A VISIT TO VAL DE VIE

Where the Living is EASy

Inside the luxurious VAl DE VIE EStAtE

South Africa’s leading residential estate encapsulates luxury and comfortable family living in the picturesque Paarl-Franschhoek Valley. Dating back to 1783, the one-of-a-kind Val de Vie is rich in history and forms part of a larger World Heritage Site.

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Modelled on French Provençal and Cape vernacular styles, val de vie’s homes portray the allure of the estate’s rich history, while offering residents world-class modern living. Just some of its many appealing characteristics include elegant housing, expansive lakes, vineyards, lush polo fields, farms and beautifully landscaped gardens.

Surrounded by 360-degree panoramic views and spanning 917 hectares, residents can enjoy their world-famous Pearl valley Jack nicklaus Signature golf course, pristine polo fields, stateof-the-art lifestyle centres, the L’Huguenot wine cellar, Fleet coffee roastery, Deli, equestrian centres, tennis courts, cricket nets, soccer fields, play parks, a boma on the banks of the Berg River and 42 km of hiking, running and cycling trails. Does it get any better?

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As the name implies, the Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course bears the stamp of the world’s preeminent golf course designer. South Africa’s Top 100 Golf Courses, the definitive golf course ranking, placed the Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course as the second-best in the country for 2021.

When Nicklaus opened the course in 2003, he said, “Surrounded by mountains, this is one of the most spectacular settings in which I have designed a golf course.” It was not only an endorsement but touched on the visual pleasure that adds immeasurably to how golfers experience the game. Beyond the greens and landscaping, areas of natural fynbos and lakes, the Simonsberg creates a photoperfect backdrop. The top-ranked course also presents a unique ‘personality’ from the climate in the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley, to the flow and position of its greens.

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Bottled in a 180-year old cellar, Val de Vie’s vintages inspire occasions around celebrating life in a world-class environment. The L’Huguenot Venue & Vinoteque is home to the estate’s exclusive Val de Vie and Polo Club ranges. Inspired by the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley (or The Valley of Life as they like to call it), this is the estate’s inspiration for producing wines of the highest quality. The ideal climate and blend of cool and warm winds have played a prominent role in the production of wines since the 1600s when French Huguenot descendants brought their sound viticulture knowledge to the region.

The L’Huguenot Vinoteque is home to their exclusive Val de Vie and Polo Club ranges. The Val de Vie collection consists of sophisticated, timeless blends such as the Signature red blend ‘Valley of Life’ and the Premium red blend ‘Ryk Neethling’ as well as the ‘Cuvée de Vie’ MCC. Val de Vie’s premium Chenin Blanc launched in December 2018, is labeled ‘The Perfect Host’. Val de Vie’s Polo Club range of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay/Pinot Noir and Merlot perfectly complement the Val de Vie Estate lifestyle.

A luxury wellness estate unlike any other, Val de Vie Estate offers countless ways to enjoy an active and diverse lifestyle. At Val de Vie Estate, peace of mind is priceless and the estate provides a safe and secure place for residents to call home. To find out more about this luxury estate, visit www.valdevie.co.za to find out more.

‘The Val de Vie collection consists of sophisticated, timeless blends’

The Mystery Block Cabernet Sauvignon

‘By that time, the soil will have REStED sufficiently and REStoRED itself for us to REplAnt our special, unIquE clone back into our soils’

Due to the fact that Cabernet Sauvignon is such a strong focus of Ernie Els Wines, the estate is currently growing 9 different clones of the variety on the property. These clones have been carefully selected and evaluated over the years for their quality as well as their suitability to the estate’s terroir.

Unfortunately, the oldest block on the property has become infected with the leafroll virus, which is quite common in South Africa. “We do not know the exact age of this block, or even what particular clone it is, but we estimate it to have been planted around 1993. It is therefore not an easy decision to make to remove the entire block, but it is an essential step in our vineyard rejuvenation programme,” says Viticulturist, Leander Koekemoer.

“We have been very impressed with the quality this block has given us over the years and have been fortunate to have had the guidance of the esteemed Professor Archer who assisted us in selecting a single vine within this block that stood out from the rest,” continues Leander.

A few years ago, shoots from this particular vine were sent to Vititec to undergo the process of eliminating the virus from this vine. “This process takes some time, but we are looking forward to 2023 when will be able to replant this same clone on the same site once more. By that time, the soil will have rested sufficiently and restored itself for us to replant our special, unique clone back into our soils,” says Leander.

If you’d like to learn more about the Ernie Els Wines Cabernet Sauvignon pop into the beautiful estate for a very memorable visit. Recent renovations have transformed the winery into somewhat of an iconic symbol of the Helderberg region. And, if you’d like to learn more about each wine or order online, visit www.ernieelswines.com.