Top 5 Celebrities Making Wine

With the Oscar season in full swing, talking about stars is inevitable! And yes, even here at Les Grappes, we’re into celebrities. But we prefer to focus on the stars who appreciate fine food, feasting, and local flavors! So we’re rolling out the red carpet right into the vineyards.

Isn't it nice here, among the Syrah and Mourvèdre vines?

Francis Ford Coppola, "the Godfather of the Vine"

Francis Ford Coppola, a name that needs no introduction thanks to his cinematic masterpieces—the *Godfather* trilogy—is also a renowned Napa Valley winemaker with his estate in Inglenook. He purchased it in the 1970s following the success of the first *Godfather* film. This comes as no surprise, given that his grandfather was already making wine in the cellar of his New York City apartment building. Today, he takes this craft very seriously and does everything in his power to ensure his wine becomes a benchmark among California wines. Notably, he hired an expert from Château Margaux in 2011. The Godfather’s father allows visitors to the Francis Ford Coppola Winery to enjoy a tasting of his wines and a movie screening. As for us, we’d love to sip a Coppola while watching a Coppola!

Luc Besson, "the big red one"

This renowned director, known for films such as *The Fifth Element*, *Léon*, and *Nikita*, is also the proud owner of Domaine de Senaux in the Saint Chinian appellation. He produces a red wine typical of the Hérault region, blending Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Carignan. Still in the South of France, right next to his property, he also owns three hectares of vineyards at the Domaine d’Alquier in the Faugères AOP. We eagerly await an Arthur and the Minimoys in the vineyards.

Christophe Lambert, “All that remains is the wine”

Christophe Lambert, a Franco-American actor also known as Connor McLeod in the Highlander series, is a jack-of-all-trades entrepreneur who first became interested in wine in 1997 by investing in Domaine La Grand’Ribe in Saint-Cécile-les-Vignes, in the Vaucluse region. He then invested in Château Tour Séran in the Médoc. While he does not participate in the winemaking process, he is actively involved in improving his estates and developing their promotional strategies.

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, or "Brangelina," "Wine Club"

Objectively speaking, we couldn’t write an article about celebrity winemakers without mentioning Hollywood’s most “glamorous” couple: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. First of all, to put the buzz surrounding the couple’s vineyard into perspective, it’s worth noting that the estate’s 2012 vintage sold out in just five hours. The star system certainly knows how to make things happen. The adventure began in 2008 when they decided to purchase Château de Miraval in the Côtes de Provence and Coteaux-Varois-en-Provence appellations—a 50-hectare estate operated 100% organically. The Perrin family is in charge of viticulture and winemaking, and renowned wine critics like Thierry Desseauve, who have had the privilege of tasting it, have nothing but praise for it.

Antonio Banderas, "Zorro's Wine"

We now turn our attention to Spain and one of the country’s most iconic actors: Antonio Banderas. He is best known for his portrayal of Don Alejandro de la Vega in *The Mask of Zorro*, alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones. What is less well known is that he purchased the Bodega Anta Banderas in the north of his native country in 2009. A return to his roots that isn’t to everyone’s taste. Sommelier Michael Madrigale (2012 Sommelier of the Year according to Wine Enthusiast) describes the Ribera del Duero he signs with the tip of his sword as a “wine to be tasted only in cases of extreme emergency.” There is still some work to be done for the masked avenger and the estate’s staff.