Which celebrities make the best wine?

[Gifted Gourmet]

article from Slate Magazine

the vineyards are crawling with celebrities nowadays. Sofia Coppola, Sting, Olivia Newton John, Ernie Els, Lleyton Hewitt, Bob Dylan, former Bond girl Carole Bouquet (what a name for a winemaker!), and Emeril Lagasse are among the bold-faced names who have recently started hawking their own wines or associated themselves with existing wineries....  most celebrities putting out wines under their own names seem to be doing it for the right reason: They are interested in making good wines.

Some examples in this article and the descriptions include:

Niebaum-Coppola Cabernet Franc 2002, $44

Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon 2001, $100

Ernie Els 2001, $80

Greg Norman Limestone Coast Shiraz Cabernet 2001, $16

Greg Norman Limestone Coast Shiraz 2002, $16

Lys de Volan Condrieu 2003, $40

Emeril's Classics Chardonnay 2003, $10

Emeril's Classics Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, $10

Elvis Blue Suede Chardonnay 2001, Jailhouse Red Merlot 2002, Blue Christmas Cabernet 2002, $10 for the chardonnay and the merlot, $17 for the cabernet

J. Garcia Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, $17

Have you had occasion to try any of these wines? If so, what was your impression of the particular wine?

Do you think that adding a celebrity's name to a wine makes it more appealing?

interesting article, same subject, Detroit News

If you needed one more sign that baby boomers were nearing their golden years, here it is: Jerry Garcia wines are a sellout. If the Grateful Dead leader knew his songs and paintings were being used to flog chardonnay and cab, he'd be rocking and rolling in his grave. Or maybe he'll have the last laugh. I mean, what's in them? Can you say electric Kool-Aid Merlot test?

[winebabe]

Short answer: No

[mike volker]

Niebaum-Coppola ....can you say commercial???

Best

Mike

[Andre]

What! No Jackie Chan wines?

I mean the stuff is hot in Hong Kong big time!!!

[GordonCooks]

Niebaum-Coppola make great wines - I own some Rubicon and their Cask 23 Cabernet.

[ctgm]

Hear that Ernie Els is quite decent. Having said that you should be able to get it for neare $70 than $80.

And what about Cliff Richard's wine?

Edited February 17, 2005 by ctgm (log)

[Gifted Gourmet]

And what about Cliff Richard's wine?

←

article on Sir Richard's wine in Decanter.com

Generous and plentiful glasses of Richard's Vida Nova Rosé were served as an aperitif. At 14% proof this added to the festive atmosphere, as did the aroma of two pigs being spit-roast at the end of the terrace overlooking the vineyards.

Designed by Australian winery specialists Castle Rock Logistics, it uses the latest techniques – such as the company's patented mechanical plunger – for the gentlest possible handling of the fruit.

[winesonoma]

Also add Tommy Smothers, John Lassiter and Mario Andretti.

[DRColby]

How about Fess Parker? Is he still running arond in his coonskin cap or is he "all" wine maker now?

Dave

[endless autumn]

Vida Nova (SIR Cliff Richard's wine) is really quite nasty, but if you buy it, you can sell it to confused people on ebay who think that it is worth something.

The Ian Botham Aussie plonk is also poor, but I doubt he is heavily involved in the winemaking process.

[Brad Ballinger]

There is also Raymond Burr Vineyards. Had one of their wines one time. Nasty stuff.

[Coop]

What about PGA player David Frost? No greater authority then Maximum Golf (now defunct) magazine called him the best of the winemaking golfers. I have also seen him on TV in the cellar blending etc.

I'm not sure Greg Norman would even know where his cellar is. I think this guy is the world's biggest photo op. Take his picture in boots building a course, take his picture looking into a Riedel, take his picture under the bow of his mega yacht. Maybe I'm the only one growing weary of the Great White Minnow.

Not sure if Burr qualifies as a celeb. He is part of the terroir though.

Edited February 17, 2005 by Coop (log)

[2roost]

I've enjoyed most of the Neibaum-Coppola wines and many of Greg Norman's - I doubt if Greg has much to do with the production though. I believe Gerard Depardieu is involved in a couple of wine projects and actor Sam Neill is one of the pioneers in New Zealand's Central Otago region just to add a couple more.

