For some time now, golf superstars have been cultivating the craft of making wine in addition to practicing the perfect swing. In this process, golfers like Annika Sorenstam (ANNIKA Vineyards), Arnold Palmer (Arnold Palmer Wines), Greg Norman (Greg Norman Estates), and Ernie Els (Ernie Els Winery) have found that the attributes that make an unforgettable bottle of wine also make a championship golf course. Listed below are wines made by the famous golfers, which have also been paired with the world’s most revered golf courses.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM, who is one of the world’s most celebrated golfers with 89 international championship wins, has produced a classic California style Chardonnay under her new wine label ANNIKA Vineyards. Her 2008 Chardonnay is smooth, but full-bodied, and pairs excellently with the Augusta National Golf Course. With the Augusta’s famous holes named for the trees and shrubs that can be spotted on the course. Like the Flowering Peach, Magnolia, and Azalea, the course is smooth and sweet. The course is also an undisputed challenge with a rich finish just like Annika’s Chardonnay.
ARNOLD PALMER has produced a 2007 Arnold Palmer Cabernet Sauvignon. This elegant and complex Cabernet Sauvignon pairs perfectly with The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. The Old Course is one of the most elegant, intricate, and difficult courses in the world. Its greatness, like the Cabernet Sauvignon, comes from its purity, and complexity.
GREG NORMAN has produced a 2007 Greg Norman Estates Limestone Coast Shiraz. This balanced, soft, and even textured wine is the perfect match to the Royal County Down course in Northern Ireland. The course, like the Shiraz, is even, balanced, and well textured, with immaculately polished greens, and is considered to be the best maintained course in the world.
ERNIE ELS has created a 2006 Guardian Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch. This wine has a wonderful length without being overly powerful, much like the Pine Valley Golf Club. Pine Valley is praised for the consistent level of challenge and conditioning on each hole. It is, like the wine, a full and demanding course, but not overly so. Just enough to be pleasurable.
ANNIKA • CHARDONNAY 2008 • LIVERMORE VALLEY
This Chardonnay exhibits classic aromas of apple and pear along with honey and graham. Malolactic fermentation and battonage, the stirring of the lees, introduces a yeasty, leafy characteristic to the wine. Intense citrus flavors fill your mouth, followed by a subtle toasty vanilla and ground spice flavor from the barrel aging. The wine finishes with a long, rich and lush finish.
VINEYARD The Chardonnay was harvested from the Ranch 4 block on the Livermore Valley estate. These particular vineyards are known for their outstanding fruit and production consistency, making them the optimal selection for the Annika Chardonnay.
FERMENTATION After being handpicked, these Chardonnay grapes were hand sorted at the winery, then gently pressed and barrel-fermented in French, American, Eastern European and neutral oak. A long, cool fermentation allows for the retention of the fruit flavors and beautiful integration of the flavors from the oak.
AGING The Chardonnay was aged in a combination of French, American, Eastern European and neutral oak for 17 months.
PRODUCTION 221 cases
