Sports

Golfers' Wines

Professional Golfers With Their Own Wine Labels

By Brent Kelley, About.com Guide

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Many professional golfers are wine aficionados, but some have taken the big step of getting directly involved in the wine business. That might mean launching their own vineyards to produce wine, or partnering with a vineyard to launch a private-label vintage. Below are some of the golfers who are producing their own wine labels. (Click the golfer's name to visit his label's Web site.)

Luke Donald

The Luke Donald Collection launched in 2008 with a Claret-style red wine blend. Donald-label wines originate in California's Napa Valley in the vineyards of the Terlato Wine Group, which partnered with Donald to produce the label. Donald's "personal involvement in the blending makes the wines original and unique," the Terlato Web site states.
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Ernie Els

Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images

With his friend and partner Jean Engelbrecht, Els formed Engelbrecht Els Vineyards in South Africa in 1999, and the first vintage was produced in 2000. Five Bordeaux varietals are produced under the Els label, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
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Nick Faldo

Photo courtesy of the PGA Tour

The Nick Faldo label is produced by Katnook Estate vineyards in Coonawarra, an Australian district noted for its red wines. The label was launched in 2000. According to the Katnook Web site, "The aim behind Faldo wines is to capture the essential characteristics of Coonawarra in a harmonious, early drinking, forward fruit style priced for regular enjoyment." Faldo wines include Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
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David Frost

A native of South Africa who won 11 times on the PGA Tour, Frost grew up in the wine business - his father owned a vineyard. Frost bought his own, 300-acre vineyard in 1994, the David Frost Wine Estate, and produced his first vintage in 1997. His label's offerings include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Par Excellence (a traditional red blend) and Shiraz.

Cristie Kerr

Photo by John Brown; used with permission

Cristie Kerr's "Curvature" wine label is a collaboration with Suzanne Pride Bryan, owner of Pride Mountain Vineyards in California's Napa Valley. Kerr has long been involved in raising awareness of and money for breast cancer research, and Bryan is a breast cancer survivor. Curvature wines are limited-production and proceeds go to breast cancer research. The inaugural wine on the label was a 2006 vintage that blended Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah.

Jack Nicklaus

The Jack Nicklaus Wines label is produced in partnership with Terlato Wines (which also produces the Luke Donald Collection) and debuted in 2010 with two 2007 vintages - a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Private Reserve Cabernet.
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Greg Norman

Valerie Macon / Getty Images

Greg Norman Estates wines are produced from vineyards the company owns in Australia and California. Greg's favorites include Lake County Zinfandel and Australian Reserve Shiraz. The Norman label offers a range of reds (including Cabernet Merlot and Pinot Noir); plus whites (Chardonnays) and sparkling wines.
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Arnold Palmer

Photo courtesy of the World Golf Hall of Fame; used with permission

The Arnold Palmer Wines label is produced in collaboration with Luna Vineyards. The first vintage appeared in 2005. "Arnold Palmer Wines will be targeted to high-end restaurants, resorts and wine shops around the country," the Web site notes. Arnold Palmer Wines include Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
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Gary Player

Gary Player, a k a the "Black Knight" due to the all-black attire he preferred during his golf career, has a wine label as part of his Black Knight Enterprises company. Not surprisingly, the label is named Black Knight Wine. Player's wines are produced by the Quoin Rock winery in the Stellenbosch winelands of South Africa. The label launched with the Muirfield 1959 vintage, part of the "Gary Player Major Championship Series" that is planned to included 18 vintages released over a 20-year period.

Annika Sorenstam

The Annika label is produced in partnership with Wente Vineyards, located in California's Livermore Valley. Sorenstam is known as an excellent home cook of gourmet meals, so expanding her brand into wine seems a natural step. The label's first effort, Annika Vineyards Syrah, launched in 2009.

Mike Weir

Canadian native and Masters champion Mike Weir launched Mike Weir Estate Winery in 2005 both to showcase Niagara Region wines, and as a way to raise money for the Mike Weir Foundation, a charity that assists "the many causes that support children in physical, emotional or financial need." Proceeds from sales of Weir's wines support the Weir Foundation. The first vintage was a 2007 Cabernet Merlot, and subsequent wines have included Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Sauvignon Blancs.