Wine Country has long been a playground for the rich and famous. Drawn to the glamour of Napa Valley, or the laid-back, rural vibe of Sonoma County, celebrities are coming here to enjoy the good life — some of them are even making their own wine.

From rock stars to movie makers, race car drivers to football players, check out the VIPs who are making wine in Sonoma and Napa. Find more celebrity hot spots in Sonoma and Napa Wine Country here.

Meghan Markle — As Ever rosé

Actor and Los Angeles-born Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle recently released a Napa Valley rosé as part of her “As Ever” lifestyle and kitchen products brand. The wine, released July 1 on the anniversary of Princess Diana’s birthday, is a Provençal-style rosé bottled at Kunde Family Winery in Kenwood. Markle’s 2023 Napa Valley rosé — As Ever’s first wine — is already sold-out online, but a Napa Valley sparkling wine and additional varietals will follow, according to the PR team.

Jessica Biel — Prophet & Poet

Earlier this year, actor Jessica Biel unveiled her locally made wine brand at BottleRock Napa Valley 2025. Her Healdsburg-based label, Prophet & Poet, currently offers a Cabernet Sauvignon, two Chardonnays and two blended reds. Biel’s wine label originated in 2019 when Jesse Katz, winemaker of Healdsburg’s Aperture Cellars, created a red wine blend as a wedding present for Biel’s younger brother, Justin Biel. Katz later suggested to the Biel siblings that they turn that wine into a label, and they were immediately on board. Katz tapped Christopher and Ariel Jackson, of Jackson Family Wines, to collaborate on the label’s inaugural release. Both Jessica Biel and Katz poured the label’s wine at this year’s BottleRock during a VIP Platinum Lounge event.

Max Thieriot — Senses Wines

Max Thieriot, the brainchild and star of the drama TV series Fire Country, co-founded Senses Wines with childhood friends Christopher Strieter and Myles Lawrence-Briggs in 2011. The Occidental winery sources grapes from the West Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley, producing an array of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ayesha Curry — Domaine Curry wines

Restaurateur, cookbook author and food television personality Ayesha Curry teamed up with her sister-in-law Sydel Curry (Steph Curry’s younger sister) and Napa’s Coup de Foudre Winery to launch wine label Domaine Curry in 2015. The sisters-in-law share a love of wine and have been spotted sipping wine at Scribe Winery in Sonoma. Their wines include the Domaine Curry Cabernet and the Domaine Curry Sauvignon Blanc.

Salma Hayek — Eisele Vineyard

Salma Hayek and her billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault own Eisele Vineyard east of Calistoga. In October 2020, Hayek made a public announcement on Instragram, in which she thanked the firefighters who saved the Calistoga vineyard from the Glass Fire. “I can’t help but feel an immense sense of gratitude for all the first responders that came to the rescue of so many people, animals and properties,” she wrote.

Brie and Nikki Bella — Bonita Bonita

The former professional wrestling tag team known as the Bella Twins announced in October 2020 that they were moving with their families to Napa Valley, according to People magazine. The identical twins had started producing their own wine in 2017 in partnership with Napa’s Hill Family Estate, its proprietor Ryan Hill and award-winning winemaker Alison Doran. Their first wine was a Cabernet Sauvignon named “Belle Radici,” which means “beautiful roots” in Italian, and the bottle was adorned with a sleek label depicting the twins. From there, the twins launched their own winery in Napa, Bonita Bonita.

Tori Spelling — The Tori Collection at HALL Wines

Actor Tori Spelling brought 90210 to Napa Valley when she announced on Instagram in November 2020 that she had partnered with HALL Wines to put together The Tori Collection of wines. “Getting the chance to meet and work with HALL and wine legend and my spirit animal Kathryn Hall was really exciting,” she wrote. Spelling handpicked 11 wines to include in her collection — ranging from a rich Cabernet Sauvignon to light and fruity rosé to canned wine, according to People magazine.

John Legend — LVE Collection Wines

Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar-winning musician John Legend launched his LVE Collection Wines in 2015. Working with famed vintner Jean-Charles Boisset, Legend’s wines include sparkling rosé, as well as a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay produced with fruit from Raymond Vineyards in Napa. Distributed nationally, the wines can be tasted at Raymond Vineyards and on tour with Legend.

