Big Fat Wine

Come visit our list!

It’s Official! We now have the most comprehensive Big Fat list on the web of celebrities that have chosen to venture into the elegant business of wine production! Many “thank you’s” to all of your suggestions and comments! Celebrities  sure know what to do when they want to enjoy life!

Below are two more additions to the BigFatWine listing of celebrities who own commercial wineries, wine brands
or vineyards. 

Richard Branson

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson
British Industrialist
Virgin Wines
Mendocino, California

Emilio Estevez

Emilio Estevez
American actor, film director, and writer
Casa Dumetz Wines
Malibu, California

(If you are a celebrity who owns a winery, wine brand or vineyard or you know of one that we’ve missed, let us know and we will add you/them)

We are adding a page for vineyards.   Here are the first few featured vineyard links.   Keep your eyes open for new pages being added all the time!

BellaGrace Vineyards
Website: www.bellagracevineyards.com

Chandler Reach Vineyards
Website: www.chandlerreach.com

Blenheim Vineyards
Website: www.blenheimvineyards.com

Fess Parker Vineyards
Website: www.fessparker.com

Beaux Frères Vineyard
Website: www.beauxfreres.com

Ciccone Vineyard and Winery
Website: www.cicconevineyards.com

Wine and Social Media

If you spend time researching wine varietals, reading about wine travels or simply investigating reviews on local wine bars, you will inevitably discover the massive communications media used today in discussing the wine lifestyle. Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and videos. It is everywhere you look and has been increasing in popularity daily.

Wine is a social beverage. It’s more than what’s in the glass. The entire experience can be complex yet socially enlightening.

This may be why, according to a new study from the research company Lift9,  700,000 people watch wine-related videos each month. There are over 7,000 wine tweets per day, and over 1,300 bloggers focusing on wine. And the wine experience has become mobile, with more than 300 iPhone apps.

Below are data collected by Lift9 involving the top clicks in social media and how each tool is used;

Most-watched Wine Videos

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most-watched online videos are not educational, but entertainment-oriented.

1. Wine in an upside down glass trick
2. Drink to your health
3. Borat’s guide to wine tasting

Top Wine Blogs (measured by frequency in audience interaction over the previous 3 months)

Wine can be intimidating and rather than approaching a snobby store clerk, social media is a great place to interract and get information.

1. Wine Library TV
2. 1 Wine Dude
3. DRINKnectar

Top Wine Tweeters (measured by number of followers)

In the 140-character world of Twitter, what brings in the followers is equal parts relevance and entertainment. The top Tweeters also are the ones who also take time to respond to followers.
1. @Jancisrobinson
2. @winetwits
3. @garyvee

Top Facebook Fan Pages (measured by number of fans/friends)

Note that all three are wineries, not wine critics or personalities. “Engagement” is what differentiates these three from the rest. There’s a lot of activity, both from the vineyard and the fans, talking about their experience, sharing it. There’s images, videos, even events for customers and fans, giving them a reason to return and participate.
1. Barefoot Wine & Bubbly
2. Due vigne di familia
3. Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Provisions

Most-searched Wine Terms

Screening out the most obvious terms (“wine,” “alcohol,” etc.), the wine terms most often searched on the Internet are:
1. Champagne
2. Red wine
3. Cabernet
4. Cellars
5. Pinot
6. Vineyard
7. White wine
8. Merlot
9. Sauvignon

And. . . Social Media at Big Fat Wine

Here at BigFatWine we’ve fully embraced social media in its myriad forms. We have been blogging; sharing videos, discussion topics and event notifications are posed regularly on our official facebook page. We’re getting bigger and fatter every day so come join the fun.

Whatever your preferred social media platform, we are actively promoting the wine lifestyle!

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Celebrities & Wine

Many “thank you’s” to all of your suggestions and comments! We’ve added more celebrities to our page and will continue to add more as we find more!

Celebs sure know what to do when they want to enjoy life!  Below is a partial listing of celebrities who own commercial wineries, wine brands or vineyards.

