Change of ownership at Eagles’ Nest Wines
By Christian Eedes, 12 September 2022
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Constantia property Eagles’ Nest was planted to vineyard by the Mylrea family after wildfires in 2000 destroyed the pine forests that previously stood there. A cellar was built in time for the 2008 harvest with Stuart Botha, now of Tokara, in charge.
Now the German family-owned Elleke Group, via their South African company Elleke Harvest & Hospitality, has acquired Eagles’ Nest. An active investor in South Africa for the past twenty years, the Elleke Group’s South African investments includes businesses in agriculture, thoroughbred horse stud farming and hospitality, as well as a property portfolio including commercial, industrial and high-end residential properties in Constantia.
Craig Barnard, formerly at Cavalli in Stellenbosch, joined as winemaker in January of this year.
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Edi James | 16 July 2023
Elleke Hospitality (Pty) Ltd has also bought Ridgeback Wines in August 2022 and posted the following message on their website.
“Dear Customer
Please note that The Deck Restaurant at Ridgeback has been permanently closed and will not open again. Our Ridgeback Tasting Room is still fully operational and is open from Wed – Sun . Please see our tasting room section for opening hours and more information. We look forward to welcoming you at the Ridgeback Tasting Room
-Ridgeback Team”
Edi James | 16 July 2023
I tasted at Klein Constantia today. My server used to work at Eagles Nest. He was told the tasting room and sales were to be completely shut down in SA. Wine will be focused mostly on Shiraz in the future and exclusively for the export market.
Ralph | 6 June 2023
The fields lie fallow and weeds grow , the vineyards are gone . Fine wine grew here and the Germans make obscure excuses. Maybe it an opportunity for low cost housing. Much needed in the area . Just look how Hout Bay worked
Jacques | 22 May 2023
Strange that in January there were still plans to keep the vineyard in operation and then do a u turn to close the farm and retrench all the workers in June. If the owner wanted to build a mansion in Constantia surely they could have purchase another piece of property and keep eagles nest operational.
So easy for foreigners to shut a business in our country and add more hard working South Africans to the unemployed list.
Schalk Burger | 23 May 2023
Hi Jacques, so will the wine farming operations be ceased? That is sad news indeed, Eagle’s Nest wines have been consistently superb. A great loss to the industry if that’s the case.
Christian Eedes | 24 May 2023
Official comment from Eagles’ Nest as follows: “Eagles’ Nest is in the process of re-visioning and finalising its strategy for the future.
Once this has been agreed upon and communicated to all employees, Eagles’ Nest Wines will communicate directly with the public in the media and on social media.
Elleke Harvest and Hospitality will continue Eagles’ Nest’s tradition of fine wines but also look to improve brand equity in the export markets in which it trades.
The Constantia Valley has a critical contribution to make to the South African Wine Industry and now, with the vision and drive of its new owner, will look to secure its place among the great wine producing regions of the world.”