Candace Cameron Buce — Bure Family Wines

“Fuller House” star Candace Cameron Bure and her husband, hockey player Val Bure, own Bure Family Wines in St. Helena. The couple began making wine in 2006, according to Wine Spectator. The couple likes to spend time in Wine Country and Candace Cameron Bure has been spotted at luxury restaurant SingleThread in Healdsburg. She shared in an Instagram post that she “brought a treat to drink” — a bottle of Screaming Eagle wine — when she took a friend to dinner at the restaurant in 2017.

Tamera Mowry-Housley — Housley Napa Valley

Actor Tamera Mowry-Housley, who got her start on the sitcom “Sister, Sister,” co-owns Housley Napa Valley with her husband, journalist Adam Housley. The tasting room is located in downtown Napa. The winery produces rosé, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Petit Sirah.

Guy Fieri — Hunt & Ryde

Guy Fieri bought a 5-acre vineyard of Pinot Noir grapes in the Russian River Valley appellation in 2013. In his first vintage, he sold his grapes to Jackson Family Wines for its La Crema brand and to Williams Selyem winery in Healdsburg. He then launched his own wine label, Hunt & Ryde, named for his sons Hunter and Ryder. Fieri collaborates with local vintner Guy Davis, of Davis Family Vineyards, to produce Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and a Cabernet “Trophy” blend.

Francis Ford Coppola — Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Legendary film director, producer and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola has been involved in the wine industry since buying Napa’s Inglenook Estate in 1975. Coppola expanded his wine empire to Geyserville when he opened his namesake winery in 2006. The winery includes a museum of memorabilia from his iconic films, such as The Godfather, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Apocalypse Now. In 2015, Coppola bought a second winery, Virginia Dare. Both are open to the public.

John and Nancy Lasseter — Lasseter Family Winery

Lasseter Family Winery in Glen Ellen was founded in the early 2000s by Nancy and John Lasseter, the former chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar. The winery produces rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and a variety of red blends.

Robert Mark Kamen — Kamen Estate Wines

When screenwriter and producer Robert Kamen (the Karate Kid series, Fifth Element, A Walk In The Clouds, Taken and Taken II) visited Sonoma County in 1980 to celebrate the sale of his first screenplay, he fell in love with the land. He purchased a 280-acre mountaintop property and eventually transformed it into a world-class vineyard producing estate wines. Pop into Kamen Estate Wines’ tasting room in downtown Sonoma or make an appointment to visit the mountaintop vineyards.

Les Claypool — Purple Pachyderm at Claypool Cellars

The bassist and lead vocalist of the rock band Primus, Les Claypool has been living in the Russian River Valley region of Sonoma County since 1994. His Claypool Cellars produces sparkling wine, rosé and Pinot Noir under the Purple Pachyderm label. Wine club members receive bottles signed by Claypool in their shipments and get invitations to exclusive concerts where they can party like (and with) rock stars. Taste the wines at their appointment only “fancy booze caboose” in Sebastopol.

Dave Matthews — Dreaming Tree Wines

Singer-songwriter Dave Matthews entered the winemaking game in 2000, when he opened Blenheim Vineyards winery in Charlottesville, Virginia. In response to demand from his fans, Matthews partnered with former Clos du Bois winemaker Sean McKenzie to launch Dreaming Tree Wines. Distributed nationally, and reasonably priced, they produce a Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma County and other wines made with grapes from throughout California.

Jonathan Cain — Finale Wines

Musician and songwriter Jonathan Cain is the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for Journey. (The keyboards on “Don’t Stop Believin’”? Yeah, that’s him!). When he isn’t touring the world, he’s enjoying his own wine journey with Sonoma County vintner Dennis De La Montanya. Proceeds from their Finale Wines, which include a rosé of Malbec and a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, benefit charity.

Dwyane Wade — Wade Cellars

NBA star Dwyane Wade discovered his love of great Napa Valley wines while wining and dining with teammates Chris Bosh and Lebron James. The former professional basketball player partnered with his friend, Napa Valley vintner Jayson Pahlmeyer, to launch his own wine label, Wade Cellars, in 2015. Wade Cellars wines include a rosé and a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Yao Ming — Yao Family Wines

Former NBA All-Star Yao Ming fell in love with wine while playing for the Houston Rockets. Today, he owns and operates Yao Family Wines in St. Helena, producing age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. The ultra-modern tasting room features food and wine pairings and a touch of memorabilia from Yao’s career in sports. He’s not only selling wine in Napa Valley, but also to great success in China, including in his hometown of Shanghai.

