Celebrity vintners

Kurt Russel's GoGi Wines

I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that lots of stars own vineyards and make pretty good wines. What is surprising is that one of the best wines from California is from a vineyard owned by Bozz Scaggs. The list of owners is long and not always distinguished. 

My research started with an article about Kurt Russell's Pinot Noir project. He's mastering old world techniques to produce wines the natural way they were made way back when. He wanted a vineyard that was organically and biodynamically farmed and sustainable in practice. 

He started out wanting to reproduce burgundies and still considers the Pinot Noir his main project. But his Goldie Chardonnay has scored 91 and 92 points from Wine Spectator in 2017 and 2018 respectively and sells for $50 a bottle. His Pinot Noir has scored 92 points in 2016 and 2017 from Wine Enthusiast and sells for $75 a bottle.

Meanwhile, Frances Ford Coppola was given Wine Enthusiast's 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award. Not bad for the creator of the Godfather and Apocalypse Now. The six-time Academy Award-winning director, screenwriter and entrepreneur was honoured for industry innovation, creativity, quality product and more than 40 years in winemaking. It seems innate talent knows no bounds.