Now Casting: Noteworthy Winemakers

Each week, Hollywood Hustlers looks at a hot career pursuit that’s drawing everyone from their respective corners of Tinseltown to vie for the role. Got an idea for an upcoming “Now Casting” feature? Email tips to cashleelee@gmail.com.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie aren’t the only ones entering the winemaking business. Turns out that many celebrities have been striking gold with grapes for years: Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie launched Ferguson Crest with her father late last year, band frontman Dave Matthews has three wines with Dreaming Tree, and music group Train released a petite syrah named after their Grammy-winning hit, “Drops of Jupiter.” Drew Barrymore has a citrus-infused Pinot Grigio to reflect her fresh and fun personality, Richard Gere has a vintage Tuscan red, and Kurt Russell has a chardonnay with a handful of pinot noirs. As for Antonio Banderas? The always-smooth actor partnered with Anta Bodegas last year to introduce a line of seven Spanish wines.

What is it about winemaking that has consistently transformed Hollywood wine enthusiasts into entrepreneurial vintners? For some, it’s just a matter of a simple partnership; Barrymore and Banderas leant their names to already-established vineyards. For others who want to get their feet wet in the wine, celebs like Fergie and Russell rather enjoy stepping away from the spotlight and out in to the vineyard themselves with their loved ones — Fergie first planted the vine alongside her father back in 2006, while Russell has said that he needs a great reason to get away from the grapes and grandkids. Sometimes, the actor’s name does not even appear on the bottle at all.

Pitt and Jolie will be more deeply involved in the production process of their Miraval wines. According to Bloomberg, the vintage pink rose will root from their 1,000-acre estate — Chateau Miraval in Correns, France — which they acquired in 2008, and will be the first of many organic wine offerings. In an equal partnership with celebrated European vintner Marc Perrin, the big-screen power couple have already attended blending sessions and contributed to the creation of a larger bottle shape and circular black label, which will read “Jolie-Pitt and Perrin” as winemakers.

“If you knew Brad and Angelina, you would see they are in search of perfection in everything,” Perrin told Bloomberg. “Brad and Angelina are very friendly, nice people and down to earth…They’re thinking long term.”

The first Miraval wine hits shelves on March 15. Described as featuring “wild lily aromas and brighter flavor notes of strawberry and raspberry,” I suggest pairing it with a screening of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

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