Els and winemaker Jean Engelbrecht established Engelbrecht Els Vineyards in 1999 and opened a cellar on the slopes of the Helderberg near Stellenbosch five years later.
The collaboration led a new South African drive into wine markets in the United States, and tourists flocked to their Stellenbosch restaurants - The Big Easy and Guardian Peak.
Engelbrecht was spotted roaring between wine estates in Els's Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.
But the business venture is now over. Stellenbosch tycoon Johann Rupert, chairman of Els's holding company, said: "Ernie will be the sole shareholder when the deal is finalised . Ernie will own 100% of Ernie Els Wines."
Despite talk in wine circles of a rift between Els and Engelbrecht, Rupert said the two "have always been and will always remain the best of friends".
Rupert added that Ernie Els branded wines would not be taken off the market.
Industry expert Neil Pendock said Ernie Els Wines had been integral in raising the profile of South African wines globally, and that the split could have far-reaching effects.
"The fine wine market in South Africa has hit a brick wall. People just aren't paying hundreds of rands for bottles of wine. So it's of great importance to expand overseas, especially to the United States," he said.
According to Pendock, the majority of South African wine is currently supplied to the United Kingdom, at R15 a litre. "This is nothing. We need to raise the profile of local products, and one way of doing that is celebrity wine."
Els, his wife Liezl, and children Samantha and Ben, are based at Wentworth Estate in the south of England. He also owns property in South Africa and the United States. In May, he moved up to sixth spot on golf's latest world rankings list.
Engelbrecht is the son of former Springbok turned winemaker Jannie Engelbrecht and beauty queen Ellen. He also runs wine farm Rust en Vrede.
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