Boz Scaggs
American singer, songwriter and guitarist
Scaggs Vineyards
Oakville, California

(If you are a celebrity who owns a winery, wine brand or vineyard or you know of one that we missed, let us know and we will add you/them to the list)

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Official State Portal

Arizona is the 48th state and last of the contiguous states admitted to the Union, achieving statehood on February 14, 1912  Arizona is noted for its desert climate, exceptionally hot summers, and mild winters, however it also features pine forests and mountain ranges in the northern high country, with cooler weather than in the lower deserts.

Arizona has three major wine growing regions, all in the high desert. The first region is in southern Arizona in the Sonoita/Elgin area. The Willcox area in Cochise County was the second area to come on board. And now the Verde Valley is the third region for growing grapes. The elevation of these vineyards range between 3800 ft. to almost 6000 ft., allowing nice hot days and cool nights during the grape growing season. Another up-and-coming area up north is the Skull Valley area with three vineyards. You’ll also find grapes growing scattered around the state in other areas such as Tombstone, Benson, Payson and Portal. The state has one American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Sonoita AVA is located in southeast Arizona, south of the city of Tucson. The Sonoita area is a basin surrounded by three mountain ranges, the Huachuca Mountains, the Santa Rita Mountains, and the Whetstone Mountains.

My parents reside in Cornville. I (almost) faithfully phone my mom every Saturday. When I tire of the wet weather here in Seattle, I envy the Arizona sunshine. Of course mom gets up at 4am to work in the yard and is in by 10am because it is too hot to be outdoors. Her husband Karl is making some wonderful creations from clay and is getting tons of recognition from the art community. Check out a few pieces of his artwork which is also available for purchase at the Oak Creek Vineyard & Winery;

Wine in the Desert? Several varieties of wine grapes  do very well in Arizona, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sangiovese. Vineyards were first planted in Arizona in the 17th century by Franciscan missionaries. Today there are thirteen active wineries in the state, with over 650 acres of grapes being grown for the purpose of wine production.

Places to visit!

Alcantara Vineyards
Phone: (928) 649-8463
www.alcantaravineyard.com

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
Phone: (928) 639-3004
www.arizonastrongholdvineyards.com

Caduceus Cellars
Phone: (928) 639-9463
www.caduceus.org

Callaghan Vineyards
Phone: (520) 455-5322
www.callaghanvineyards.com

Dos Cabezas WineWorks
Phone: (520) 455-5141
www.doscabezaswinery.com

Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery
Phone: (928) 649-2681
www.javelinaleapwinery.com

Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery
Phone: (928) 649-0290
www.oakcreekvineyards.net

Page Springs Cellars
Phone: (928) 639-3004
www.pagespringcellars.com

Sonoita Vineyards
Phone: (520) 455-5893
www.sonoitavineyards.com

Visit these great tour offerings to help make your Arizona Wine experience both entertaining and informative;

The Verde Valley Wine Trail connects the dots between 4 wineries: Alcantara Vineyards, Page Springs Cellars, Oak Creek Vineyards, & Javelina Leap Vineyards, and 4 tasting rooms: Caduceus Cellars, Jerome Winery, Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, and Pillsbury Wine Company.

Arizona Vines and Wines features a variety of tours suited to the enjoyment of Arizona wines. Take a look at these creative maps for planning your tour(s). NORTHERN ARIZONA WINE TOUR – SONOITA/ELGIN WINE TOUR -  SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA WINE TOUR

Including a  picnic lunch, you are guided through tastings at four wineries.
Arizona Grape Escapes

Arizona Horseback Experience
Phone: (520) 455-5696
www.horsebackexperience.com

Sedona Adventure Tours
Phone: (877) 673-3661
www.sedonaadventuretours.com

View Larger Map

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Celebs sure know what to do when they want to enjoy life!  Below is a partial listing of celebrities who own commercial wineries, wine brands or vineyards.

