From Drew Barrymore to Mike Ditka, celebrities just can't seem to stop slapping their names on a bottle of wine.
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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's recently announced they have decided to go into the wine making business. The couple teamed up with French winemaker Marc Perrin to produce a rose at Chateau Miraval in Correns, France.
The celebrity couple's decision to put their name on a bottle of wine is not that big of a stretch for two reasons. First, they already live part time in the same chateau in the south of France, which is incidentally the same place where the band Pink Floyd recorded "The Wall" in 1979. Second, celebrities just seem to love making wine.
From Drew Barrymore to Mike Ditka, people with well-known names just can't seem to stop slapping their names on bottles around the world.
The list of luminaries who make wine is a lot longer than you might think. In fact, I'll admit I was even surprised when I started adding up all the well-known people who own wineries around the world.
Sure, many people know that "Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola owns a winery in Napa, California that bears his name. (Wines from this winery are also among the easier ones to find in most stores. You can find several of them for under $15 at Table and Vine in West Springfield, among other area stores.)
But that's only the tip of the iceberg. Along with Coppola, Pitt and Jolie, here's a list of celebrities and their wineries.
Mario Andretti - This race car driver not only won the Indianapolis 500. He also founded a winery with his name on it in Napa, California in 1996. Then again, it's not that much of a stretch since the 73-year-old's parents were Italian.
Dan Ackroyd - The "Blues Brother" from the Great White North owns a winery in Ontario, Canada. Don't bother looking for his wines around here, though. Usually, you'll only find them north of the border.
Antonio Banderas - What else would you expect from a suave Spanish actor who once played Zorro? He bought a 50 percent stake in a winery in Spain in 2009.
Drew Barrymore - The child star who's managed to have a long-lived acting career owns a winery with her name on it in Italy. Take that, Clooney.
Drew Bledsoe - The former New England Patriots quarterback founded Doubleback winery in Walla Walla, Washington, where Bledsoe grew up. One of the wines produced in 2007 managed to make it onto Wine Spectator's prestigious Top 100 list of the best wines in the world.
Gerard Depardieu - He's French. What else would you expect? But it's more than just a hobby for the actor. He reportedly owns vineyards in seven different countries.
Mike Ditka - He might look like a beer and brats kind of guy. But the former Chicago Bears coach owns a winery bearing his name in Mendocino County, California.
Emilio Estevez - The winery's only about one acre in size but Casa Dumetz in Malibu, California reportedly helps fuel the "brat pack" member's passion for wine.
Nick Faldo - The English golfer who won the Masters three times owns a winery bearing his name in Australia.
Mick Fleetwood - The British rock and roll drummer owns Mick Fleetwood Private Cellar in Lake County, California.
Fergie - I haven't tried the wines from Ferguson Crest in California but I'm sure they're fergielicious.
Jeff Gordon - I'm sure Jeff Gordon wines from Napa Valley are a huge hit in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Wayne Gretzky - Not only does "The Great One" own a winery in Ontario, Canada, the wines are actually quite good. I strongly recommend the No. 99 Cabernet Sauvignon from Wayne Gretzky Estates.
Madonna - The 'Material Girl' stays true to her roots with a winery she started with her father in her home state of Michigan.
Greg Norman - The former World No. 1 golfer owns a hugely popular winery with vineyards in his homeland of Australia and California.
Arnold Palmer - No word on whether Arnold Palmer Wines from California go well with Arnold Palmer ice tea.
Jason Priestley - Yes, there is life after "90210," including co-owning Black Hills Winery in British Columbia, Canada.
Sting - The singer's "message in a bottle"? Drink Tenuta il Palagio wines from Tuscany, Italy.
Mike Weir - Apparently, when you win The Masters golf tournament, you're required to start a winery. Someone apparently forgot to send the memo to Tiger.