For the last few years, “critters” have sprung up on wine labels everywhere – kangaroos, giraffes, sheep, birds… But now, the trend is toward celebrity names, according to an article in the Times Herald Record.
[Francis Ford] Coppola started his winery in Napa 30 years ago; now it’s one of the biggest in the U.S. However, when Costco, Gallo and Martha Stewart all get involved, you know a trend is coming ashore, so consider this: Costco will soon carry a line of wines with Mick Fleetwood, drummer and co-founder of Fleetwood Mac. Gallo now has MacMurray Ranch, named for actor Fred MacMurray, who used to own the land where the grapes are grown. And Martha Stewart has been mixing up her own line of Sonoma County wines.
There are labels for race-car drivers (Richard Childress, Randy Lewis, Jeff Gordon, Mario Andretti), golfers (Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Ernie Els) and other athletes (Joe Montana, Larry Bird). And football commentator John Madden grows some of the syrah grapes for the wines of Olympic skater Peggy Fleming.
So, expect giant roosters, dancing bulls, and handicapped moose to go the way of, well, dinosaurs. Anyone care for a glass of Britney Spears Sauvingnon Blanc 2006? Perhaps a bottle of Lebron James Zinfandel? Watch your wine store shelves to see which celebrities will make the cut.