Didn't Tony Blair buy a vineyard in Tuscany or was that just a rumour ?

[Coop]

I have to give some respect to Coppola and his family for trying to restore the former Inglenook and John Daniel legacy. I think people only remember the Inglenook Navalle jug wines. Anyone who ever visited the winery and or drank the reserve cask wines from the early 80's knows there was some history worth preserving.

[waves2ya]

I've enjoyed ... many of Greg Norman's... 

←

I'll second Norman's wine, especially the Cabernet Merlot.

In the minefield that are these clunky Aussie wines, his Merlot is less overwhelming, a great price and been predicable over a number of bottles.

[Gifted Gourmet]

How about Fess Parker?  Is he still running arond in his coonskin cap or is he "all" wine maker now?

←

article from SF Gate

where they filmed one of the funniest scenes in the new movie "Sideways" -- the one where Miles, played by Paul Giamatti, does something spectacularly uncouth with the tasting-room spit bucket. But the actor next to me is not Giamatti. He's Fess Parker, Davy Crockett himself ... "Frass Canyon" winery in "Sideways" is actually Fess Parker Winery, and sorting it all out is just part of the fun of a visit to the Santa Ynez Valley, the burgeoning wine region north of Santa Barbara.

Fess Parker Vineyards and Hotel .. not too shabby for a coonskin hat wearing retired actor ...

[CtznCane]

For whatever resason I haven't tried many of the Coppola wines. Had one once I recall and found it pleasant enough.

I haven't tried the Emeril wines, but Fetzer puts out a decent product so they are probably decent enough wines for their price point.

I may be wrong, but it seems like Tommy Smothers has pulled back the reins quite a bit wine wise. I know now he is alligned/partnered with someone else. The only place I found them to try was a wine shop (I'm sure Bruce knows the name) along highway 12 that was a co-op tasting room. I wasn't excited about those.

As for the Raymond Burr, I like their Cab Franc though it is usuallly so limitited it is hard to get other than by being in their wine club.

I'm very fond of the Fess Parker Pinot Noirs.

To toss out another winery along this vein there is Carmody-McKnight (Gary Carmody Coway) down in Paso Robles.

[MaxH]

...

Emeril's Classics Chardonnay 2003, $10

Emeril's Classics Cabernet Sauvignon 2001, $10

"Emeril" wines? God help us all. (But wait, they're "Classics.")

By the way to the interesting testimonials here let me mention -- not about wine but along the same line -- the comment posted elsewhere by someone who met a celebrity Chinese chef and asked him about the menu for the chain of semi-fast-food restaurants, which were then opening, bearing the chef's name. According to the comment, the chef affably said that he really had no idea of the menu, he had little to do with it all.

[Mnehrling]

I agree that Coppola makes some great wines. What wines does Sting have labeled? My wife will go nuts if I bring some home.

[clifford]

Niebaum-Coppola, IMHO, used to make great wines at various price points, but the Rubicon is the only one still good, but often not worth the money.

There is a screenwriter, Robert Kamen, who makes an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon

[winesonoma]

For whatever resason I haven't tried many of the Coppola wines.  Had one once I recall and found it pleasant enough. 

  I haven't tried the Emeril wines, but Fetzer puts out a decent product so they are probably decent enough wines for their price point.

  I may be wrong, but it seems like Tommy Smothers has pulled back the reins quite a bit wine wise.  I know now he is alligned/partnered with someone else.  The only place I found them to try was a wine shop (I'm sure Bruce knows the name) along highway 12 that was a co-op tasting room.  I wasn't excited about those.

  As for the Raymond Burr, I like their Cab Franc  though it is usuallly so limitited it is hard to get other than by being in their wine club.

  I'm very fond of the Fess Parker Pinot Noirs. 

    To toss out another winery along this vein there is Carmody-McKnight (Gary Carmody Coway) down in Paso Robles.

←

John Lassiter (Toy Story) uses the Smothers Winery to make his wine.

[LDLee]

Serndipitously, MSN recently posted an article on "Chateau Elvis: Which Celebrities Make the Best Wine".

[Gifted Gourmet]

Serndipitously, MSN recently posted an article on "Chateau Elvis: Which Celebrities Make the Best Wine".

←

Which is exactly what I used to open this thread ... See the very first line of the thread ...

click here

[LDLee]

Sorry.