Wine related articles
VIP Wines
Staff Writer - January
15, 2006
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Madonna Produces Barbera
"Anche Madonna si dà all'alcol'!
This is the play on words that means something like "Even Madonna gives
in to the booze" that appeared as title of an article in the Italian
newspaper La Stampa
(The Press). The piece announces that Madonna is the latest star to add
the title of wine producers to her list of accomplishments.
In fact, in the past few days the label 'Confessions', the title of the material girl's latest CD, has hit the wine market. This is in addition to a line of wines produced in Michigan by the singer's father, Silvio Ciccone. The most expensive of these wines is a Cabernet Sauvignon that sells in Europe for €33.50, while the least expensive is a non-alcoholic wine (sic) called 'Un Wine', which sells for €20. According to the daily, La Stampa, in addition to these labels, Madonna produces a Barbera in Piedmont and a Pinot Grigio. Both wines are on sale for €24 .
The article mentions other latecomers to the winemaking field, among which are Italian singer Adriano Celentano, who purchased an estate in Radda in Chianti, and actress Stefania Sandrelli, who produces wine in her Siena hills estate.
Lucio Dalla and
'Lo Stronzetto'
There are more and more Italian and international entertainment VIPs who
are purchasing agricultural land in Italy and produce wines which tend
toward the very good.
One of the pioneers was Bolognese singer-songwriter Lucio Dalla, who long ago purchased property in Sicily, in the foothills of the Etna Volcano. There he produces 'Lo Stronzetto' ('The Little Turd'), a wine that, notwithstanding the less than appealing name, is well appreciated.
Among public figures that have entered the world of Bacchus, there are those that lend their name to promoting well-established wine varieties, such as the sport celebrities who promote the Barolo DOCG internationally.
Among Italian entertainment VIPs who actually produce wine, is actress Ornella Muti, who owns a wine estate in Lerma, in the province of Alessandria, which is considered one of the best of the Monferrato hills. Singer Albano Carrisi, ex husband of Romina Power, has long owned a large estate in Apulia, where he produces 'Felicità' ('Happiness'), a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes, and the red 'Nostalgia'. Actress Ilaria Occhini owns Fattoria La Striscia, in Tuscany, and produces the excellent red Super-Tuscan 'Occhini' and the Chianti DOC Bernardino.
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Mick Hucknall, lead singer of Simply Red, with his Nero d'Avola wine |
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Perhaps, first among the international VIPs comes film director Francis Ford Coppola, who has been producing quality wines for over 20 years at his outstanding Napa Valley estates. Recently Coppola was awarded the '2000 European Wine Council Special Award' prize.
Mick Hucknall, lead singer of the '80s band Simply Red, bought an estate in Sicily, at Sant'Alfio, where he produces 'Il Cantante' ('The Singer'), a red made with Nero d'Avola grapes which is very successful worldwide, both among consumers and wine critics. In addition, he produces 'Rosso di Rosso' ('Red of Red') another Nero d'Avola with a truly distinctive bouquet.
Finally, we should not forget Bob Dylan, who lends the name of some of his classic songs to Abruzzo wines produced by Antonio Terni. The list of VIPs that have gotten into making wines goes on, and includes actors Gerard Depardieu, Robin Williams and Carole Bouquet, as well as musicians Boz Scaggs, Sting, Bruno Lauzi, Ron and Dave Matthews, among others.
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