Wine n’ About | Celebrity Winemakers
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Celebrity Winemakers

Who wouldn’t want to own a winery?

What does a celebrity who already has everything do? Buy a winery, of course.

We rounded up celebrity winemakers, some whom have invested in their own vineyard and others who have teamed up with an already established winery to create their own unique collection.

From AC/DC’s “Back in Black Shiraz” to Francis Ford Coppola’s Sofia rosé (named after his daughter), these are the best celebrity wines and winemakers.

Cheers!

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Château Miraval, Provence, FranceBrad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Château Miraval, Provence, France

Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie are the epitome of a power couple. Among their charity projects and awards, Angie and Brad own a $60 million estate and winery in Provence.

Their winery is located at Château Miraval, a 1,200-acre estate in the village of Correns, France. Built in 1841, the French Country manor has 35 rooms and 926 acres of fountains, gardens, and woodlands. It even has a moat.

The couple just released their second award-winning wine this year, a rosé called the Chateau Miraval. The wine, which was was one of Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines last year, was released on February 7th and sold out within five hours.

The Château was also the location of their secret wedding.

Sting and Trudie Styler, Il Palagio, ItalySting and Trudie Styler, Il Palagio, Italy

Sting and his wife Trudie Styler have their own vineyard just 45 minutes south of Florence where they make organic and “biodynamic” wines.
The 900-acre estate, known as Il Palagio, also has a 16th-century villa with swimming pool, 12 acres of vegetable gardens, around 80 bee colonies, olive groves, and several small lakes.

Their wines are also often named after Sting’s songs. The first wine they made was called “Sister Moon,” and they also have a wine called “When We Dance.”

In addition to wine, Il Palagio also produces honey and organic olive oil.

Francis Ford Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, CaliforniaFrancis Ford Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, California
“The Godfather” director is a true oenophile and has produced over 40 wines from his resort in the heart of Alexander Valley, California.
The winery is named the, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and is located in Sonoma County. The estate has a wine tasting bar, two restaurants, swimming pools, a movie gallery, a performing arts pavilion, and a park area with game tables and bocce courts.

The winery also produces a rosé called Sofia in honor of his daughter Sofia Coppola.

Kyle MacLachlan, Pursued by Bear, WashingtonKyle MacLachlan, Pursued by Bear, Washington
The “Twin Peaks” star might like wine as much as he likes, a “damn fine cup of coffee.”
MacLaclan partnered with the winemaker Eric Dunham to created Pursued by Bear in Walla Walla County, Washington 10 years ago. The name Pursued by Bear comes from an obscure Shakespearean stage direction in The Winter’s Tale.

The pair makes Cabernet Sauvignon, and their very first ’05 vintage received high praise from Wine Spectator with a 91 rating.

Dave Matthews, Blenheim Vineyards, Charlottesville, Virginia
 Dave Matthews, Blenheim Vineyards, Charlottesville, VirginiaEstablished in 2000 by Dave Matthews, Blenheim Vineyards is a family-owned and operated winery located about 20 minutes outside of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Matthews has spent a good amount of money restoring the 1,260 acres of farmland to make sure it meets organic growing standards. The vineyard has four acres of grapes and produces Viognier, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.

In 2011, he partnered with winemaker Steve Reeder to produce Sonoma’s Dreaming Tree Wines, which has the same sustainable approach as Blenheim. The company is named after a song on the Dave Matthew’s Band album, “Before These Crowded Streets,” and they made a red wine called “Crush,” which is also named after a DMB song.

David and Victoria Beckham, Napa Valley, California
David and Victoria Beckham, Napa Valley, California David and Victoria Beckham became wine enthusiasts while living in Spain when Beckham played for Real Madrid. When they relocated to Los Angeles, David Beckham reportedly bought Victoria her own Napa Valley winery for her 34th birthday.
The couple have no plans to produce Beckham wine commercially and are pursuing wine making as a personal endeavor. They have hired a team of specialists to run the winery and make vintage wines for family and friends.

Sam Neill, Two Paddocks, New Zealand
 Sam Neill, Two Paddocks, New ZealandSam Neill has been making wine since 1993 on his Two Paddocks winery in New Zealand’s South Island.
The “Jurassic Park” star is also Pinot Noir obsessed, and has won many awards for his Two Paddock Pinot Noir wines.

“I wanted to produce a good Pinot Noir that would, at the very least, be enjoyed by my family and friends,” Neil says on the Two Paddocks website. “Since that original release in 1999, with each successive year we have produced a Pinot Noir (sometimes 3 or 4 Pinot Noirs) that have done us proud and are, to be frank, too good to be wasted on our friends.”

His goal is to produce the world’s best Pinot Noir.

Drew Barrymore, Barrymore Wines, California
Drew Barrymore, Barrymore Wines, California Inspired by her family, Drew Barrymore has created a Pinot Grigio to honor them.
Barrymore does not have her own winery, but she has paired up with the Monterey, a California winery to create a “bright, crisp white wine with flavors of lemon drop, Asian pear, and honeydew melon star.”

She has just launched a new wine called Carmel Road Pinot Grigio.

Jeff Gordon, Jeff Gordon Wine, Northern California
Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, is also a fine wine enthusiast.
Gordon haJeff Gordon, Jeff Gordon Wine, Northern California s been producing award-winning California boutique wine with winemakers August Briggs and Jesse Inman since 2004. Although Gordon does not have his own winery, he sources wine from Napa and Sonoma, in the heart of Northern California.

Gordon’s brand produces wines such as Pinot Noir, Rose of Syrah, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Donald Trump, Trump Winery, Virginia
Of course Donald Trump has a winery named after himself. Trump Winery is located on a 1,300-acre estate Charlottesville and is Virginia’s largest vineyard.
It opened in 2011 and has 50,000 square feet of wDonald Trump, Trump Winery, Virginia inemaking facilities, 100,000 gallon tank capacity, and 750 barrel cave producing sparkling, white, and red wines.

His son Eric Trump is the head of the winery.

AC/DC, Warburn Estate Winery, Australia
The hard rock band apparently also has a taste for fine wine. AC/DC paired up with Warburn Estate, one of the largest and best-known wineries in Australia, to make their brand of wine.
AC/DC, Warburn Estate Winery, Australia “Back in Black Shiraz,” “Thunderstruck Chardonnay,” “You Shook Me All Night Long Moscato,” and “Highway to Hell Cabernet Sauvignon” are just some of the many wines they make.

Yes, really.