Bold-face wine
February 17, 2005 10:36 AM   Subscribe

Which celebs make the best wine? Slate notes that Sofia Coppola, Sting, Olivia Newton John, Ernie Els and Bob Dylan are among the household names now putting out wines. Sadly, they didn't note the only celebrity wine I've ever had, which was surprisingly good. Anybody trie any of these?
posted by soyjoy (33 comments total)
 
And just in case: The answer is no, I get zero kickbacks from Fess for this.
posted by soyjoy at 10:38 AM on February 17, 2005


Aggggg. The other answer: Yes, I do know how to spell "try" - I dropped a "d" at the last moment. Too much Fess, I guess.
posted by soyjoy at 10:40 AM on February 17, 2005


I think Paris Hilton would make good wine, but maybe that's just because I enjoy the thought of stomping on her first.
posted by ontic at 10:40 AM on February 17, 2005


I actually see the Francis Ford Coppola wines in the liquor store, but they're a bit pricey for me.
posted by smackfu at 10:43 AM on February 17, 2005


Coppola wines are great. Their Diamond Series, which is their affordable vintages, are pretty good for a ~$15/bottle. Their Cab is especially good. But that only takes a fraction of the story. Their Rubicon is expensive, but is a masterful wine. Rubicon runs at about $100/bottle. But it is divine. It is a cab/cab franc/merlot blend that is estate grown. I highly, highly recommend it if you get the chance.

Also, if ever go to the wine country, try to go on the tours at Coppola (especially the Rubicon tour). It is a beautiful and inviting winery.

My personal favorite if probably Cakebread, but Coppola deserves more credit as a winery instead of just a Movie Star winery.
posted by dios at 10:48 AM on February 17, 2005


The Sofia Blanc De Blancs is pretty good. I bought it for New Year's as a champagne alternative based on the recommendations in an askme thread that I can't seem to find now.
I also bought a box of the Sofia minis at the same time, because they are really, really cute. I was worried that they would be metallic tasting, but they're not at all. And they come with a little pink straw!
posted by amarynth at 10:49 AM on February 17, 2005


Bob Dylan aint makin the wine, he's just endorsing it. Blah.
posted by Edible Energy at 10:52 AM on February 17, 2005


For those who enjoy their celebrity tipples on the stronger side, there's this.

Anyone tried it?
posted by jonmc at 10:52 AM on February 17, 2005


Haven't tried it, but there is a Jerry Garcia wine (not made by him, obviously). I sure hope it doesn't taste like Ripple.
posted by terrapin at 11:00 AM on February 17, 2005


Does investment banker Charles Shaw count as a celebrity?

ducks...
posted by pmbuko at 11:20 AM on February 17, 2005


For those who enjoy their celebrity tipples on the stronger side, there's this.

Or this (owned by Sammy Hagar).

Coppola's wines are all reliably solid. They have some very nice small-batch wines for sale at the vineyard as well, which is worth a visit- he's got memorabilia from his movies there- the desk from The Godfather, a (real) Tucker automobile, some costumes from Dracula, among others. Unlike most celebs, though, he's actually a real winemaker, and he bought a well-established winery, so he wasn't starting from zip.

smackfu- In addition to the Diamond series, he's got a Rosso and Blanco "table wine" line that are like $8-$9/bottle and very drinkable.
posted by mkultra at 11:32 AM on February 17, 2005


The Smothers Brothers have been in the biz for a while. (Showing my age)
posted by spock at 11:35 AM on February 17, 2005


I've had Coppola's Rosso, and it was quite good. I'm trying the Claret next.
posted by Dean King at 11:50 AM on February 17, 2005


Man, I wish Mr. T made wine.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 11:55 AM on February 17, 2005


Neibaum-Coppla Rubicon '91 is probably the greatest wine ever produced in America. But the winery was stellar long before (F.F.) Coppola bought into it. Mr. B's Bistro in New Orleans carries verticals of every Rubicon vintage where any vintage is $80/bottle. This is a deal as even recent vintages of Rubicon go for twice as much on the collector market.

Coppola Cabernet Franc is dreck.

