List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards

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New Zealand actor Sam Neill owns a winery in the Central Otago region of New Zealand

The trend of celebrities owning wineries and vineyards is not a recent phenomenon, though it has certainly garnered more attention in today's Information Age. In ancient Greek and Roman times, the leading philosophers, playwrights, politicians and generals of the day often owned a vineyard for personal use.[1] There are many reasons why celebrities gravitate to the world of wine. Usually celebrities have a large amount of wealth accumulated which makes the significant investment of opening a winery or vineyard negligible.

Starting a winery or vineyard, as with nearly any business, could offer some tax benefits. Some celebrities, such as the Italian-American director Francis Ford Coppola, come from a family with a long history of winemaking. Some, such as the British singer Cliff Richard, have been lifelong wine enthusiasts and enter the wine industry in order to do something that they enjoy. Others like the challenge of a new enterprise and some celebrities enter the wine industry simply because they can.[2]

While some celebrities, such as the American actors Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, British association football star David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham, own vineyards and wine estates solely for personal use, some celebrities are leveraging their name recognition as a selling tool in the wine industry. Today celebrity-owned wineries can be lucrative business endeavors. In 2007, Nielsen research of supermarket wine purchases showed that sales of celebrity wines were up 19% over previous years.[3]

Types of celebrity involvement

American musician Dave Matthews owns a winery in Virginia

There are different degrees of involvement that celebrities will have in their winery and vineyard. Nearly all of them partner, in some form of collaboration, with a winery or winemaker who is already established in the industry. An example of this is retired American football player Joe Montana who partnered with longtime Beringer winemaker Ed Sbragia to make their joint venture wine Montagia. While Sbragia oversees most of the viticultural and winemaking task, Montana is involved in deciding on the overall "vision" of the wine and participates in tasting and blending trials.[2]

To a similar extent, the celebrity may own their own "wine brand" which is produced with their collaborating winery instead of owning a physical winery or wine estate itself. An example of this is the brand Mike Ditka Wines owned by former American football coach Mike Ditka. The wine is produced in partnership at the physical winemaking facilities of the Mendocino Wine Company. While it could be described as a "winery", technically Mike Ditka Wines would be a "wine brand" that is owned by Ditka who participates in blending and tasting trails.[4] Some, such as French actor Gérard Depardieu, will be very active in both the production and business dealings of the winery. Depardieu, who owns wineries in several countries across the globe, even has his passport listing his occupation as vigneron.[2]

Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi owns two vineyards that sell grapes to California producers.

A celebrity may only have "legacy" attachments to the wines that bear their name. One example is the Gallo wine brand MacMurray Ranch which uses some grapes that are grown on a California ranch that was once owned by the American actor Fred MacMurray. Under the actor's ownership, the ranch was dedicated mostly to raising horses.[5] After MacMurray died, his family sold most of the land to the Gallo family and has little connection to the wine brand.[3] Another "legacy" celebrity who was more intimately connected with the winery that now carries his name was the American actor Raymond Burr. Burr bought the ranch with his domestic partner and had planted grapevines for wine production before he died in 1993. His partner, Robert Benevides, renamed the estate after Burr and continued making wines featuring his name.[6]

Some celebrities will lend their names to a winery for a special "one time" wine production. An example of this would be Mexican-American musician Carlos Santana, who partnered with the Champagne house G.H. Mumm to create a sparkling wine in 2005 titled Santana DVX.[7] While Santana helped select the final blend and received royalties for the use of his name and image, he doesn't particularly "own" the brand nor does he continue to be involved in the wine industry.

American musician Bob Dylan participated in a similar arrangement with the Italian winery Fattoria Le Terrazze. Dylan gave permission for the winery to use his name, likeness and album art to create a wine that pays tribute to his 1974 album Planet Waves.[8] In 2007, American entrepreneur Martha Stewart announced a collaboration with the American winery Gallo to produce value marketed wines to be sold at K-mart, which also features her Martha Stewart Living line of housewares.[9] In 2009, British chef Gordon Ramsay allowed a Bordeaux winery to use his name, without royalties, to celebrate the release of their 10th vintage.[10]

List of celebrities

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Below is a partial listing of celebrities who own commercial wineries, wine brands or vineyards. This is not a listing of a celebrities who only own vineyards for private use.

