The world of wine has always been associated with sophistication, elegance, and a sense of refined taste. However, it may surprise you to discover that some of the world&#39;s most renowned NBA players have not only conquered the basketball court but also ventured into the captivating world of winemaking. In this comprehensive article, we will explore the fascinating stories behind NBA players turned vintners, discover their exceptional wines, and uncover the origins of their passion for winemaking.

<ol>
	<li>Tony Parker - TP Wines: NBA legend Tony Parker, known for his illustrious career with the San Antonio Spurs, has also found success in the world of winemaking. Through his venture TP Wines, Parker has established a reputation for producing exceptional wines. The grapes for his wines are sourced from the esteemed vineyards in France&#39;s Bordeaux region. With a focus on Bordeaux blends, TP Wines showcases Parker&#39;s commitment to excellence on and off the court. Critics have praised his wines for their complexity, balance, and remarkable aging potential. Notable releases include the TP Reserve, a bold red blend with dark fruit flavors and velvety tannins, earning an impressive critic score of 93.</li>
	<li>Carmelo Anthony - Melo Wines: Carmelo Anthony, a prolific NBA scorer who has played for several teams including the Portland Trail Blazers, is no stranger to the world of wine. With Melo Wines, he has crafted a portfolio of wines that reflect his appreciation for fine craftsmanship and dedication. Anthony&#39;s wines predominantly hail from Napa Valley, California, known for its world-class wines. One of his standout creations is the Melo 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, showcasing rich black fruit flavors, supple tannins, and a long, satisfying finish. Critics have awarded this wine an impressive score of 92, highlighting its quality and attention to detail.</li>
	<li>Dwyane Wade - Wade Cellars: Dwyane Wade, a three-time NBA champion and celebrated player, has transitioned his passion for winemaking into a successful venture with Wade Cellars. Collaborating with renowned winemaker Jayson Pahlmeyer, Wade produces premium wines that embody his personality and flair. Wade Cellars&#39; flagship wine, the Wade Cabernet Sauvignon, is sourced from the esteemed Napa Valley and showcases the region&#39;s exceptional terroir. With its velvety texture, layers of dark fruit, and refined tannins, the Wade Cabernet has garnered critical acclaim, receiving a remarkable score of 95.</li>
	<li>Channing Frye - Chosen Family Wines: Channing Frye, known for his championship-winning stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has made a name for himself in the wine industry with Chosen Family Wines. Frye&#39;s passion for winemaking stems from his family&#39;s love for wine, and he channels this enthusiasm into producing exceptional varietals. Chosen Family Wines specializes in small-lot, single-vineyard wines sourced from California&#39;s premier wine regions. The Chosen Family Pinot Noir, with its vibrant red fruit aromas, silky texture, and well-integrated acidity, has garnered critical praise and a commendable score of 91.</li>
	<li>James Harden - 13 Wines: James Harden, an NBA superstar known for his scoring prowess, has ventured into winemaking with his label, 13 Wines. Harden&#39;s wines reflect his commitment to excellence and attention to detail. Sourced from top vineyards in California, the 13 Wines portfolio showcases a range of varietals, including Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

The world of wine has always been associated with sophistication, elegance, and a sense of refined taste. However, it may surprise you to discover that some of the world's most renowned NBA players have not only conquered the basketball court but also ventured into the captivating world of winemaking. In this comprehensive article, we will explore the fascinating stories behind NBA players turned vintners, discover their exceptional wines, and uncover the origins of their passion for winemaking.

When Passion Unites: NBA Players and their Exquisite Wines

Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let’s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.



 Omakase, a term that translates to "I'll leave it up to you" in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It's not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

Omakase and Wine Pairing: A Booming Gastronomic Journey

California Chardonnay: it's a name synonymous with sunshine, buttery richness, and maybe even a splash of white wine envy (looking at you, Bridget Jones). But how did this grape, originally hailing from France, become a Californian icon? Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard, from its unexpected origins to the reasons it continues to reign supreme on wine lists.

Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard!

