Celebrity Wines

The number of celebrities (both living and dead) who are putting their names and images on wine is growing rapidly. Wine writers are divided as to whether these are serious wines or simply marketing gimmicks, but recent wine tastings show how much more seriously these celebrity wines are being taken. Prices can be high, with fans being willing to pay premium rates for the 'genuine' bottle.

Here are some of the celebrities who have entered the wine trade:

• Australian golfer Greg Norman has wineries in both the US and Australia.
• The Montagia wine from Howell Mountain, California, is a collaboration between star 49'ers quarterback Joe Montana and the well-known Beringer winery. Joe Montana's wine interest dates back to the Robert Mondavi 1979 Reserve Cabernet.
• South African golfer Ernie Els produces wines in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
• American golfer Arnold Palmer has his own California-based wine label which draws on vineyards from all over California, including Napa Valley.
• The New York Jets wine Jets Uncorked was released as of the 2008 vintage. The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was made by Marco DiGiulio and was rated as 'Outstanding' by Robert Parker.
• Actress Olivia Newton-John has had her Koala Blue label since 1983.
• Sir Cliff Richard has wineries in the Algarve, southern Portugal, which produce his Vida Nova wines. The Quinta do Miradouro, Quinta do Moinho and Vale do Sobriero are the vineyards from which these wines are made, under the umbrella brand Adega do Cantor 'The Singer's Cellar'.
• Movie star Sam Neill produces a focused range of wines (Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc) under his Two Paddocks label based in the Central Otago region of his native New Zealand.
• Kiwi movie director Michael Seresin, makes a substantial range of Marlborough wines under his Seresin and Momo labels.
• Bob Dylan is honored by 'Planet Waves', an Italian red wine made by Fattoria Le Terrazze in Marche. Named after Dylan's 1974 album, the blend of Montepulciano and Merlot is offered in a bottle signed by the singer-songwriter legend.
• Francis Ford Coppola is perhaps the most famous celebrity winemaker. The successful movie director purchased a substantial vineyard property in 1975 (following The Godfather: Part II) and recently merged the Niebaum-Coppola and Inglenook wineries under the 'Rubicon Estate' title. The 'Sofia' wines are named after his daughter.
• French film star Gerard Depardieu has been making wine for more than 30 years. His ventures have included vineyards in the Cote de Nuits sub-region in Burgundy and Condrieu in the Rhone Valley.
• Canadian actor Dan Akroyd launched his wine range in 2007. These are sold under the 'Discovery' and 'Signature Series' labels.
• Canadian ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky also established his winery in 2007. Based on the Niagara Peninsula, the Wayne Gretzky Estate wines have received many accolades since their first release.
• Maynard James Keenan of rock bands 'Tool' and 'A Perfect Circle' owns Caduceus Cellars, which made its first vintage in 2004.
• Rock band AC/DC released their range of Australian wines in 2011 in conjunction with Warburn Estate. 'Back in Black Shiraz', 'You Shook Me All Night Long Moscato', 'Highway to Hell Cabernet Sauvignon' and 'Hells Bells Sauvignon Blanc' are the first four wines to be released. Kiss, Motorhead, Satyricon, Whitesnake, Queensryche and Warrant also have wine labels.
• Madonna, the 'Queen of Pop', has a winery bearing her name, although by coincidence rather than by design. The Madonna Estate wines from Californian Carneros are entirely independent of the pop star; the winery has borne its name for almost a century.

There are also several dead celebrities whose names and images feature on wine bottles. These include Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Jerry Garcia.

You can search for other recommended wines by visiting our recommendations page.