Perfect Pairings

Golf. Stand-up paddle boards. Wine. Davis Love III is a man of diverse interests – all of which reflect the lifestyle here on our little island. Love was recently at Harris-Teeter signing bottles of his new wine, Alédru, and took some time to chat with EIL about his new wine

venture.

And just how did the 2-time Ryder Cup Team USA captain get into the wine business? As Davis tells the story, one of his friends was having dinner at Sea Island and got a bottle of Sea Island wine with a picture of Davis and his father on the label. The friend later told Davis that he got a bottle of “his” wine at dinner. Davis replied that he had nothing to do with the wine, explaining that was Sea Island’s own brand. The friend said, “You ought to bottle your own!” After giving that idea some thought, Davis contacted Craig Entwistle, a man he’s been friends with since 8th grade.

It just so happens that Craig and his brother Stuart operate Val du Charron, a winery they purchased in South Africa’s Wellington region, the heart of the Western Cape Winelands. According to Craig, the original Val du Charron farm was deeded to Pieter Erasmus in 1699 and the first wines were bottled on the property in 1702. The Entwistles purchased the farm in 2006, which encompasses 64-acres of vineyard, a winery, a 10-acre olive grove, and a bed-andbreakfast guesthouse. Val du Charron was named 2012 Exporter of the Year by the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry – an incredible honor. They’d be a perfect partner to help Davis produce and bottle high-quality wine.

When they were deciding on a name for the wine, Davis, Robin, and Craig were in discussion with PR and marketing specialist Mary Butin. They had rejected name after name for months. One day in general conversation, they mentioned the name of the road where the Loves’ house is located: Alédru. The name of that street came from merging the Love children’s names: Alexia and Dru (which is an abbreviation for quadruple, since Dru is Davis Love IV). Mary immediately said “That’s it!” When Robin and Davis looked at her in confusion, Mary explained, “That’s the name for your wine! Alédru.” It was perfect.

The Alédru label has had a limited U.S. release. Currently there are two wines available: Red Blend 2013 and Chardonnay 2015. The red blend is an elegantly complex wine with cassis, blueberry, blackberry, cherry, dried herb, cinnamon, and hits of cigar and leather aromas. It was fermented in stainless steel and aged for 12 months in French and American oak. The Chardonnay is a refreshingly crisp wine that was fermented primarily in stainless steel, and has a modernChablis style with a smooth, rich taste profile of honeyed and tropical peach flavors. Wine can be purchased locally at Harris-Teeter, and proceeds from sales go directly to the Love Foundation, which supports local charities.