Celebrity Winery/Vineyard Location Notes Reference
Stephen Amell Nocking Point Wines Walla Walla, Washington Columbia Valley wines; Co-Owned with Walla Walla native Andrew Harding [11]
Mario Andretti Andretti Winery Napa Valley, California Founded winery with Joe Antonini, CEO of sponsor Kmart during final eight years of CART career (1987–94) [3]
Frank Arciero Arciero Family Vineyards Paso Robles, California Also owns EOS Estate Winery in Paso Robles. Owned racing teams that featured Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Parnelli Jones, Dan Gurney and Michael Andretti [12]
Dan Aykroyd Dan Aykroyd Wines Ontario, Canada Also produces a Sonoma County, California, series of wines [7]
Francisco J. Ayala

[13]
Antonio Banderas Anta Banderas Ribera del Duero, Spain

[14]
Drew Barrymore Barrymore Wines Italy A collaboration with wine importer Wilson Daniels [15]
Lidia Bastianich Bastianich Winery Friuli, Italy Collaboration with son and Italian restaurateur and author Joe Bastianich [16]
Mario Batali La Mozza Tuscany, Italy Collaboration with Italian winemaker and author Joe Bastianich [7]
Drew Bledsoe Doubleback Wine Walla Walla Valley, Washington Collaboration with Washington winemaker Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellars [17]
Carole Bouquet Sangue d'oro Sicily, Italy [18]
Lorraine Bracco Bracco Wines Tuscany, Italy Produces wines from several Italian wine regions [7]
Kevin Buckler Adobe Road Wines Sonoma County, California [12]
Valeri Bure Chateau Boswell Winery Napa Valley, California In partnership with his wife - actress Candace Cameron. [19]
Raymond Burr Raymond Burr Vineyards Dry Creek Valley, California Established by the late actor in 1986. Currently run by his partner. [7]
Jonathan Cain delaCain Vineyards Sonoma County, California Collaboration with California winemaker Dennis De La Montanya [20]
Al Bano Carrisi Al Bano Carrisi Winery Cellino San Marco, Apulia, Italy
Gerald Casale The 50 by 50 Napa Valley, California [21]
Richard Childress Childress Vineyards North Carolina [22]
Les Claypool Claypool Cellars Russian River Valley, California [23]
Bruce Cohn B.R. Cohn Winery Sonoma County, California Cohn was manager of The Doobie Brothers [7]
Francis Ford Coppola Rubicon Estate Winery Napa Valley, California Renamed Inglenook in 2011 [3]
Gérard Depardieu Chateau de Tigne Anjou, Loire Valley, France Also owns vineyards in Bordeaux, Languedoc, Algeria, Argentina, Morocco, Spain, Sicily and United States [3]
Diane Miller Silverado Vineyards Winery Napa Valley, California Walt Disney daughter owned winery with husband, former professional American Football player Ron W. Miller [7]
Mike Ditka Mike Ditka Wines Mendocino County, California Collaboration with the Mendocino Wine Company

[24]
Dave Del Dotto Del Dotto Vineyards Napa Valley, California In 2007, experimented with fermenting wine in amphorae [25]
E-40 Earl Stevens Selections California [26]
Ernie Els Ernie Els Wines Stellenbosch, South Africa Collaboration with Ernie Els Vineyards [3]
Emilio Estevez Casa Dumetz Malibu, California [27]
Nick Faldo Nick Faldo Wines Coonawarra, Australia Collaboration with Katnook Estate [28]
Mick Fleetwood Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar Lake County, California Collaboration with Langtry Estate and Vineyards [20]
Peggy Fleming Fleming Jenkins Vineyards and Winery Santa Cruz Mountains, California Founded with her husband, Greg Jenkins [3]
Fergie Ferguson Crest Santa Ynez Valley, California [29]
David Ginola Coste Brulade Côtes de Provence, France In partnership with the Coste Brulade co-op at Puget-Ville [30]
Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Wines Napa Valley, California Collaboration with August Briggs Wines [7]
Wayne Gretzky No. 99 Estates Winery Niagara Peninsula, Canada Collaboration with Peller Estates [31]
Terry Hoage Terry Hoage Vineyards Paso Robles, California University of Georgia American Football player, Owner, Winemaker, Viticulturist [32]
Mick Hucknall Il Cantante Sicily, Italy Collaboration with Italian winemaker Salvo Foti [7]
Andrés Iniesta Bodega Iniesta Fuentealbilla, Spain [33]
Günther Jauch Weingut von Othegraven Mosel (wine region), Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Vineyard a listed cultural heritage site. [34]
Maynard James Keenan Caduceus Cellars Verde Valley, Arizona Also owns Merkin Vineyards in Arizona [35]
John Lasseter Lasseter Family Winery Sonoma County, California [7]
Randy Lewis Lewis Cellars Napa Valley, California [12]
Lil Jon Little Jonathan Winery Central Coast, California Collaboration with California winemaker Alison Crowe

[36]
Jack London, Estate of Jack London Winery Glen Ellen, Sonoma County, California operated by the Shepards, descendants of London's sister Eliza Shepard