Forget everything you think you know about sweet, syrupy wines. Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region that’s as light and bubbly as a summer day.

Lambrusco: The Party in a Bottle You Need to Try under $25

As the days grow longer and warmer, it's time to trade in your full-bodied reds and crisp whites for a glass of refreshing rosé. This versatile wine is not only perfect for spring but also pairs beautifully with a wide variety of foods all year round.



Rosé originates from France, specifically Provence - the world’s leading rosé region. It has been produced there since 600 BC when Greeks brought vines to southern France. Unlike its red and white counterparts, rosés are made using an array of grape varietals including Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault among others.

Spring into Rosé: The Perfect Wine for Warmer Weather

We are interested in understanding your dining and wine consumption habits to gain valuable insights into the wine and restaurant industry.

State of Wine and Restaurant Survey 2024

Aligoté: Burgundy's Unsung Hero Steps Out of the Shadows

For Chardonnay lovers seeking a refreshing, value-driven alternative, Aligoté, Burgundy's "other" white grape, beckons with its crisp acidity, subtle minerality, and undeniable charm. Often overshadowed by its more illustrious neighbor, Aligoté is finally gaining recognition for its unique qualities and exceptional quality-to-price ratio.

Aligoté: Burgundy's Unsung Hero Steps Out of the Shadows

A Hungarian Legacy: Imagine yourself in Tokaj, Hungary, a region steeped in winemaking tradition. For centuries, Furmint has thrived in its volcanic soil, basking in the warm sunshine. These grapes, loved for their thick skin and high acidity, became the cornerstone of Hungary's most famous wine: Tokaji. These sweet, honeyed treasures were once enjoyed by royalty and popes!

Furmint: Hungary's Hidden Gem for Wine Lovers

Check out these four whites wines under $24, from some great producers across various terroirs – France, Italy, Spain. Spring is in the air.

Four must try white wines for under $24 from France, Spain, and Italy

Eric Asimov's recent article isn't just about the "luxury" of sommeliers vanishing from restaurants. It's a stark warning about the potential collapse of a vibrant corner of our social and cultural ecosystem: the world of wine.

Why the Decline of Sommeliers Is a Crisis for All of Us

The Four Horsemen

Grant Wood

The Four Horseman 

Located on 295 Grand St in Brooklyn, near Williamsburg, The Four Horseman is a cozy wine bar with great small plates that merry well with a very thoughtful wine list and was started by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem.

Alright Robert, so looking at their almost 50-page wine list, I think this is a very passionate list with tons of personality so this is a place I would definitely lean into the staff and ask what is most exciting to them in the moment as I&rsquo;m sure they&rsquo;ll be more than willing to share with you. Let&rsquo;s dive in and look at what caught by attention though.

I&rsquo;d like to start by saying that I like how their table of contents is laid out but starting with &ldquo;what&rsquo;s new&rsquo;&rsquo; and &lsquo;&rsquo;last call&rsquo;&rsquo; as a fun way to show you something new that they&rsquo;re excited about as well as things that might be on the way out and might not get in for a while. It&rsquo;s a useful tool that my favorite wine shops use to keep things fresh and make sure you don&rsquo;t miss out. For their new additions, I&rsquo;d go for the 2017 Eric Rodez Coteaux &ldquo;Ambonnay Rouge&rdquo; Pinot Noir which is very rare to find a still red Pinot Noir from Champagne. For their last call, I&rsquo;d go for the 2020 Emmanuel Haget &ldquo;Palabres&rdquo; which is Pineau d&rsquo;Aunis from the Loire, which is light, spicy, and easygoing at a very accessible price.

Since we&rsquo;re in summer and it&rsquo;s always a good idea for rose then I like the 2020 Enderle &amp; Moll rose of Sp&auml;tburgunder coming from Baden in Germany but if you want to splurge then I can&rsquo;t say no to the 2010 Lopez de Heredia &ldquo;Vina Tondonia&rdquo; Gran Reserva from Rioja which is, yes, an ageable rose.

