Want a taste of the good life? Visit these local celebrity wineries, and sip on their wines.
JOHN LEGEND: Grammy, Golden Globe, and Oscar-winning musician John Legend launched his LVE (Legend Vineyard Exclusive) wines in 2015. Working with famed vintner Jean-Charles Boisset, Legend's LVE wines comprise a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay produced with fruit from Raymond Vineyards in Napa. Distributed nationally, the wines can be tasted at Raymond and on tour with Legend - concertgoers can try the wine in the LVE Wine Cellar experience which accompanies Legend on his upcoming Darkness and Light nationwide tour. (Photo courtesy of Boisset Collection)
LES CLAYPOOL: Best known as the bassist and lead vocalist for the rock band Primus, Les Claypool has been living in the Russian River Valley region of Sonoma County since 1994. After befriending many a winemaker, he launched Claypool Cellars, producing sparkling wine, rosé, and Pinot Noir under his Pachyderm label. Wine club members receive bottles signed by Claypool in their shipments and get invitations to exclusive concerts where they can party like (and with) rock stars. Taste the wines at their appointment-only "fancy booze caboose" in Sebastopol. (Photo: Todd Jenkins)
DAVE MATTHEWS: Dave Matthews entered the winemaking game in 2000, when he opened his Blenheim Vineyards winery in Charlottesville, Virginia. Blenheim wines are small production and available exclusively at the winery. In response to demand from his fans, Matthews teamed with former Clos du Bois winemaker Sean McKenzie to produce The Dreaming Tree label. Distributed nationally, and reasonably priced, they produce a Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County and others made with grapes from throughout California. (Photo courtesy of Constellation Brands)
BOZ SCAGGS: R&B musician Boz Scaggs owns a vineyard in Napa Valley with his wife, Dominique. Scaggs' landmark 1976 album Silk Degrees hit #2 on the Billboard charts and produced four hit singles, including "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle." The couple planted their vineyard in the 1990s, producing estate Rhone and Bordeaux varietals. In 2017, the couple announced they would no longer be producing wine under the Scaggs Vineyard label. Final vintages of their collectable wine are available for purchase online. (Photo courtesy of Scaggs Vineyard)
JONATHAN CAIN: Musician and songwriter Jonathan Cain is the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for Journey. (The piano on “Don’t Stop Believin'”? Yeah, that’s him!) When he isn’t touring the world, he’s enjoying his own wine journey with Sonoma County vintner Dennis De La Montanya. Proceeds from their Finale Wines, which includes a Rosé of Malbec and a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, benefit charity. To celebrate Journey’s impending induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the label is offering signed bottles of its DSB Cuvee. (Photo: Kelly A. Swift)
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ROBERT KAMEN: When screenwriter and producer Robert Kamen visited Sonoma County in 1980 to celebrate the sale of his first screenplay, he fell in love with the land. He purchased a 280-acre mountaintop property and eventually transformed it into a world-class vineyard producing estate wines. While you might not recognize his name, you’ll know the films he wrote and produced: Taps, the Karate Kid series, Fifth Element, A Walk in the Clouds, Lethal Weapon III, Taken and Taken II (just to name a few). Pop into Kamen Estate Wines’ tasting room in downtown Sonoma to taste, or make an appointment to visit the mountaintop vineyards. (Photo courtesy of Kamen Estate Wines)
FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA: Legendary film director, producer and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola has been involved in the wine industry since the 1970s, when he first bought Napa’s Inglenook Estate in 1975. Coppola expanded his wine empire to Geyserville, where he opened his namesake winery in 2006. The winery includes a museum of memorabilia from his iconic films, such as The Godfather, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Apocalypse Now. In 2015, Coppola opened a second winery, Virginia Dare. Both are open to the public. (Photo: Jeff Kan Lee)
JOHN LASSETER: Oscar-winning animator and film director John Lasseter is the creative mind behind the animation house, Pixar. As Chief Creative Officer, he oversees all Pixar films and has directed Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Cars and more. He moved with his wife, Nancy, to Sonoma in 1993, discovering the art of winemaking through a network of wine industry friends. In 2002, they founded Lasseter Family Winery in Glen Ellen, and today they produce colorful old world-style wines. Active in the community, don't be surprised if you rub shoulders with the couple at their winery, which is open by appointment. (Photo courtesy of Lasseter Family Winery)