Charles Woodson — Intercept Wines

Former NFL football player Charles Woodson fell in love with wine and decided to learn more about the winemaking process during spring training for the Oakland Raiders, which takes place in Napa Valley. After a successful career in sports, including winning the Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, Woodson started his own label, Charles Woodson’s Intercept Wines. Intercept Wines include a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and a red blend.

Carmen Policy — Casa Piena

He might not have played on the field, but Carmen Policy helped bring the San Francisco 49ers four Super Bowl championships and was named “Executive of the Year” by the NFL and one of the “Most Influential People in Professional Sports” by GQ. Now retired, Carmen and his wife, Gail, operate Casa Piena (“Full House” in Italian) in Napa Valley, where they produce Cabernet Sauvignons that score high with Robert Parker. Wines are available on an allotment-only basis, with tastings available by appointment.

Dick Vermeil — Vermeil Wines

As an NFL coach, Dick Vermeil led the St. Louis Rams to their only Super Bowl championship, and also coached for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Born in Calistoga, it is no surprise that Vermeil started his own winery upon retirement. Vermeil Wines has a tasting room in downtown Napa and produces varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Vermeil attends all wine member events, signing autographs and sipping the fruits of his labor.

Mario Andretti — Andretti Winery

Mario Andretti is considered one of the most successful race car drivers of all time. With that success comes not only a Ferrari (or two), but also a winery in Napa Valley that he co-founded in 1996. Wines run the gamut, from sweet Moscato and Riesling to beefy Cabernets and super Tuscans. Andretti Winery offers food and wine pairings in an Italian-inspired environment. Winery guests frequently brush elbows with Andretti and other race car drivers, especially when races take place at Sonoma Raceway.

Kevin Buckler — Adobe Road Winery

Race car driver and team owner Kevin Buckler has been producing wine in Sonoma County since 1995 at his Adobe Road Winery. Winner of Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans and numerous championships, Buckler and his wife, Debra, produce a wide array of wines from well-known vineyards, including Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer. Taste the wines at Adobe Road’s downtown Petaluma tasting room, complete with racing memorabilia.

Randy Lewis — Lewis Cellars

Most race car drivers will never race in the famous Indy 500, but Randy Lewis has done it — five times. Lewis started Lewis Cellars in 1992 with his wife, Debbie, a longtime wine industry professional. Eventually the couple were joined by their son, Dennis. Their appointment-only Napa Valley tasting room features wines from throughout the region, which include Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Cuvée.

Gavin Newsom — PlumpJack, CADE and Odette wineries

Gov. Gavin Newsom co-founded PlumpJack Winery in Oakville, CADE Winery in Angwin and Odette Estate in Napa.

No longer available / Not open to the public

Vince Neil — Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil launched his own “Vince” wine label in the early 2000s. Vince wines were produced by Adler Fels Winery in Santa Rosa, according to Wine Spectator.

Joe Montana — Iconic 49ers quarterback Joe Montana teamed up with winemaker Ed Sbragia to create Montagia, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, according to Decanter. The wine was released in 1999, when Sbragia was the winemaker at Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena. In 2019, Montana listed his Napa estate for $28.9 million. It was later re-listed for $20 million less. The 503-acre ranch was originally priced at $49 million in 2009.

Dan Marino — Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino put his name behind the Sonoma County-based Marino Estates Vintage “13” California Cabernet, which benefited the Dan Marino Foundation, according to Wine Spectator.

Nancy Pelosi — Rep. Nancy Pelosi and her husband, Paul, own a private vineyard on Zinfandel Lane in St. Helena.

Tommy Smothers — Late comedian Tommy Smothers — best known as half of the musical comedy duo the Smothers Brothers, alongside his younger brother Dick — owned Remick Ridge Vineyards in Kenwood.

Janet Balicki, Elissa Chudwin, Maci Martell and Sarah Stierch contributed to this article. 

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In case you missed it, Leonardo DiCaprio hosted an invitation-only gala and art auction in Santa Rosa on September 15, benefiting environmental causes. The event was presented in partnership with Jackson Family Wines. Coldplay singer Chris Martin performed and the event was attended by a number of celebrities. Click through the above gallery for photos.

