Page 81 - Wine Spectator (January 2020)

WINE SCORES A

TOUCHDOWN

14 NFL teams are fielding official wines,

while a few pros have launched their own labels

By

BEN O’DONNELL & SHAWN ZYLBERBERG

he 2019–2020 season of the National Football League Winery in Lompoc, Calif., between summer workouts as a
is treating fans to a once-unlikely match-up: wine and student at the University of Southern California.
Tpigskin. More teams than ever have announced official And then there are the veterans. Quarterback-turned–

wine partnerships, bringing winter-friendly Cabernets general manager John Elway, quarter-
and victory sparklers to stadiums and living rooms. back Drew Bledsoe and defensive

In late October, the NFL itself followed suit, announc- ace Charles Woodson, as well as
ing the league’s first official wine. Players across the former coach Dick Vermeil and
league are discovering wine and flaunting their bona late owner Lamar Hunt, who

fides, from Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s founded the American Football
sommelier stylings to Vikings rookie line- League, are just a few of the pros

backer Cameron Smith, who interned at Melville who have led the way, launching

PHOTOGRAPH BY
JEFF HARRIS

JAN. 31 - FEB. 29, 2020 • WINE SPECTATOR 75