Napa is home to some of the best wineries in the country, so it is no great surprise that a number of affluent celebrities have purchased land in the coveted northern California region. Join us as we explore some of the more notable celebrity vineyards in the Napa Valley.
Francis Ford Coppola: Inglenook Estate
Most wine lovers are familiar with the Francis Ford Coppola Winery, a family friendly wine-lover’s playground located in Sonoma County. However, not so many are aware that the five-time Oscar-winning director also owns Inglenook Winery in the Napa Valley, an elegant and historic chateau nested in 90 acres of stunning vineyards.
Coppola and his wife purchased the historic property in 1975 intent on restoring the estate’s legacy of creating world-class wines equal to those that founder Gustave Niebaum and his grandnephew John Daniel Jr. made for decades. Rubicon, the estate’s premier wine since 1978, is produced from the best estate grown fruit, including the hist oric Gustave Niebaum Cabernet Sauvignon selection, first planted on the property in the 1880s.
Michael Chiarello: Chiarello Family Vineyards
Chiarello Family Vineyards is a family-owned Napa Valley winery that offers small production hand crafted estate wines. Founded by Michael Chiarello, local chef and Emmy-winning TV personality, the 20 acres of vineyards are located on his property in Napa Valley, where he focuses on sustainability and organic farming.
Chiarello Family Vineyards produces approximately 2,000 cases each year, including a white blend made primarily from Italian variety Ribolla Gialla, Rose of Zinfandel, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.
To create his wines, Chiarello enlisted one of the top “old vine” winemakers in Napa Valley, a master at creating rich, dynamic wines from the ultra-ripe fruit of older vines. During the process, 94-year-old Petite Sirah and Zinfandel vines were revived using head pruning and dry farming, which allowed the vines to ripen grapes evenly and flourish in the absence of water.
Bure Wines: Valeri Bure
Owned by former Russian-American ice hockey right winger, Valeri Bure, Bure Wines are made at an elegantly designed stately stone building with unique turrets located on the east side of the Northern Silverado Trail.
The Chateau Boswell Winery is dedicated to producing wines of pure vineyard expression through old-world, low-intervention winemaking techniques and 100% organically grown grapes. Labels include the Estate, Beckstoffer To Kalon, Oakville, and At Anchor, as well as the True Course Chardonnay and Absolutely Eloise Pinot Noir.
Joe Sebok: Napa Wine Aficionado
Although yet to invest in his own winery, professional card player Joe Sebok took a grape-crushing job at a winery during a career break and spent some time training in the Napa valley. He was responsible for “punchdowns” (using a long tool to push down the top layer of grapes in a fermenting bin to keep the grapes properly mixed) and “pumpovers” (pumping wine from one vat to another).
Inspired by his experience, aspiring connoisseur Joe Sebok has since teamed up with stepfather Barry Greenstein, the legendary “Robin Hood of Poker”, on a project that involves relishing the finer things in life – crafting the perfect bottle of wine. Time will tell if they are successful enough to join the ranks of Coppola, Chiarello and Bure…