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10 Celebrity Wine Makers In California

10 Celebrity Wine Makers In California

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You love a glass or five of wine while you’re watching “The Godfather,” while dancing to “Fergalicious,” or watching a NASCAR race, or sitting on the beach, or cooking. You don’t even need a reason. Celebrities know this, and some link their famous names to the glamorous-seeming endeavor of wine making. Here are 10 celebrity wine makers in California — actors, film makers, musicians, sportsmen, and politicians — who own wineries, wine labels, or vineyards in wine country.

Sources: greatwinenews.com, francisfordcoppolawinery.com, raymondburrvineyards.com, andrettiwinery.com, businessinsider.com, jeffgordon.com, arnoldpalmerwines.com, yaofamilywines.com

en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

Fergie

Otherwise known as Stacy Ann Ferguson, the popstar and actor established Ferguson Crest with her father Pat. Fergie’s wine-making operation is situated on six acres in Solvang overlooking Santa Ynez valley in the heart of Santa Barbara County. The brand includes two viogniers, a syrah, cabernet, and the “Fergalicious” blend, cultivated by expert winemaker Joey Tensley.

en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

Robin Williams

Besides an impressive legacy of side-splitting humor, the genius comedian also left behind a 635-acre estate on the road between Napa and Sonoma, 24 of those acres for growing grapes. Williams had put the estate up for sale just months before his death, claiming that he couldn’t afford it. Villa Soriso (Villa of Smiles) sold its cabernet franc, sauvignon, and merlot grapes to both the Rombauer winery and California winemaker Robert Craig.

zimbio.com
zimbio.com

Emilio Estevez and Sonja Magdevski

The former “Young Guns” star once had a small patch of pinot vines on his Malibu property. Since meeting his wife, Sonja Magdevski, the couple now owns Casa Dumetz in Los Alamos, Calif. Grenache and viognier are among the grapes pressed by Sonja, plucked from vines planted by Emilio.

en.wikipda.com
en.wikipda.com

Raymond Burr

Known for his roles in “Rear Window” and “Perry Mason,” late Hollywood actor owned Raymond Burr Vineyards in the middle of Dry Creek Valley. Established in 1986, Burr grew his favorite grape, the cabernet sauvignon. Today, the estate winemaker Phyllis Zouzounis hosts six different bottles there, including a port and a chardonnay.

Andretti_winery

Mario Andretti

The Italian-born race car driver ended his career in 1994, switching passions to wine making. The Andretti Winery opened in 1996 on Big Ranch Road in Napa. Winemaker Bob Pepi uses grapes grown onsite to make three different portfolios: Montona Reserve Series, Napa Valley Series, and Villa Andretti Series. Some of the bottles in the showroom on the 42-acre vineyard are imported from Italy.

http://www.yaofamilywines.com/people/
http://www.yaofamilywines.com/people/

Yao Ming

The world’s 31st-tallest person in the world, retired Chinese Houston Rockets basketball star Yao Ming and his family started Yao Family Wines in 2011 in Napa Valley. Their three wines — cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and petit verdot — sell well domestically and internationally, especially through Chinese distributor Pernod Richard.

en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

Nancy Pelosi

Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives and 12th District California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s first huge financial backer was E & J Gallo Winery, which produces more than a quarter of America’s wine. She and husband Paul own two wineries, Zinfandel Lane Vineyard in St. Helena, and Skellenger Lane Vineyard in Napa.

en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

Jeff Gordon

Four-time NASCAR Cup Series racecar champ Jeff Gordon is a Northern California native, and while he does not own a winery plot, he created Jeff Gordon Cellars in 2004. Boutique winemakers August “Joe” Briggs and Jesse Inman use grapes from select Napa and Sonoma Valley vines to create the Jeff Gordon Collection at a cellar in Sepastopol, Calif.

golf.com
golf.com

Arnold Palmer

Not just known for iced tea and lemonade in the same glass, the iconic American golfer and businessman has his own Arnold Palmer Wines label, the result of a collaboration with Luna Vineyards in Napa. Together with winemaker Michael Moone, Palmer has created reasonably priced bottles from chardonnay and cabernet grapes.

en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

The Coppolas

An offer you can’t refuse, for sure. The wine brand Francis Ford Coppola Presents is, of course, an homage to decades of family film making. Nine different labels stem from the family winery in Geyserville, Sonoma County. Russian River Valley-Dutton Ranch pinot noir and Dry Creek Valley-Wallace Creek syrah are some wines that can be tasted on the grounds. As the Italian-American family is quite expansive, there’s also the Sofia sparkling wines in honor of Francis’s director daughter, and three different kinds of Gia Coppola wines, created by Francis’s granddaughter.