[This is one of my favorite rocker images that I shot of Mark Andes from Heart, while he performed in Portland, Maine in the 80’s.]

I’ve been keeping a file/blog posting of those who are/were in the rock n’roll world, who have now also segued into the wine world.

Why? Because that’s what I lived in my most recent past life. My career was in rock radio. I’ve met a lot of recording artists, including photographing many of them. My amazing portfolio was built because I lived with a backstage pass that allowed me to also have a camera for recording the meetings between the rockers and my (then) celebrity husband Jose. During those days, JoseDiaz – known simply as “Jose” – was a legend in this genre of radio. This was at WBLM in Portland, Maine. In fact, the entire crew that’s still there, on the air today, Jose hired. Grown men wept when Jose and I left for California. His team loved him so much, but his need for a change was calling, as we segued from rock n’roll to rock n’wine.

Celebrity wines are an easy marketing draw, because they’ve got a built-in audience, and this segment category is continuing to grow. It’s such an easy thing to do… market an existing nomenclature. The audience’s adoration is already built-in. People will even pay more, because the name is already associate with established recognition.

UPDATE: Boz Scaggs of Scaggs Vineyard is not just growing grapes and making wine for the enjoyment of his family and friends anymore. He’s now now released his wine to the public, andgathering publicity(Napa Valley Register) along the way as a vintner.  To Boz’s credit, he put down organic roots in the Mount Veeder appellation of Napa Valley in 1996 with his wife Dominique. His winemaker Ken Bernards crafts Rhone-style wines, because Boz enjoys South of France Rhones. On a 2.5 acre plot at the northernmost point of Mount Veeder, (elevation from 1,100 to 1,400 feet) sits his vineyards. This is from where the wine grapes are harvested, and then his wine is being made.

So, here’s my list updated, which now also includes Boz’s updated info:

Kermit Lynch (1972): Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
Robert Foley (1977): Robert Foley Vineyards
Olivia Newton-John (1983): Koala Blue wines
Doobie Brothers (1984): BR Cohn is their manager
Boz Scaggs (1996): Scaggs Vineyard ~ Made his first vintage in 2000
Mick Fleetwood (2002): Mick Fleetwood, Private Cellar
Bob Dylan (2002): Planet Waves wine
Andy Hill (2002): English sparkling wine Nyetimber, owned by songwriter Hill, who wrote all the hits for Bucks Fizz
Sir Cliff Richard (2004): Vineyard in Portugal, Vida Nova and Wells Wines
Jerry Garcia (2005): J. Garcia wines by Clos du Bois
Mötley Crüe (2005): Vince Vineyards
Madonna (2005): is joint owner of the Ciccone Vineyard and Wineryin Michigan
Mick Hucknall of Simply Red (2005): Vineyard in Sicily, where he produces a Nero d’Avola called Il Cantante
Sting : Vineyard in Tuscany (he makes a Chianti called Il Serrestori, but it is for friends and family only)
Les Claypool of Primus (2007): Claypool Cellars
Lil Jon’s (2008): Little Jonathan Winery.
Maynard James Keenan (2009): Tool and A Perfect Circle hasCaduceus Cellars. Maynard is making his own wine in Cornville, Arizona.

Do you know of anyone else?

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