Basketball legend Tony Parker is set to release a wine.
Per Bloomberg, entering the wine sector has been a long held goal for Parker since he was 20 years old. “I’ve dreamed of being in the wine business,” he told the outlet.
Born in Belgium, he first tasted wine when he was 17 and was able to explore his pallet after signing on to play for the San Antonio Spurs in 2001, where he furthered his wine knowledge through Head Coach Gregg Popovich.
Parker would then dedicate summer breaks to visiting estates in France’s Bordeux region, known for its top quality wine, including Petrus, Cheval Blanc, Angelus, and Palmer, among others.
“I used to ‘love’ to get them to open bottles of 1982,” Parker explained, according to Bloomberg. Coincidently, in addition to it being his birth year, 1982 is also one of the best wine vintages of the past century.
Turning his passion into a business, Parker has been soaking up knowledge as a partner in Chateau Las Mascaronne and Champagne Jeeper. He sees similarities in his drive within sports and winemaking.
“For both you have to be passionate, have a strong work ethic, and you have to do it because you love it,” Parker expressed to Bloomberg.
He is set to release his first wine in May 2024.
The venture is proof of Parker’s growing empire. The outlet also notes, he and minority partner Said El Yousfi purchased Chateau Saint Lauren in the Rhône Valley, which contains 40 hectares of vineyards.
“They were selling grapes to Guigal [the famous Rhône producer], so I knew they were good,” Parker said, according to Bloomberg.
On the property, Parker plans to host weddings and conference. Additional funding for the property came via crowdfunding in November 2023, and he was able to raise $1.1 million through the Bricks platform, a company in which he holds shares. As a result of the successful fundraiser, 250 investors will receive an exclusive tour and rosé experience with him in May.
Parker now joins a list of former and current NBA players to dive into the wine industry. Players include CJ McCollum (McCollum Heritage 91), Dwyane Wade (Wade Cellars), and Channing Frye (Chosen Family Wines).