For bubbles, I think the &quot;Jus Jus Day&quot; Chardonnay and Muscat Blanc by Martha Stoumen and Julia Sherman is super fun and a great value. The 01&rsquo; &lsquo;Reserve Priv&eacute;e by B&eacute;r&ecirc;che et Fils would be a great banger to splurge on from the Montagne de Reims.

For whites, I&rsquo;d go for the 2017 &ldquo;Saul&eacute;tas&rdquo; by Sebastien Riffault in Sancerre but of course, I can&rsquo;t pass up 2016 &lsquo;Pur Sang&rsquo; Blanc Fume de Pouilly from Dagueneau. They also have a fair amount of Burgundy so don&rsquo;t pass up a good rec from your server if that&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;re in the mood for. There&rsquo;s a great selection but not enough time for me to really get into on this pod. Alternatively, I think the 2019 C&ocirc;tes du Jura Pollock&rsquo;s&nbsp;Chardonnay is a great way to experience a different side of French chardonnay.

On to reds, a great value is the 2018 syrah from Jean-Michel Stephan who makes amazing C&ocirc;te Rotie but his regular syrah is a banger for the price compared to his more coveted bottlings. If you want to splurge, then, of course, you can go with Chave or Clape as well which never disappoints. Moving away from France, I know you like big wines with age Robert so if you go here anytime soon then you have to order the 9&rsquo; C&ocirc;tes du Jura Pollock&rsquo;s&nbsp;Chardonnay who is a true OG of barolo and worth the splurge. Another fun wine with some age is the 10&rsquo; Priorat Dits del Terra by Terroir al Limit which is a project by Eden Sadie and Dominik Huber doing awesome things with unique sites from Spain&rsquo;s Priorat. One last wine I&rsquo;ll mention that would be fun is the 2019 Port Phillip &ldquo;Ray-Monde Vineyard&rdquo; pinot noir by Josh Cooper down under in Australia. These are not the big, ripe Aussie wines that most people think of though. This is a much more of a light and more delicate style of Aussie juice.

There&rsquo;s a great list of mags too, so don&rsquo;t be shy and I&rsquo;m sure you&rsquo;re in for a good time at The Four Horseman.

&nbsp;

Cheers!

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Jadix is a family-owned winery located in the Picpoul de Pinet region of France. The winery is known for producing high-quality, terroir-driven wines that showcase the unique characteristics of the region.

Restaurant & wine bar serving Mediterranean small plates & entrees in a rustic, brick-walled space.

Dante

Geronimo

La Mercerie

Bar Primi

Kirby’s Steakhouse

The Grill

homepage

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Balzem

Mitravelas

Agiorgitiko Red Dry 2017

Agiorgitiko

Peloponnese, Greece

Quinta dos Vales

Marques dos Vales Alvarinho - Antaovaz 2018

Mezcla

Portugal

Domaine du Cros

Cuvee Vieilles Vignes 2018

Fer Servadou

France

Pas Saint Martin

La Pierre Frite Saumur Blanc 2019

Chenin Blanc

Saumur, France

Vespa

Il Bianco dei Vespa Fiano Salento 2018

Fiano

Salento, Italy

Christophe

Thorigny Vouvray Sec, Loire 2015

Loire, France

Camino Roca Altxerri

Getariako Txakolina 2020

Hondarrabi Zuri

Pais Vasco, Spain

Domaine Ogereau

Anjou l'Anjouee, Loire 2018

Loire, France

Domaine de Bérane

Le Rose 2017

Blend

Ventoux, France

J. L. Quinson

Cotes de Provence Rose 2019

Blend

France

Cheval Noir

Saint-Emilion (Grand Vin) 2018

Blend

France

Chteau Magneau, France, Bordeaux, Graves 2017

Red Bordeaux Blend

Graves, Bordeaux, France

Maris

La Touge, Minervois 2017

Languedoc, France

Trimbach

Pinot Gris Alsace Reserve 2014

Pinot Gris

Alsace, France

Domaine Gallas

Saint-Pourcain Blanc 2018

Blend

France