Rock Stars, Movies & More
Wines too can be notorious, infamous or just plain rock stars. Some are even as good as the stories behind their fame.
GAME PLAN
Not just a musical phenom, JOHN LEGEND has teamed up with Raymond Cellars to produce LVE Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and a Red Blend. As one might expect, by all reports these drink smooooooooth.
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA has made his mark not just in the film industry, but the wine market as well. The winery’s tagline, Cinema, Wine, Food, Hideaways and Adventure, refers to its amenities: several eateries, 3,600 square foot of pools for wine club members, and a movie-set/gallery showcasing memorabilia from his films, including Oscar himself. Try the Diamond Collection Black Label Claret.
What happens when rock ‘n roll diehards get together in a cellar, blast tunes and make wine? WINES THAT ROCK: The Police Synchronicity Red Wine Blend, Grateful Dead Steal Your Face Red Wine Blend (they also have a pricier Reserve cab), or Woodstock Chardonnay, anybody?
You’ve probably heard of B.R. COHN WINERY, the Sonoma Valley stalwart – but did you know owner Bruce Cohn bought the old mill and cultivated its existing vineyard as an antidote to his crazy day job, as the manager of the famed Doobie Brothers? His music roots run deep too, his father sang Italian arias and his mother played nightclubs with Frank Sinatra.
The Keanu Reeves movie A WALK IN THE CLOUDS was filmed at Mt. Veeder Winery and Mayacamas, also located on the slopes of Mount Veeder. Like a love story, the grapes produced at that altitude are intense and rich.
Throughout the surprise hit SIDEWAYS, the lead character, Miles, derides Merlot but insiders caught the joke—the wine he saves his pennies for is a 1961 Chateau Cheval Blanc, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. At $500/bottle, this wine deserves crystal stemware.