7 Game-Winning Wines and Spirits From Some of the World’s Top Pro Athletes

Wade Cellars – Dwyane Wade

Basketball legend Dwyane Wade, a three-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat, brings that same precision and flair to his Napa Valley winery, Wade Cellars. Founded in 2014, the winery specializes in approachable yet sophisticated wines, including a range of California Cabernet Sauvignons and a signature Chenin Blanc.

Wade is actively involved in the business, from branding to blending sessions, to ensure his personal touch is present in every bottle. Wade has also become an active member of the wine community and a valued industry mentor. In 2021, he joined the Executive Leadership Board for the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. The goal is to expand minority enrollment and opportunities within the wine sector, and Wade’s efforts to make wine more approachable to younger demographics have strengthened his influence on and off the court.

Belfour Spirits – Ed Belfour

Hockey Hall of Fame goalie Ed Belfour had a reputation as being one of the game’s hardest-working and intense players. Now Ed, along with his son Dayn and daughter Reaghan, takes that same approach to whiskey. 

Both Ed and Dayn studied distillation in Kentucky and Canada to learn its intricacies. In 2017, Dayn visited Colorado’s Woody Creek distillery to make what became Belfour’s first rye whiskey. The family’s rye whiskeys and bourbons have won a handful of awards, including Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Bledsoe Wine Estates – Drew Bledsoe

After he retired from the NFL in 2007, Drew Bledsoe, the former quarterback for the New England Patriots, returned with his wife, Maura, to his hometown of Walla Walla, Washington. He teamed with renowned winemaker Josh McDaniels to create a portfolio of outstanding wine brands. From there, the passion project of Bledsoe Wine Estates was born. 

First to launch was Bledsoe Family Winery, followed quickly by Doubleback, as Bledsoe had “doubled back” to Walla Walla. With a range of varied yet accessible bottlings under the Bledsoe Family line and small-production, estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon at Doubleback, a snapshot of the appellation came into focus. The introduction of Bledsoe|McDaniels added Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, which shows the team’s focus on its potential and that of the land to produce authentically representative American wine. 

The wineries have built loyal followings and have established themselves among the area’s premier estates. For Bledsoe, wine is a continuation of his pursuit of excellence, a passion that resonates with wine lovers and sports fans alike.

Sweetens Cove – Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Andy Roddick

Born from a shared passion for golf and bourbon, Sweetens Cove is the creation of superstar NFL quarterback brothers Eli and Peyton Manning, and tennis star Andy Roddick. Named after their favorite golf course in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, it’s easy to imagine that these friends conceptualized the brand while on the links. 

With help from renowned master distiller Marianne Eaves, Sweetens Cove launched in 2020 with a Tennessee bourbon. While the actual place of distillation is undisclosed (Sweetens Cove doesn’t distill its own bottlings), it is believed to be from the George Dickel Distillery. Sweetens Cove has been quiet for the past few years, but there are rumors among whiskey enthusiasts that something new might be on the horizon.

Ernie Els Wines – Ernie Els

Ernie Els, the South African professional golfer known as “The Big Easy,” extended his meticulous focus from the greens to the vines. Based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Ernie Els Wines specializes in bold, elegant red blends, with an emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon. It was founded in 2000 as a joint venture between Els and South African winemaking legend Louis Strydom. 

The estate’s vineyards, perched on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains, possess a unique terroir of granite-rich soils and cooling breezes from False Bay, which contributes to the wines’ complexity and balance. Thanks to Strydom, the winery offers an impressive lineup, from easy-drinking and value-minded pours to the winery’s cellar-worthy flagship Signature Bordeaux-style blend.

Gentleman’s Cut – Steph Curry

With his unprecedented skill in three-point shooting, Steph Curry has forever changed the way that basketball is played. Now, the four-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP has set his sights on whiskey with Gentleman’s Cut bourbon. 

Distilled in Boone County, Kentucky, aged for 5 to 7 years, and bottled at 90 proof, Gentleman’s Cut hits the classic caramel, vanilla, and spice notes that bourbon fans expect. It’s a traditional, well-made Kentucky bourbon, and just like a Steph Curry step-back three-pointer in the fourth quarter, it’s going to hit its mark.

Gérard Bertrand Group – Gérard Bertrand

Former French rugby star Gérard Bertrand has become a giant in the Languedoc wine scene. Born into a family of winemakers, he harvested his first grapes in 1975 at Château de Villemajou in Corbières, where he discovered his passion for wine. He began an apprenticeship with his father, Georges Bertrand, and forged his unique vision that combines respect for tradition with a quest for modernity. 

Officially founded in 1992, when Bertrand took over the family estate, the Gérard Bertrand portfolio includes 16 châteaux, wine estates, and grand vins across the Languedoc-Roussillon region of the South of France that include Château l’Hospitalet, Domaine de Cigalus, Clos d’Ora, and Clos du Temple. Bertrand ensures every bottle reflects the unique character of each appellation. And with approximately 2,300 acres of vines farmed biodynamically, his commitment to sustainability has not only resulted in environmentally conscious wines, but also elevated his portfolio’s reputation on a global scale.