Yao Ming, a retired basketball player for the Houston Rockets, has created a line of wines, including this cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A popular trend in Hollywood these days is tapping into the billion-dollar winemaking industry.
And celebrities may be on to something, according to Stacker.com. A report from Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates, which bases its numbers on government tax-paid figures, shows a surge in wine dollar sales, up by 16.8% in 2021 compared to 2020. This data applies to both domestic and imported wine, where sales were $78.4 billion in 2021, compared to $67.3 billion in 2020.
Today, actors, athletes, musicians and filmmakers have all gotten into the wine business. While some, like Terrell Owens, are just getting started, others, like “Godfather” director Francis Ford Coppola, have been producing wine for decades.
Here’s a list of entertainers who moonlight as vintners. If you like their acting or directing, you might want to check out their products.
Francis Ford Coppola has won awards for his wines.
Francis Ford Coppola: Coppola Wines
The same year that audiences were flocking to see his Academy Award-winning epic “Apocalypse Now,” Francis Ford Coppola was unveiling another ambitious project. Francis Ford Coppola Winery was formed in 1979 and continues a family tradition of winemaking. His grandfather used to make his own blends in the basement of his New York City apartment building.
Coppola’s brand offers over 40 wines produced on-site, ranging from $9.50 to $65 per bottle. Some of the wines produced in Coppola’s Inglenook Winery in Napa Valley, Calif., include the Chardonnay 93rd Awards Edition 2019 and the Francis Coppola Diamond Collection pinot noir.
Guy Fieri: Hunt & Ryde Winery
Chef, restaurateur and TV personality Guy Fieri purchased a five-acre pinot noir vineyard in the Russian River Valley region of California called Hunt & Ryde Winery, named after his sons, Hunter and Ryder. Fieri partnered with Guy Davis of Davis Family Vineyards for his endeavor.
The host of Food Network shows like “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” may have surprised some with his own wine label, but he explained in Wine Enthusiast magazine, “I’m not just a triple-burger guy.” Wine enthusiasts can expect three wines from Hunt & Ryde: a pinot noir, zinfandel and cabernet blend. Though the wines can cost more than $100 per bottle, some fall under $50 or $20.
Wayne Gretzky: Wayne Gretzky Estates
Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s famed number 99 jersey was officially retired from the NHL when he left the game in 2000. So it’s no surprise that the number is proudly emblazoned on his wine bottles, and his members-only group is called the No. 99 Wine and Cocktail Club.
In 2017, Wayne Gretzky Estates (WGE) Winery & Distillery officially opened and was modeled after the Gretzky family farm. With a full-bodied blend of cabernet and merlot pressed from Niagara and Okanagan grapes, WGE wines can be purchased across Ontario, Canada. A portion of the proceeds from each bottle supports the Wayne Gretzky Foundation, a charitable organization that helps all children have a chance to play hockey.
Julianne Hough, a cast member on “Dancing with the Stars,’' and longtime friend Nina Dobrev, who played Elena on “The Vampire Diaries,’' collaborated with Napa Valley winemaker Jamey Whetstone to create Fresh Vine.
Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev: Fresh Vine
Julianne Hough, a cast member on “Dancing with the Stars,’' and longtime friend Nina Dobrev, who played Elena on “The Vampire Diaries,’' collaborated with Napa Valley winemaker Jamey Whetstone to create Fresh Vine. Their Napa Valley, Calif.-based brand is centered on producing gluten-free, low-carb, vegan-friendly wines across the United States, with selections including pinot noir, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and rosé.
Kyle MacLachlan: Pursued by Bear Wine
In 2005, actor Kyle MacLachlan — a Yakima, Wash., native — sought to combine his love for his hometown with his passion for the wine industry to create Pursued by Bear Wine. The label’s name — a nod to the famed stage direction “Exit, pursued by a bear” from Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s Tale”— also blends in the actor’s love of theater.
His boutique winery produces a Syrah/ShirazSyrah 2018, a Cub Red Blend and a Cabernet Sauvignon, which have been well-received by wine reviewers.
Yao Ming: Yao Family Wines
Yao Ming, a former professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets, has since retired from the sport and has ventured into the wine industry. The Napa Valley-based Yao Family Wines was established in 2011, but Ming developed an interest in wines well before then.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known for starring in films like “Jurassic Park” and “The Piano,” launched his Two Paddocks wine brand in 1993. The organic and biodynamic pinot noir vineyard is situated on five acres of land in the Central Otago wine region of New Zealand.
Pink is a famous pop singer, but the Grammy Award winner has also ventured into owning her own wine business, Two Wolves, a 25-acre vineyard she purchased with her husband in Santa Ynez, Calif. The brand’s name, derived from a Cherokee parable, includes a cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and a petit verdot.
Prior to launching her wine brand, Moore made wine in her garage. She later enrolled in classes at the University of California, Los Angeles, and took trips across the globe to winemaking regions. Two Wolves wines are sold exclusively online to its members, with wines released in the spring, fall and winter.
Former NFL player Charles Woodson launched Intercept Wines brand in 2019.
Former NFL player Charles Woodson launched Intercept Wines brand in 2019. Woodson developed a love of wine while playing for the Oakland Raiders. Woodson’s pinot noir has aromas of strawberry, nutmeg, and pastry cream. He also offers a chardonnay and a red blend.
A bottle of this medium-bodied wine generally costs between $20 to $22. A special Limited-Edition Hall of Fame cabernet sauvignon is a specialty blend from vineyards in Paso Robles, Calif., and was created to celebrate a personal milestone from Woodson’s storied football career. Only 6,500 of these bottles were made to pay homage to the athlete’s 65 professional career interceptions.
Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (User Agreement updated 1/1/21. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022).
© 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.
Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.