Every wine Fess Parker makes is to be treasured. Good wines at good prices. His wine club is great deal.
posted by 3.2.3 at 11:56 AM on February 17, 2005


I believe that when Gerard Depardieu first got into the business of wine-making, he used his financial resources to experiment with antique styles of viticulture, making wines that were more experimental than commercial, which is cool. The Garcia wine is respectable if a little overpriced, as is Old Whiskey River. As both a tequila and music snob, I've avoided Cabo Wabo.
posted by liam at 12:09 PM on February 17, 2005


mkultra & liam, I've actually tried the Cabo Wabo. It's better than you'd expect.
posted by jonmc at 12:14 PM on February 17, 2005


I love Jimmy Vaughn's wine. I believe they call it Thunderbird?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:20 PM on February 17, 2005


Former race car driver Randy Lewis makes seriously kick-ass wines (that cost serious amounts).

http://www.lewiscellars.com/
posted by chrisgrau at 12:27 PM on February 17, 2005


I understand that Jimmy Vaughan has been out of "the wine business" for awhile.
posted by Julie at 12:44 PM on February 17, 2005


soyjoy, I also tried the Fess Parker wine when I visited the winery a couple of years ago. I remember enjoying their Riesling, fwiw.
posted by ChrisTN at 12:45 PM on February 17, 2005


Bruce Cohn, erstwhile manager of the Doobie Brothers, makes (good) wine and (excellent) olive oil as B.R. Cohn.
posted by mkultra at 1:29 PM on February 17, 2005


Pat Paulsen had a winery until 1994. I actually visited it and bought a bottle (or two; can't remember), which he autographed. (It was a bit of shock when he walked through the front door to the tasting room.)

I don't remember the wine as being particularly good ...
posted by WestCoaster at 2:11 PM on February 17, 2005


The Grocery Outlet by my house had Rodney Dangerfield wine for a little while. It was $1.99 a bottle I think. But he's dead so I guess it's not funny anymore...
posted by cindileper at 2:50 PM on February 17, 2005


I highly recommend the Coppola Claret. It's amazing for about 14 dollars a bottle (2002.)

What do you expect from a great lover of food and wine with a credo such as this: "If we had a family crest it would be quality, authenticity and pleasure."

All favorites of mine!
posted by laurenbove at 3:21 PM on February 17, 2005


Coppola Rosso is excellent. Do you know Mrs. Rombauer? The Joy of Cooking? Rombauer Chardonnay is perhaps the finest white wine I've ever tried.
posted by fixedgear at 3:44 PM on February 17, 2005


amarynth: I thought the first Sofia mni I tried was absolutely horrible, champagne does not belong in a can, but by my fourth they weren't tasting nearly as bad.

The straws they come with are comletely rokken though.
posted by Jawn at 5:18 PM on February 17, 2005


I am quite positive that Steven Seagal once slapped his mug on a wine label, but can't find any references to it online.

Also, he has apparently released an album that's doing well in France. Who knew?
posted by Dr. Wu at 7:03 PM on February 17, 2005


Another vote for the Coppola Claret. Drank a bottle the other night and I thought it one of the best wines I've ever had.
posted by johngumbo at 10:05 PM on February 17, 2005


Weird, I just inherited a pack of the Coppola blanc de blanc yesterday (office moving....gift from vendor someone didn't want). Haven't opened them yet, but glad to hear from amarynth that they're not metallic-tasting. I was a little worried about that, being in cute pink cans and all....
posted by zombiebunny at 8:18 AM on February 18, 2005


And an update: got out of work early, decided a blanc de blancs tasting was in order....and yes, chilled, not bad. Love the expandable bendy straw!
posted by zombiebunny at 12:56 PM on February 18, 2005


recommendations in an askme thread that I can't seem to find now.

Mine?
posted by kindall at 1:16 PM on February 18, 2005


Man, my life syncs up to this site waaay too much. I bought a bottle of Fess Parker Chardonnay yesterday.

It was quite good. And I like the very subtle little coonskin cap on the label.
posted by briank at 2:17 PM on February 18, 2005


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