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A recent roundup of celebrity hot spots in Sonoma and Napa is letting people know how to follow in the footsteps of the famous. The celebrity directory, created by travel and lifestyle website Galuxsee, lists wineries, restaurants, hotels, and other local places where celebs have been spotted (or posted photos on Instagram). Click through the gallery above to find out where the stars hang out in Sonoma and Napa. (And don’t miss our roundup of celebrity wineries in Sonoma and Napa). 

Some 70 local businesses are indexed in Galuxsee’s directory, which is intended to make trip planning easy for those looking for a celeb-worthy visit to Wine Country. Included in the list is the winery where Oscar winner John Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen had a dinner date, the cooking school Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon attended with Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore, and the vineyards where past Oscar nominees Jessica Chastain and Salma Hayek spent time.

Have you spotted a celebrity in Sonoma or Napa? Let us know in the comments.

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Sonoma’s Scribe Winery is well known as a hangout spot for the hip and chic. During warm weather, the winery’s historic hacienda is flush with daytrippers sipping the coveted rosé and estate pinot noir that helped put Scribe on the wine map.

This past weekend, Scribe’s cool factor skyrocketed with a little celebrity assistance.

Comedian Amy Schumer, who stars in her own sketch comedy series, Inside Amy Schumer, was spotted hanging out on Scribe’s sunny patio with friends. She made her film debut in 2015’s Trainwreck and has gone on to win a Peabody Award for her comedy show. Her memoir, The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, was a New York Times best selling upon its 2013 release.

Schumer was at Scribe to support her husband, Chris Fischer, the James Beard Award-winning chef at Beetlebung Farm in Masschusetts. Fischer teamed up with San Francisco chef Chris Kronner, of Kronnerburger, for a dinner hosted at the winery.

Scribe posted on their Instagram Story a snapshot of Schumer pouring wine for friends during a wine tasting

Perhaps Schumer will be back in Sonoma Valley just in time to enjoy “rosé all day” when she returns to the Bay Area in June to perform at Clusterfest, a comedy festival, in San Francisco. We’ll just have to wait and see…

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The official Oscars after party, the Governors Ball, is about to get a taste of Sonoma.

Following the awards ceremony on March 4, celebrities will be toasting their wins (or drinking away their losses) with wines from acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s Sonoma County wine brand. Coppola has won six Oscars himself, some of which are on display at his Geyserville winery.

“The Academy Awards is a ceremony that honors daring, fearless, innovative storytelling, and in that tradition, we have developed two exquisite Director’s Cut wines that reflect innovative excellence,” says the winery’s CEO, Corey Beck.

The first wine is the Oscars 90th Edition 2016 Chardonnay, which is a single-vineyard chardonnay from Gail Ann’s Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The vineyard is located at Dutton Ranch, a property known for producing world-class pinot noir and chardonnay.

The second wine is the Oscars 90th Edition Cabernet Sauvignon, made from grapes grown just steps from the winery itself, in Alexander Valley.

They’ll also be serving other Francis Ford Coppola Winery vino at the Oscars party, including Director’s Cut Sauvignon Blanc, Director’s Cut Chardonnay, Francis Coppola Reserve Pinot Noir and Archimedes, a red blend.

According to the winery, they’ll serve 2,400 bottles of wine and over 14,000 glasses. That’s a lot of tipsy celebrities.

While we humble masses won’t be able to acquire the two limited edition Director’s Cut wines, the winery has produced a single vineyard malbec, 2014 Final Cut, with a cool interactive label.

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Celebrity chef, and Bay Area resident, Tyler Florence joins Outstanding in the Field for an al fresco Thanksgiving fundraiser for fire relief efforts. 

The fundraiser, which takes place Tuesday, November 21, starts at $500 a pop and a group of eight can share a table for $4,000. Can’t attend? You can buy a ticket for a first responder or a resident affected by the fires for $250.

100% of ticket sales benefit the Sonoma County Resilience Fund, Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund, Mendocino County Disaster Fund, and the California Restaurant Association Foundation.

Named the Grateful Table, the Thanksgiving-themed fundraiser takes place in a vineyard in Carneros, on the Napa/Sonoma County line. Guests are told the exact location after procuring their tickets.

Upon arrival, guests take their seats at a really long table and the food and wine flows.

Menu details haven’t been announced, but with a Thanksgiving theme, the locally sourced menu could include recipes from Tyler Florence’s own Thanksgiving cookbook, such as spatchcocked free-range turkey, sausage stuffing, green bean poutine, and chocolate pecan pie.

