Neil Ellis - an internationally renowned family business

Neil Ellis is one of the most important personalities in the wine industry. In the 1980s he began to produce his own wines - at that time still in the rented wine cellar and with grapes that did not come from his own vineyard. A lot has changed since then, the one-man business has grown over the last four decades into an internationally renowned family business known for its exceptionally elegant wines. Meanwhile the three children of Neil and Stephanie Ellis are working on the success of the winery: His son Warren is responsible for the production of the wines, his brother Charl for the finances and his sister Margot for the marketing. But one thing has remained the same: The pursuit of quality and the vision to create distinctive wines that reflect their terroir and are among the best in South Africa.

Neil Ellis focuses on the vineyards

Early on, Neil Ellis extended his quality standards from the cellar to the vineyards - the winery was the first to select the location of the vines - and still today focuses on the growing areas located in Jonkershoek, Elgin, Groenekloof and Piekenierskloof. Each of them has its own profile due to the climate and the nature of the soil. The different wine collections also have their own styles. The Neil Ellis Family Range with the Aenigma Red offers uncomplicated enjoyment and the unmistakable creations of the Regional Range demonstrate the entire expertise of the winery. The wines of the Terrain Specific Range reflect the peculiarities of each vineyard and stand for the finest quality. The flagship of the winery is the Webb Ellis, a refined blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. The red wine pays homage to the history of the winery: it combines the names Ellis and Webb, the maiden name of Stephanie Ellis, and recalls the career of Neil Ellis. The blend is also a symbol that experience and knowledge are passed down from generation to generation and that traditional methods go hand in hand with new techniques and innovation. The high quality standards also apply to sustainable cultivation and environmental protection. The Neil Ellis team, for example, promotes the growth of native vegetation and reduces the winery's energy consumption and greenhouse emissions.

Wide range of tastings in Neil Ellis Tasting Room

In the ambience of modern industrial design, visitors to the Tasting Room can experience the variety of wines for themselves and choose between various tasting options. In the "Single Vineyard Tasting", for example, five wines from individual vineyards will be tasted, and photos will provide interesting information about the soils so that guests can get a feel for the terroir of the wines. The "Regional Tasting" presents the two largest wine-growing regions on the basis of five wines. The "Pesto and Wine Play" is something very special. Here visitors can try out for themselves which of the four pesto variations tastes best with which wine. For those who like it very special, there is a special tasting (registration in advance is required) in the Vinoteque where they can enjoy the best drops of old vintages.