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

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Sandbar

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Sandbar, New York

Wine List Review of Sandbar, Cold Harbor, New York

Michaela Quinlan

<a href="https://www.sandbarcoldspringharbor.com/menus/#wine-list">https://www.sandbarcoldspringharbor.com/menus/ - wine-list</a>

Sandbar:

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier.

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: Hi Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Sandbar in Cold Spring Harbor, NY. Featuring American cuisine from tavern favorites to local fare from land and sea.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what you think of their wine list.

MQ: A recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, Sandbar&rsquo;s wine list features a beautiful selection of Old World and New World favorites. Enjoy today&rsquo;s selections to pair with Sandbar&rsquo;s award-winning cuisine.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s start local with the 2020 Corey Creek Vineyard Cabernet Franc Blanc from the North Fork of Long Island. Here we have another classic red grape, Cabernet Franc, where the clear juice is extracted to create a standout white wine. This unique white wine features ripe raspberries, ripe peach, Meyer lemon, with a nutty finish. Pair this medium bodied white with tuna, salmon, and herbed proteins.&nbsp;

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: if you are looking for a bold, full-bodied red wine, look no further than the 2017 Orin Swift &lsquo;Eight Years in the Desert&rsquo; from CA. This rich, red blend consists of Syrah, Zinfandel, and Petite Syrah and features blackberry jam, ripe fig and prune, with notes of cocoa and chocolate covered strawberries. An excellent companion to richly sauced proteins and pasta.

RT: So Michaela, their list seems to have lots of range but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

MQ: A must-try Italian white wine is the 2020 Villa Pozzi Grillo from Sicily. I enjoy the Grillo grape for its freshness and bright acidity, and you will always find one for an excellent price. With citrus, grapefruit, and ripe green apple, along with fennel and an almond note on the finish, this white wine is a must-try to pair with shellfish and hard cheese.

RT: These are some great calls.

So you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: An excellent wine to consider for the table would be the 2016 Ken Wright &lsquo;Guadelupe Vineyard&rsquo; Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Ken Wright produces wine from over 13 vineyard sites within the Willamette Valley. This is the &rsquo;Guadelupe Vineyard&rsquo; site. This Pinot Noir features classic ripe cranberries and cherries, but also showcases earth, mushroom, and black olives, and a rich, round finish that is sure to please the table.

&nbsp;RT: Ooh, Terrific. Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind.&nbsp; Any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: An excellent white wine of quality and value to consider is the 2018 Heritiers de Comte, Lafon, from the Macon region of Burgundy in France. This organic Chardonnay is medium bodied and features white flowers, ripe green apple, ripe pear, with notes of lime zest, and a mineral finish with just a touch of oak. A beautiful Chardonnay to pair with charcuterie, salmon and tuna, all for an excellent price.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: When seeking a quality/value red wine, consider the 2016 Avignoesi Vino Noblie di Montepulciano in Tuscany, Italy. This highly rated, organic red consists of 100% Sangiovese from the region of Montepulciano showcases ripe blackberries, red cherries, clove, sage, violets, with a finish of tobacco and fresh acidity. Pair this can&rsquo;t miss red with herbed proteins and pasta.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: A standout wine to add to any special occasion is the classic red Burgundy. One to consider would be the 2018 Domaine de la Vougeraie Grand Cru Le Clos du Roi from Burgundy, France. Clos du Roi is one of the finest Crus within Corton in Burgundy which produced this stellar Pinot Noir from vines planted in 1950. Showcasing ripe red cherries, ripe raspberries, lavender, and mint, with tobacco on the lingering finish. A perfect Grand Cru to add to any special occasion.

&nbsp;

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Sandbar&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself.&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

End

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