JEFF GORDON: Four-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon fell in love with wine after winning his first championship in 1995. He celebrated the win with a decanted Joseph Drouhin Batard-Montrachet white Burgundy and never looked back. Today, he works with two acclaimed winemakers, Jesse Inman (of Santa Rosa's Romililly Wines) and August "Joe" Briggs (Calistoga's August Briggs Wines) to produce a mere 250 cases annually. Wines include Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from Napa Valley and Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Sonoma, and are available online (don't forget your Jeff Gordon branded decanter, too!). (Photo courtesy of Jeff Gordon Wine)
MARIO ANDRETTI: Racing driver Mario Andretti is considered one of the most successful racecar drivers of all-time. With that success comes not only a Ferrari (or two), but also a winery in Napa Valley that he co-founded in 1996. Wines run the gamut, from sweet Moscato and Riesling, to beefy Cabernets and Super Tuscans. Andretti Winery offers food and wine pairings in an Italian-inspired environment. Winery guests frequently brush elbows with Andretti and other racecar drivers, especially when races take place at Sonoma Raceway. (Photo courtesy of Andretti Winery)
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KEVIN BUCKLER: Driver and team owner Kevin Buckler has been producing wine in Sonoma County since 1995 at his winery, Adobe Road Winery. Winner of Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and numerous championships, Buckler and his wife, Debra, produce a wide array of wines from well-known vineyards, including Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer. A temporary tasting room in downtown Petaluma offers tastings daily, while Adobe Road awaits the completion of their new tasting room, which will include racing memorabilia. (Photo courtesy of Adobe Road Winery)
RANDY LEWIS: Most racecar drivers will never race in the famous Indy 500, but Randy Lewis can say he has – five times. Lewis started Lewis Cellars in 1992 with his wife, long-time wine industry professional Debbie. Eventually they would be joined by their son, Dennis. Their appointment-only Napa Valley tasting room features four wines from throughout the region, which includes Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Cuvee. (Photo courtesy of Lewis Cellars)
CARMEN POLICY: He might have not played on the field, but Carmen Policy helped bring the San Francisco 49ers four Super Bowl championships, resulting in him in being named “Executive of the Year” by the NFL and one of the “Most Influential People in Professional Sports” by GQ. Now retired, Carmen and his wife, Gail, operate Casa Piena (“Full House” in Italian) in Napa Valley, where they produce Cabernet Sauvignons that score high with Robert Parker. Wines are available on an allotment-only basis, with tastings available by appointment. (Photo Mars Lasar)
CHARLES WOODSON: Former NFL football player Charles Woodson fell in love with wine, and decided to learn more about the winemaking process, during spring training for the Oakland Raiders, which takes place in Napa Valley. After a successful career in sports, including winning the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, Woodson started his own label, Charles Woodson Wines, with proceeds benefiting the Charles Woodson Foundation. A tasting room is anticipated to open later this year in Napa. (Photo courtesy of Charles Woodson Wines)
DICK VERMEIL: As an NFL coach, Dick Vermeil led the St. Louis Rams to their only Super Bowl championship, and also coached for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Born in Calistoga, it is no surprise that Vermeil started his own winery upon retirement. Vermeil Wines has two tasting rooms, in downtown Napa and Calistoga, and produce a variety of varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Vermeil attends all wine member events, signing autographs and sipping the fruits of his labor. (Photo courtesy of Vermeil Wines)
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YAO MING: Former NBA All-Star Yao Ming fell in love with wine while playing for the Houston Rockets. Today, he owns and operates Yao Family Wines in St. Helena, producing age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. The ultra-modern tasting room features food and wine pairings and a touch of memorabilia from Yao's career in sports. He's not only selling wine in Napa Valley, but also to great success in China including in his hometown of Shanghai. (Photo courtesy of Yao Family Wines)
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Wine Country has long been a playground for the rich and famous. Drawn to the glamour of Napa Valley, or the laid back, rural vibe of Sonoma County, celebrities are coming here to enjoy the good life – some of them are even making their own wine. From rock stars to movie makers, race car drivers to football players, click through the gallery above to see the VIPs that are making wine in Sonoma and Napa.
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