[37]
Nigel Lythgoe Villa San-Juliette Paso Robles, California Co-owner with Ken Warwick [38]
Luis Miguel Viña Ventisquero - Unico Maipo Valley, Chile Collaboration with Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes Del Campo [39]
Kyle MacLachlan Pursued by Bear Wine Columbia Valley, Washington Collaboration with Washington winemaker Eric Dunham

[40]
Madonna Ciccone Vineyard and Winery Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan Collaboration with her father Silvio "Tony" Ciccone [41]
Dan Marino Vintage 13 Marino Estates California [32]
Dave Matthews Blenheim Vineyards Charlottesville, Virginia [42]
Joe Montana Montagia Wines Napa Valley, California Collaboration with Ed Sbragia, former winemaker of Beringer Wines [7]
Mickey Morandini Second Base Wines Cooperstown, New York Collaboratrion with Pat Burrell [3]
Dave Mustaine Mustaine Vineyards Fallbrook, California [43]
Jim Nantz The Calling California Collaboration with winemaker Peter Deutsch [44]
Vince Neil Vince Neil Vineyards Sonoma County, California [3]
Sam Neill Two Paddocks Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand [45]
Olivia Newton-John Koala Blue Wines South Australia Founded in 1983 with business partner Pat Farrar [7]
Greg Norman Greg Norman Estates South Australia and California Collaboration with Beringer Blass [3]
Graham Norton Invivo Wines Marlborough, New Zealand Graham Norton's Own Sauvignon Blanc, collaboration with Invivo Wines in 2014 and 2015 [46]
Arnold Palmer Arnold Palmer Wines California Collaboration with Luna Vineyards

[20]
Jacques Parizeau Coteau de l'Élisette Languedoc, France [47]
Fess Parker Fess Parker Winery Santa Ynez Valley, California Was featured in the movie Sideways [3]
Robert M. Parker, Jr. Beaux Freres Vineyards & Winery Willamette Valley, Oregon Co-owns winery with brother in law. To avoid a conflict of interest with his wine rating publication The Wine Advocate, Parker delegates the task of rating Oregon wines to another associate. [48]
Terri Parsons Benny Parsons Rendezvous Ridge Purlear, North Carolina Winery established before his death and operated by his widow. [49]
Nancy Pelosi Zinfandel Lane Vineyard St. Helena, California Also owns Skellenger Lane Vineyard in Napa Valley. Pelosi sells her grapes to other California winemakers instead of producing her own wine. [7]
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Chateau Miravel Provence, France Bought winemaking estate in 2012. Consult with Marc Perrin. [50]
Carmen Policy Casa Piena Yountville, California [7]
Jason Priestley Black Hills Estate Winery Okanagan, British Columbia The British Columbia born actor is a co-owner in the estate

[51]
Cliff Richard Adega do Cantor Algarve, Portugal Collaboration with Quinta do Miradouro [7]
Savanna Samson Savanna Samson Wines Tuscany and Lazio, Italy Her first wine Sogno Uno is a red blend consisting mainly of the obscure Italian grape variety Cesanese [52]
Boz Scaggs Scaggs Vineyard California [53]
Cathy Schembechler Bo Schembechler Wines California Named after her late husband, former University of Michigan American football coach Bo Schembechler [32]
Tom Seaver GTS Vineyards Napa Valley, California [7][54]
Michael Seresin Seresin Estate Marlborough New Zealand [55]
Ramona Singer Ramona Singer Veneto, Italy Pinot Grigio [56]
Tommy Smothers Remick Ridge Vineyards Sonoma County, California [3]
Alex Spanos SpanosBerberian Winery Napa Valley, California Also owns Bell Wine Cellars in Yountville [12]
Sting Tenuta il Palagio Tuscany, Italy [57][58]
Train Save Me, San Francisco Wine Co. Livermore Valley, California Collaboration with Concannon Vineyard. Named after the band's fifth album. [59]
Jarno Trulli Podere Castorani Abruzzo, Italy [60]
Dick Vermeil Vermeil Wines Napa Valley, California Collaboration with OnThEdge Winery [12]
Mark Warner Ingleside Vineyards Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA, Virginia Grows grapes and makes privates label with Ingleside's owners and winemaker [61]
Mike Weir Mike Weir Wine Niagara Peninsula, Canada [7]
Sigurd Wongraven Luca Roagna Piemonte, Italy The front figure of black-metal band Satyricon has also launched other brands including an organic Champagne cuvée produced by Baron-Fuenté. [62]
Charles Woodson TwentyFour Wines Napa Valley, California Under NFL regulations, Woodson is currently prohibited from endorsing his own wines publicly until he retires [32]

