Fields of Gold for Sting?

June 5th, 2009 | Author: Mark

“As we walk through fields of gold” may be what Mr. and Mrs. Sting might soon be singing when they begin selling their first ever estate grown Italian reds, beginning in September of this year. The Stingers have decided to enter into one of the hottest growing segments in the wine and spirits industry today.

According to The Nielsen Company, since 2000, celebrity-branded alcohol beverage products (those spirits directly associated with a famous person) have gained enormous popularity in the United States and celebrity-branded wine is leading the way in this expanding category. The Nielson data indicates that sales in this category have grown steadily each year since 2000.

Earlier this year, both the AP and Huffington Post reported that the former Police front-man and Grammy award winning soloist Sting has been preparing for the launch of his own Italian red wines. The eco-friendly warrior spoke about his life as a farmer on his 860 acre Tuscan estate that he and his family have owned for 15 years. The singer told an audience in Tuscany, “I am a farmer who looks after the land to nourish it and not to plunder it,” explaining to the audience why his farm is 100% organic. Along with wife Trudie Styler, the tantric couple have turned the surrounding 860 acres into an organic farm that also produces fruit, honey, olive oil, fruit, vegetables and Tuscan salami.

It is expected that in September of this year, Mr. and Mrs. Sting will embark on their first-ever red wines: A Chianti and a Toscana made largely from Sangiovese grapes grown on the family’s estate. Each wine will get a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as well. The couple’s Chianti wine was bottled in 2007 and reports indicate that 30,000 bottles of this 2007 Chianti will be ready this year to sell to consumers.

It’s still not known whether or not the wine will actually carry either Sting’s name or image on the label, but these might be some good choices:

sting-wine