Spirited Celebrities- Stanley Tucci

HOST OF VINE TALK

Stanley TucciPHOTOS BY EDUARDO PATINO PHOTOGRAPHY

Actor, writer, film producer, director, and long-time foodie, Stanley Tucci brings his love of food, wine and culture to public television in Vine Talk a new series aimed at increasing the excitement surrounding the selection and drinking of wine. Each week Tucci leads and ever-changing celebrity panel through a blind taste test of wines representing different regions from around the world. During the first season, Tucci and co-host, Ray Isle, Food & Wine’s Executive Wine Editor, serve up close to a hundred bottles of wine chosen by an independent panel of industry experts. Then with the help of an eclectic group of over 40 celebrities and celebrity chefs, musicians, writers, and so on, choose their favorite from each show’s offering and compare their choice with that of a studio audience tasting. Tucci brings the perfect mix of comedy and likeability to Vine Talk, which hopes to comfort and welcome consumers who may otherwise find the wine culture intimidating. Tucci charmingly joins his audience through their discovery of new wines and an increasing knowledge of the wine industry. Although he is not an expert sommelier, he inspires a lively and interesting talk. “It has not taken long to determine that most anyone can come together, enjoy almost any type of wine, engage in compelling conversation and even pick up good basic wine education in the process,” says Tucci.

Featured celebrities include John Lithgow, Jennifer Coolidge, Patricia Clarkson, Rosie Perez, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, and the hilarious Nathan Lane. To view past episodes, learn more about the show or to continue to have wine demystified visit vinetalk.com.

Fun Fact: Vine Talk is co-produced by OLIVE Productions, a company that Tucci began with his friend for more than 20 years, Steve Buscemi.

Stanley Tucci has appeared in over 50 films, countless television shows and over a dozen plays, on and off Broadway. He was nominated for several notable film awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Lovely Bones, The Devil Wears Prada and Julie & Julia. Tucci first studied acting at SUNY Purchase, where he was a roommate of Ving Rhames, whose real first name is Irving. He credits Tucci for first calling him Ving. Stanley Tucci currently lives in NY with his three daughters.