While promoting the Regal Wine Club in Napa this past week. I came across many famous names of Actors, Race Car Drivers, and sports stars now in the wine business. Everyone knows that many celebrities like to see their names plastered everywhere and at first glance I thought that would be the case with most....But....I was wrong. Sure there are some famous people who own vineyards/wineries for investment purposes (although you've all heard this one before I'm sure but I'll repeat it anyhow..."How do you make a small fortune in the wine industry? You start with a large fortune").
So, I thought I would do a bit of research and come up with a list of Winemakers/Winery owners whom made their mark in their previous life...that is before wine, doing something else.
Francis Ford Coppola, Film Director & Producer of great movies like The Godfather, Patton, Apocalypse Now, The Outsiders, & the list could go on and on. He used some proceeds from the original Godfather film to purchase a vineyard in Rutherford, Ca. and a few years later he bought the former Inglenook winery Chateau and renamed it the Rubicon Estate Winery. He also owns the Francis Ford Coppola Winery near Geyserville, Ca. Many of the wines like his films are produced with magnificent results!
Raymond Burr, the late actor most famous for his role as Perry Mason and Ironside had a real passion for wine. He cultivated Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Port grapes on his land in Sonoma, Ca. After his death, the property was renamed Raymond Burr Vineyards.
Emilio Estevez, famous actor & director lives in the Malibu Hills in a Spanish Style House surrounded by Vines. He uses the time spent tending his vines to "Escape" from the pressures of Hollywood and to find inspiration for his screen writing. Emilio and his wife Sonja Magdevski run their winery called Casa Dumetz. The wine can be tasted at a quaint tasting room in Los Alamos, Ca.
Gérard Depardieu, the famous French actor (when telling Wine Tales how could I possibly leave out the french) best know for his role as Cyrano de Bergerac produces some great wines from Loire Valley in France as well as from many other vineyards he owns around the globe.
Wayne Gretzky, The famous Hockey player known as the "Great One' produces some "Great" wines from his winery in the wine regions of Canada.
Jeff Gordon, Race car driver. Works with August Briggs winery to produce some exceptional wines for his Jeff Gordon Cellars Label.
Speaking of race car drivers.... Let me change that to Race Car Legends...Mario Andretti, arguably the most famous Race car driver of all time is also a legend in the wine industry. In 1996 Mario and his long time friend Joe Antonini (former K-Mart CEO) founded the Andretti Winery(Insert shameless plug here..Regal Wine Club Members enjoy special privileges at Andretti)in Napa California. The winery is dedicated to celebrating the Italian Lifestyle and the fine wines produced by Andretti are Champions like the legend Mario himself.
Golfing Master Greg Norman has not only mastered the game of golf but he has also taken the wine industry by storm with his wonderful wines. Produced in California and Australia.
Other famous wine folks are: Dan Aykroyd, Antonio Banderas, Drew Barrymore, Mario Batali, Mike Ditka, Fergie, Dan Marino, Dave Matthews, Joe Montana, Vince Neil, Olivia Newton John, Arnold Palmer, Nancy Pelosi (Politician-Vineyard Owner), Jason Priestley, Boz Scraggs, and Cliff Richard.
This list could go on and on forever but I must get back to the task at hand...Wine!
Until Next Time....Keep a Corkscrew handy and a glass on the ready!
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