Goes well with hearty meat dishes with lamb, beef or game.

Big Easy, is the nickname of golf pro and Tiger Woods conqueror Ernie Els. His top restaurant in Stellenbosch also bears the same name. The “Big Easy” wine aged in French and American oak barrels has been offered there and only there since it opened in 2008. The strong wine became so popular that Ernie Els decided to make it known far beyond the borders of South Africa. The Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault and Viognier grape varieties come from selected vineyard plots on the Helderberg in the Stellenbosch appellation. The typical Helderberg soils provide a rich mid-palate weight, which gives the wine exceptional depth and fruitiness. The altitude of around 250 meters above sea level and the cooling effect of the Atlantic Ocean, which is only 15 kilometers away, extend the ripening period by up to 3 weeks, which results in a beautiful phenolic ripeness. The grapes were harvested early in the morning, when temperatures are coolest, before they were destemmed and visually sorted. Shiraz was partly fermented as a whole grape to support the complexity of the taste. The remaining whole berries were then fermented in open tanks and terracotta amphoras, which were regularly pumped or stabbed to obtain a harmonious balance between color, flavor, and tannin extract from the skins. During the entire fermentation process, care was taken to preserve the natural aromas and flavors and to highlight them when necessary. After the first fermentation, a longer maceration took place in some vessels. Each variety was aged independently in oak barrels or amphorae, a process known as micro-vinification, before blending and bottling took place.

Allergy information: Contains sulfites