jan van Riebeeck. N7 N7 R27 N1 N1 N2 N2 N2 R300 M5 M7 R310 R44 R44 R43 R43 R43 R44 R45 M3 S O U T H A F R I C A Els decided to set down some roots of his own, and in 1999 founded Ernie Els Wines, a 178-acre winery and prop- erty in the Stellenbosch appellation on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains. In 2000, with the help of award- winning winemaker Louis Strydom, the first grapes were crushed for the inaugural vintage of Ernie Els Signature, a classic Bordeaux-style blend. The winery offers an array of wine varietals and blends at multiple price points. Look out for Ernie Els 2013 Big Easy Red ($19.99), a juicy gem boasting of ripe purple and red fruits, red floral character, mocha and espresso notes. And also the Ernie Els 2014 Big Easy White ($16.99), made from Chenin Blanc, in a classic example of this grape from South Africa with approachable flavors and a soft, round texture. Lastly, buyers with clients seeking something special should look to the Ernie Els 2011 Signature ($96), a Bordeaux blend with notes of candied orange and dark olives. Intense with towering structure, crunchy tannins and pure fruit, all solidified by fine yet spicy oak. Ernie also focuses his time on the Els for Autism Foundation, which was established in 2009 by Ernie and his wife Liezl Els to focus on the issue of autism. The Els' son Ben is severely touched by the disorder and for the last six years, the world-class pro golfer and his wife have devoted their efforts to a catalytic philanthropic project, The Els Center for Excellence, which broke ground in 2014. Terlato Wines proudly sup- ports Els for Autism with every bottle sold. Golf champion Ernie Els, otherwise known as "The Big Easy" for his stature and seemingly effortless golf swing, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1969. By 1989, at just 20 years of age, he turned professional golfer. Through his many travels around the globe, Ernie had been exposed to and appreciated some of the world's greatest wines and he developed a great passion for fine wine. Ernie Els