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Kung, Michelle, Forbes Magazine (August 4, 2008). Top Celebrity Vineyards
  4. ↑ Arnold, Eric, Wine Spectator (January 30, 2007). Wine Talk: Mike Ditka
  5. ↑ University of California Press MacMurray Ranch pg 1, Accessed: December 14th, 2009
  6. ↑ Mersmann, Andrew, Passport Magazine Robert Benevides, Raymond Burr Vineyards Sonoma County, California. Accessed: December 14th, 2009
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 D. Grossman "Wine Stars" Wine Country Magazine Spring 2007/Summer 2007 issue
  8. ↑ Asimov, Eric, The New York Times: The Pour (May 18, 2006). "Wine on the Tracks"
  9. ↑ Chronicle Staff/Associated Press San Francisco Chronicle (September 15, 2007). "Stewart to market $15 wine"
  10. ↑ Anson, Jane, Decanter.com (April 24, 2009). "Gordon Ramsay lends his name to a Bordeaux wine"
  11. ↑ http://nockingpointwines.com/
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Murphy, Linda, San Francisco Chronicle (April 21, 2005). Athletes and Wine
  13. ↑ [1]
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Matthew DeBord "Drew Barrymore is now a...winemaker?" DeWine Report, April 17th, 2012
  16. ↑ Deucy, Erica, "Fodor's" (December 13, 2007)
  17. ↑ Taylor, Robert, Wine Spectator (September 25, 2008). Wine Talk: Drew Bledsoe
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ BureFamilyWines.com "BureFamilyWines.com" January 12th, 2010
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Lucus, Greg, LuxLife Magazine (January 12, 2009). Celebrity Vintners – More Than Just A Name
  21. ↑ The 50 by 50 Website (November 13, 2015). [2]
  22. ↑ Arnold, Eric, Wine Spectator (July 15, 2005). Wine Talk: Richard Childress
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Rausa Fuller, Janet, Chicago Sun Times (January 28, 2007). Ditka's wine does just fine against big boys
  25. ↑ Goldfarb, Alan, Wines & Vines (September 1, 2007). Ancient wine technology: Del Dotto to release amphora-fermented Cab
  26. ↑ http://www.complex.com/music/2013/10/you-can-now-buy-wine-from-e40
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Styles, Oliver, Decanter.com (September 24, 2003). Nick Faldo drives onto new range
  29. ↑ Edward Deitch "Are celebrity wines worth the price?" MSNBC, May 11th, 2012
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Pinhey, Craig, Telegraph Journal (April 3, 2009). Hockey Wine In Time for Playoffs
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Unfiltered, Wine Spectator (September 24, 2009). Are You Ready for Some Football (Wines)?
  33. ↑ Bodega Iniesta
  34. ↑ Bernd Freytag: Der beliebteste Deutsche Günther Jauch wird Winzer (The most popular German Günther Jauch becomes wine-grower), FAZ.net 26 February 2010 – Online-Version.
  35. ↑ Carle, Chris, IGN.com (November 13, 2006). Maynard James Keenan Interview
  36. ↑ Associated Press/MSNBC (April 3, 2008). Rapper Lil Jon starts his own wine label
  37. ↑ The Shepards
  38. ↑ [3]
  39. ↑ Mexican music icon Luis Miguel releases signature Cabernet Sauvignon
  40. ↑ Woolever, Laurie, Wine Spectator (September 16, 2008). Wine Talk: Kyle MacLachlan
  41. ↑ Ciccone Vineyards Madonna Wine Series. Accessed: December 14, 2009
  42. ↑ Hirshey, Gerri, Food & Wine Magazine (October 2005). The Wine World's No. 1 Rock Star: Dave Matthews. Accessed: December 14th, 2009
  43. ↑ Mustaine Vineyards
  44. ↑ Jennifer Mayerle "Sports Commentator Jim Nantz has a second calling, wine" CBS Atlanta, April 11th, 2013
  45. ↑ Two Paddocks: Our Story
  46. ↑ Watch UK star Graham Norton make his own New Zealand wine!
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Murphy, Linda, San Francisco Chronicle (July 7, 2005). First book on Robert Parker details his impact on the wine world
  49. ↑ Benny Parsons' Rendezvous Ridge
  50. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3034497/Brangelina-s-French-wine-finally-hits-High-street-Hollywood-couple-s-2014-Miraval-Rose-available-18-bottle.html
  51. ↑ Unfiltered, Wine Spectator (October 4, 2007). Beverly Hills 902-wine-0?
  52. ↑ Raswell, James, Ask Men.com Celebrity Wineries Accessed: December 14, 2009
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Berglund, Nina, News From Norway (April 26, 2011). Black metal and red wine
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