WINE VIPs

Sam Neill

Irish-born Kiwi Sam Neill, best known as an actor in moviessuch as Jurassic Park and Hunt For The Wilderpeople, plantedfive acres of Pinot Noir grapes at a vineyard he named TwoPaddocks in Gibbston, Central Otago, in 1993.

Since then, he has added three more vineyards in NewZealand to his repertoire, all producing world-class Pinot Noirand making Two Paddocks the only Central Otago winery witha vineyard in all three of Central Otago’s valleys – Gibbston, theAlexandra Basin and the Cromwell Basin.

Neill’s great-grandfather, Percy Neill, emigrated fromBelfast to Dunedin in the 1860s where he founded Neill& Co, a wine and spirits importer - so the Neill family hastherefore been part of the deep south’s wine industry formore than 150 years. For more on Two Paddocks, visitwww.twopaddocks.com

Drew Barrymore

Hollywood superstar and wine enthusiast, DrewBarrymore, released her first Pinot Grigio incollaboration with Wilson Daniels wineries in 2012.The 2011 vintage retailed for under US$20.00 and wona Gold medal at France’s Le Challenge Internationaldu Vin. Barrymore now works in partnership withCalifornian winery Carmel Road to produce BarrymoreWines – a range including Pinot Noir, Rosé and Pinot Grigio. Barrymore works with Carmel Roadwinemaker, Kris Kato, to create crisp, fruitwines that are expressive and have uniquepersonalities. For more information onBarrymore Wines, visit www.barrymorewines.com

Francis Ford Coppola

It may surprise some that this six-timeOscar-winning film director, producer,screenwriter and composer has also beenin the wine business for more than 40 years.

The Godfather and Apocalypse Now director acquired a segment of the Inglebrook Estate in California’s Napa Valley in 1975 and spent the next four decades restoring it to its former glory to realise his dream of producing high quality wines.

Since then, Coppola has acquired several more vineyards in California with a homebase in Sonoma, California, at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, which was named Winery of the Year at the 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

The winery’s labels include Storytellers, a collection revealing stories that have influences Coppola and his family throughout the generations; Sofia, a range of sparkling wine named for Francis’ daughter Sofia Coppola; Director’s Cut, limited production appellation-designate wines named after the version of a film which most reflects the director’s vision; and Director’s Great Movies, a line-up of limited edition wines inspired by directors and movies that Coppola admires.

For more information on the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, visit www. francisfordcoppolawinery. com.

Jon Bon Jovi and Bon Jovi’s Son Jesse Bongiovi

Jon Bon Jovi

Last year, legendary rocker Jon Bon Jovijoined forces with French winemaker, GérardBertrand, and launched a premium Roséwine label. Bon Jovi’s son, Jesse Bongiovi,played a pivotal role in the creation of thelabel, named The Hampton Water WineCompany, which was inspired by a bon vivantlifestyle and spending time in the Hamptons.

The father/son teamwere introduced toBertrand, who sharedin their vision to make aunique Rosé, and after anumber of visits betweenthe US and GérardBertrand’s wineries inthe South of France, theDiving into HamptonWater Rosé was created. Amix of Grenache, Cinsaultand Mourvèdre, it retailsin the US for $25.00. For more informationon The Hampton Water Wine Company, visitwww.hamptonwaterwine.com

Stacy ‘Fergie’ Ferguson

Singer and former Black EyedPeas member, Stacy ‘Fergie’Ferguson, founded FergusonCrest winery with her dad,Pat, in 2006. The family-runboutique winery sits on asix-acre estate in California’sSanta Ynez Valley and producesvarietals including Syrah,Grenache, Viognier and thewinery’s own ‘Fergalicious’ -a blend of Syrah, CabernetSauvignon, Petit Verdotand Grenache.

“Take a look at my family’screst and you’ll find a board’shead, an ancient symbol ofhospitality,” Fergie writes on theFerguson Crest website. “I can’tthink of a more perfect way tohonour my family’s heritageand carry on that tradition ofwarmth and generosity thanto share with you FergusonCrest’s collection of wines,the latest gift from my father’sextraordinary green thumb.” Formore information on FergusonCrest, visit www.fergusoncrest.com

Kyle MacLachlan

Twin Peaks and Sex and the City actorKyle MacLachlan is the owner of Pursuedby Bear, a winery based in Walla Walla,Washington. Named after Shakespeare’sA Winter’s Tale, in which the characterAntigonus is directed to exit, pursued by abear, MacLachlan started the winery in 2005and produces three varietals - Pursued byBear Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc, Baby BearSyrah and Blushing Bear Rosé. For moreinformation on Pursued by Bear, visit www.pursuedbybearwines.com