The event is the brainchild of Outstanding in the Field founder, Jim Denevan. “Outstanding in the Field is about setting our long table in celebration of community and connection, where we hear and taste the story of the people and places that nourish and sustain us,” says Denevan. He describes the upcoming event as being a “scene of celebration, and…also a portrait of resilience.”

Tuesday, November 21, 1 PM. Tickets on sale now, outstandinginthefield.com.

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Fans of baseball and fine food will flock to the Sonoma Stompers home game on July 18 to rub elbows with celebrity chef and bestselling author Ayesha Curry. The Stompers, Sonoma’s professional baseball team, will host Curry as part of ZÜPA NOMA Night.

Curry’s a spokesperson for ZÜPA NOMA, a Sonoma-based ready-to-sip organic, veggie and superfood-based soup. She’ll be throwing out the first pitch of the game and giving out freebies of the soup to fans.

The Stompers have made history, not only with their celebrity connections (from Curry to baseball legend Jose Canseco), but with their roster.

Last year the team introduced the first female baseball battery in professional baseball history, by signing Kelsie Whitmore and Anna Kimbrell to the team. The Stompers also signed the first openly gay professional baseball player, Sean Conroy.

Tickets for ZÜPA NOMA Night start at $8. stompersbaseball.com

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On a sunny terrace overlooking Sonoma Valley, visitors at Viansa Winery sipped whites and reds Thursday afternoon, unaware of the Mexican film crew working diligently on the other side of the tasting room behind yellow caution tape shooting scenes for a Mexican soap opera.

Every now and then, the prototypical, emotion-filled outburst of a soap opera actor escaped the boundaries of the set, a patio surrounded by potted plants and trees next to the winery’s main lawn.

For much of the afternoon, Latin American telenovela stars Gabriel Soto, Cynthia Klitbo, Azela Robinson, Kimberly Dos Ramos and Irina Baeva shot what were essentially location scenes for “Vino el Amor,” one of Mexico’s newest and most popular soap operas. The soap opera, which has already aired 40 episodes in Mexico and is scheduled to begin broadcasting in the United States Oct. 25 at 9 p.m., is set on the outskirts of Sonoma and showcases the popular wine industry destination.

Soto, the soap’s principal hunk, has been to Sonoma County four times, and said the valley was “like a dream.”

“Every time I come, I feel like a part of me is here,” Soto said during a break in the taping of the show.

Soto said he’s been impressed with the entire industry, the winemaking process, the vineyard workers and the overall respect people have for the industry.

“Vino el Amor,” or “Then Love Arrived,” is produced by well-known Mexican producer and director José Alberto Castro for Televisa, the largest media entertainment company in Latin America. It tells the story of David, a vineyard owner of Mexican heritage who early in the show loses his wife in a tragic “accident.” David falls into depression and loses interest in his business and children, a dark road exacerbated by his conniving in-laws.

But David becomes reacquainted with Luciana, a young Mexican immigrant who was previously deported but returns to David’s vineyard, El Viñero de Los Angeles, where her family worked. Amid the romantic drama and intrigue, the soap highlights the plight of Mexican immigrants in the United States, their hopes and dreams, and the sacrifices they make, Soto said.

David, said Soto, “tries to protect them, to give them the human rights that each person deserves, not just as employees but as equals, as human beings.”

Laura Somerville, the soap’s production manager, said Viansa was the first winery the scouting crew visited back in April. About 30 vineyards and wineries were visited in Sonoma and Napa counties, she said. Viansa, however, had all the qualities Castro wanted for his production.

The buildings, which resemble a mansion, sit atop a hill in Sonoma Valley’s Carneros region. It also has views of San Pablo Bay to the south and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east. The production has most of its indoor sets in Mexico, including sets of the inside of what is supposed to be David’s house, five of its rooms and a wine cellar. The production crew comes to Sonoma for most of the show’s outdoor scenes.

Sometimes that takes the actors and film crew to Sonoma restaurants and the popular plaza. Somerville said the production team considered Napa but chose Sonoma for its more rustic feel and small-town friendliness.

“Everybody has been really welcoming,” Somerville said.

The film crew will wraps up a week of taping today and heads back to Mexico Saturday.

Soto said he hopes to stay a few days and visit the area with his family before going home.

This article was originally published in The Press Democrat. 

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