You watch them on TV, you see them in the movies, you listen to their music on the radio, you dazzle at their athletic ability, be it on the field, on ice, in a race car, or on the links, you even dine in their restaurants. Now, you are able to share something else right along with your favorite actor, actress, athlete, chef or musician. Wine!
In the past decade, the famous and newly rich have invaded the once sacred grounds, as in vineyards, and have either plunged into, own, purchased, have become involved in or lent their names, faces and celebrity into the world of fine wine. From every realm of the entertainment industry, celebrity wines have become a hot ticket in wine establishments across the globe. This month, lets take a look at the flood of wines available and those media darlings who are branching out their star status and venturing into a second career.
Media stars entering the business side of wine do so for a variety of reasons. Some have a passion and love for the fine wine and have expendable amounts of money to bring a label of their own fruition. Some lend only their name or image to a project as a means to expand or exploit their current fan base. Still others who have no say in the matter, re: dead celebrities, are a marketing tool that generates sizeable revenue for those who own the rights to their image.
In the never ending world of celebrity gossip, be it in the dozens of tabloid rag magazines or the media hungry rumor filled television shows that hound and exploit the most trivial of nonsense about a particular star, there is a huge appetite from rabid fans who feel that they need to be part of their favorite celebrity. Some stars lend their endorsement only for the money, while others, like those who jump full throttle into the grape biz are much more serious about their involvement. As well they should be. With their reputations on the line, they certainly want to deliver to their adoring public nothing less than a quality product..
Though many of the most recognizable names and faces you see on labels today are relatively new to the marketplace, a select few were actually visionaries well before the wine boom of the 1980's. Fred McMurray of My three Sons fame, Fess Parker who portrayed Davey Crockett, Tom Smothers of the comedy duo The Smothers Brothers, and film director Francis Ford Coppola were a few of the first who saw enormous potential by investing in the world of wine. Each has gone on to build brands that have become highly successful making them well, respected in the wine community and most importantly, have left an impressive imprint on our wine palates over the years and continue to do so to this day.
In the category of the actors and actresses who have ventured into the wine business, the names read like a who's who of Hollywood. Frenchman Geratd Depardieu has projects in France, Argentina, Morocco and Spain. Raymond Burr, Lorraine Bracco from the Soprano's, Dan Aykroyd, Sam Neill, Bond Girl Carole Bouquet, and Jackie Chan are a few who have ties to the business. Alex Trebek of Jeopardy fame, Walt Disney's daughter Diane Miller, and Virgin Atlantic president and adventurer Richard Branson also have their own label of fine wines.
The music industry is well represented in our poll of celebrity winemakers. Vince Neil of Motley Crue fame, Bob Dylan who produces an Italian Montepulciano, the Australian wine line Koala Blue produced by Olivia Newton John, from Tuscany a project from Police vocalist Sting, Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac and Barry Manilow. Carlos Santana has teamed up with Mumm to produce a sparkling wine, Bruce Cohn manager of the Doobie Brothers created B R Cohn Vineyards, and the Madonna line from Michigan wines from her father tony Ciccone.
Celebrity Cellars out of California also has a specialty line of wines representing superstars of the music industry. They include Kiss, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Madonna. They are quite expensive and only display an iconic image of the bands logo's as it's label. This product I'm sure is for serious collectors only....of the bands, not of fine wine I'm sure.
Who better to know about wine than celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali. Each has a line of wines out that bear their name. With the current trend of matching food and wine, you best believe this pair had better deliver a quality quaff. I have yet to taste any of their wines but have heard nothing but good things about their products.
Probably the most star studded field of celebrities and some of the finest wines in the world today come from people in the sports industry. From golf to tennis, hockey to basketball, football to auto racing, even figure skating being represented. Their products range from the sublime to top echelon, value based to upper tier, and all points in between.
The golfing world, with multi-million dollar winning prize purses being awarded on a weekly basis, is an industry that oozes luxury and the better things in life, such as fine wine. No wonder so many of its stars athletes have interests in the world of fine wine. From South Africa Ernie Els and David Frost, Canadian Mike Weir, Aussie Greg Norman, Brit Nick Flado, and our own Arnold Palmer.
From the world of football, quarterback legend Joe Montana along with Beringer winemaker Ed Sbragia collaborate to make a great cabernet called Montagia. Also, Chicago Bears legendary player / coach Mike Ditka has his own line of wine. Figure skater Peggy Fleming along with her husband make an impressive bottling. you will also find Tennis great Lleyton Hewitt and basketball Hall of Famer Larry Bird with labels of their own. Racing legends Mario Andretti and Jeff Gordon and hockey greats Wayne Gretzky and Igor Larionov produce an number of excellent examples that glorify the grape to star status.
Though they do not have their own line of wines to this point, baseball great Tom Seaver and football legend John Madden both have invested interest in vineyards of their own in California. Many of the grapes from their respected holdings are supplied to and blended into some of the finest wines produced by some of the biggest names in the industry.
Last but not least, we respectfully honor our category of dead celebrity wines. These particular celebrity brands are without a doubt the largest selling and most collected brands on the planet. Though their initial selling price is relatively inexpensive, over the years older vintages of these wines have skyrocket in price and sought out by collectors world wide. Graceland cellars produces the Elvis line that includes a cabernet, merlot and chardonnay. Former Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia is represented by a line called J Garcia that provides fans and wine lovers with a great tasting series.
The most celebrated and highly prized of all has to be the Marilyn Monroe inspired bottling, Marilyn Merlot. Fans flock to be the first to purchase each new release with a different photo likeness of Marilyn on the bottle. Still available and most highly sought after is the 20th Anniversary magnum that displays the original 1954 Playboy centerfold (though discreetly covered) on it's label. Internet and auction prices have steadily climbed for this collectable but we at Champane's Wine Cellars still have a few available for purchase, well below prices you would pay anywhere else. Please inquire on your next visit and remember, Christmas is right around the corner.
Special mention should be given to a couple other celebrity products, though not wine, that appear on store shelves. Actor Danny Devito has just brought to market his new Lemoncello liquor that is produced in Italy. Also, the highly rated and ultra popular Cabo Wabo Tequila produced by rock star Sammy Hagar.
Many of the wines listed above have large production and distribution, making them readily available. Others are in very limited production thus harder to find. Many have no distributor in this state at this time so the only way to get them are through an Internet web site or from the winery itself.
Now that we have listed the superstars and their wines, what remains is the question: Are these wines any good? To be honest, some I purchase on a regular basis, others you couldn't turn me into a "Material Boy" or pay me to try again. But as in all things in the world, its all a matter of taste. Some you may want to buy for the name and its collect ability, others because they represent an excellent example of wine at its finest. What've the reason, spend your wine dollars wisely because in the end, you may be only making your favorite celebrity richer and not wiser.
C
As the saying goes "When in Rome", well actually for me its "When in Pittsburgh". It may not be exactly Italy but the comfortable experience just as romantic at a newly opened bistro and wine bar in Pittsburgh, PA. After years of planning and remodeling with friends and principal owners Kip and Holly Zuback, Champane's Wine cellars own Wine Director has brought a new concept to the wine starved Steel city in the form of Bacchus Bistro & Wine Bar .