(If you are a celebrity who owns a winery, wine brand or vineyard or you know of one that we missed, let us know and we will add you/them to the list)

Vince Neil
Lead singer Motley Crue
Vince Vineyards (article)Vince Neil Official Site
Sonoma County, California

Francis Ford Coppola
American film director, producer and screenwriter
Rubicon Estate Winery
Napa Valley, California

Fess Parker
American film and television actor /featured in the movie Sideways
Fess Parker Winery
Santa Ynez Valley, California

Tommy Smothers
American comedian, composer and musician
Remick Ridge Vineyards
Sonoma County, California

Sam Neill
New Zealand actor
Two Paddocks
Central Otago, New Zealand

Gerard Depardieu
French actor and winemaker
Chateau de Tigne
Anjou, Loire Valley, France

Mario Andretti
Italian-American world champion racing driver
Andretti Winery
Napa Valley, California

Greg Norman
Australian professional golfer and entrepreneur /Collaboration with Beringer Blass
Greg Norman Estates
South Australia and California

Peggy Fleming
American figure skater who won an Olympic gold medal in 1968 / Founded with her husband, Greg Jenkins
Fleming Jenkins Vineyards and Winery
Santa Cruz Mountains, California

Ernie Els
South African professional golfer / Collaboration with Engelbrecht Els Vineyard
Ernie Els Wines
Stellenbosch, South Africa

Savanna Samson
American pornographic actress / Her first wine Sogno Uno is a red blend consisting mainly of the obscure Italian grape variety Cesanese
Savanna Samson Wines
Tuscany and Lazio, Italy

Jeff Gordon
American race car driver / Collaboration with August Briggs Wines
Jeff Gordon Wines
Napa Valley, California

Raymond Burr
Established by the late actor in 1986. Currently run by his partner.
Raymond Burr Vineyards
Dry Creek Valley, California

Bruce Cohn
Cohn was manager of The Doobie Brothers
B.R. Cohn Winery
Sonoma County, California

John Lasseter
American animator, director and the chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Lasseter Family Winery
Sonoma County, California

Diane Marie Disney
Owns winery with husband, former professional football player Ron W. Miller
Silverado Vineyards Winery
Napa Valley, California

Carmen Policy
Attorney and American football executive
Casa Piena
Yountville, California

Tom Seaver
Major League Baseball pitcher
GTS Vineyards
Napa Valley, California

Dan Aykroyd
Also produces a Sonoma County, California, series of wines
Dan Aykroyd Wines
Ontario, Canada

Mick Hucknall
Lead singer of the British band Simply Red / Collaboration with Italian winemaker Salvo Foti
Il Cantante
Sicily, Italy

Olivia Newton-John
Founded in 1983 with business partner Pat Farrar
Koala Blue Wines
South Australia

Cliff Richard
Indian-born English singer, musician, performer and actor / Collaboration with Quinta do Miradouro
Adega do Cantor
Algarve, Portugal

Mike Weir
Canadian professional golfer
Mike Weir Wine
Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Madonna
Collaboration with her father Silvio “Tony” Ciccone
Ciccone Vineyard and Winery
Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan

Wayne Gretzky
Collaboration with Creekside Estates
No. 99 Estates Winery
Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Alex Spanos
Real estate developer and self-made billionaire who owns the San Diego Chargers. Also owns Bell Wine Cellars in Yountville
SpanosBerberian Winery
Napa Valley, California

Dick Vermeil
Collaboration with OnThEdge Winery
Vermeil Wines
Napa Valley, California

Kevin Buckler
American racecar driver and entrepreuener
Adobe Road Wines
Sonoma County, California

Arnold Palmer
Collaboration with Luna Vineyards
Arnold Palmer Wines
California

Mick Fleetwood
Collaboration with Langtry Estate and Vineyards
Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar
Lake County, California

Jonathan Cain
American musician, most known for his keyboards and songwriting roles in the rock band, Journey
delaCain Vineyards
Sonoma County, California

Kyle MacLachlan
Collaboration with Washington winemaker Eric Dunham
Pursued by Bear Wine
Columbia Valley, Washington

Drew Bledsoe
Collaboration with Washington winemaker Chris Figgins of Leonetti Cellars
Double Back Wine
Walla Walla Valley, Washington

Maynard James Keenan
Lead singer of the multi-platinum rock bands Tool and A Perfect Circle / Also owns Merkin Vineyards in Arizona
Caduceus Cellars
Arizona

