Neil Ellis Wines

Winery Description

Location and History

In 1984, Neil Ellis began producing wine using grapes from vineyards that were not his own, utilising rented cellar space. These grapes, carefully selected from the Stellenbosch district, were acquired by meticulously navigating the restrictive quota system prevalent at the time.

Wines require varying soil, climatic, and topographical conditions. Since no single vineyard can fulfill the needs of all grape varieties, Neil Ellis selects vineyards where each variety can best express its unique style, reflecting its specific environment.

The vision of Neil Ellis Wines remains focused on crafting distinctive, refined wines that express the character of their terrain and rank among South Africa's finest. The pursuit of quality is paramount. Vineyard sites include those in Stellenbosch, Groenekoof, Elgin, and Piekenierskloof, offering diverse altitudes, climates, and soil types, yielding expressive, terroir-driven fruit.

The core philosophy of Neil Ellis Wines centres on cultivating exceptional grapes, collaborating with the best growers, and applying minimal intervention to create exciting wines with a strong sense of place. Visitors are invited to taste these wines at the Stellenbosch Tasting Room, just five minutes from the historic town's centre.

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Wine Tasting

Neil Ellis Wine Tasting offers two distinct styles that underpin their winemaking philosophy. Single vineyard and single block wines are celebrated for their unique site and sense of place, while wines sourced from other wards and districts represent the best that each region has to offer. Unique wine tastings of site-selected and single vineyard wines are available, with optional food platters to enhance the experience, served either inside the Tasting Room or outside on the terrace.

Tasting options include the Flagship Tasting, featuring five wines, the Regional Tasting, which includes four wines and the limited edition tasting, where three wines can be sampled by the glass. These wines can be accompanied by a cheese and charcuterie platter or seasonal dishes from the tasting menu to elevate the wine experience.