Richard Childress
NASCAR driver and the owner of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series
Childress Vineyards
North Carolina

Dave Matthews
Blenheim Vineyards
Charlottesville, Virginia

Jason Priestley
The British Columbia born actor is a co-owner in the estate
Black Hills Estate Winery
Okanagan, British Columbia

Antonio Banderas
Anta Banderas
Ribera del Duero, Spain

Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Co-owns winery with brother in law. To avoid a conflict of interest with his wine rating publication The Wine Advocate, Parker delegates the task of rating Oregon wines to another associate.
Beaux Freres Vineyards & Winery
Willamette Valley, Oregon

Dave Del Dotto
Former real estate investor who sold a course he called the “Cash Flow System” through infomercials / In 2007, experimented with fermenting wine in amphorae
Del Dotto Vineyards
Napa Valley, California

Mike Ditka
Collaboration with the Mendocino Wine Company
Mike Ditka Wines
Mendocino County, California

Sting
Sting and Trudie have just bottled their first vintage of wine (though it needs to age for three years before it will be released). Il Palagio’s vineyards.
Il Palagio’s vineyards
Figline Valdarno, Italy

Bob Dylan
Teamed up with Antonio Terni (a life-long Dylan fan) in La Marche, Italy, to produce the Planet Waves (the title of Dylan’s 1974 album) signature label.
Fattoria Le Terrazze
Numana, Italy

Dan Marino
Vintage 13 Marino Estates
California

Charles Woodson
American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers. / Under NFL regulations, Woodson is currently prohibited from endorsing his own wines publicly until he retires.
TwentyFour Wines
Napa Valley, California

Cathy Schembechler
Named after her late husband, former University of Michigan Football coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler Wines
California

David Ginola
French international football player who has also worked as an actor and model
Coste Brulade
Côtes de Provence, France

Michael Seresin
New Zealand cinematographer
Seresin Estate
Marlborough New Zealand

Jarno Trulli
Italian Formula One racing driver
Podere Castorani
Abruzzo, Italy

Valeri Bure
Professional ice hockey right winger from Russia. He played ten seasons in the National Hockey League / In partnership with his wife – actress Candace Cameron.
Chateau Boswell Winery
Napa Valley, California

Günther Jauch
Prestigious vineyard from at least the 16th century, listed cultural heritage site, since 1805 owned by Jauch’s ancestors. Jauch, one of the most popular Germans, is owner in the seventh generation.
Weingut von Othegraven
Mosel (wine region), Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Frank Sinatra
American singer and actor
Sinatra Family Estates
Napa Valley, California

(If you are a celebrity who owns a winery, wine brand or vineyard or you know of one that we missed, let us know).

We look forward to building this list as celebs enter the lifestyle.

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What a wonderful day.  I slept in, the sun was shining, coffee was ready when I woke up and we had 2 tastings scheduled, heaven.

We picked up 4 bottles from Chateau Ste. Michelle and hung out to taste but we didn’t go over to the retail side because there was a concert today, which I would have known if I had checked our events page, and it was crowded.  I would have loved to go to the concert but we didn’t buy tickets in time and the show sold out.  If anyone went to Crosby Stills and Nash tonight let me know how the show was.

When we left the winery we needed a bite to eat so we hit Barbecue Pete’s in Kent on our way home.  The special today was baby back ribs.  I love food you can eat with your hands.  They were cooked to perfection, the meat fell off the bone,  great flavor, great sauce.  Look for them every year at the Puyallup Fair, in Puyallup Washington  or at their Kent Washington location.

Of course, I got barbecue sauce on my shirt so we had to stop by home to change.  Then it was off to WineStyles in Federal Way for the members pick up and tasting.   The event started at 5:00, we arrived about 5:25 and the back area was already full.  As with most wine events the people were wonderful and we were able to squeeze in.  We tasted several selections and were treated to a glass of 2006 Goose Ridge Vineyards Vireo (Thanks Scott, our treat next time).  I loved the earthy nose and flavor, we bought a bottle to enjoy later.

The day lived up to its promise,  it makes me excited about what tomorrow will bring.

As always,

Love, Laugh, Learn… LIVE!