
Technological innovations, as well as available information to research, have lowered the barriers to entry, making fine wine more accessible. Fortunately, you don’t need a max contract to enjoy investment-grade wine. A single bottle of Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru retails for $30,861, making it the most expensive wine in the world. So, while fine wine helped usher in a new era in the NBA, players have done the same for fine wine. They can serve as ambassadors to bring new interest to a product that has been historically considered stuffy and elitist. Wine can have health benefits, there is a social aspect to wine that fosters community, and wine has a vibrant business component, allowing players to diversify their brands.Ĭonversely, the wine industry no longer views NBA players strictly as consumers.
LEBRON JAMES TWITTER WINE PROFESSIONAL
Whether it’s a Bordeaux blend or Argentinian malbec, fine wine offers one way to tie together a player’s personal and professional worlds.

James, Wade, and others are Renaissance men, and fine wine is one focal point. The days of players being just players are over. Channing Frye and Steph Curry developed their own wine labels.įine wine has become part of the symbol of this cultural shift in the NBA.New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart created an Instagram-worthy wine cellar.Dwayne Wade joined the UC Davis Executive Leadership Board at its prestigious viticulture and enology program.

Other intersections of the NBA and fine wine investment Venn diagram include: McCollum operating his own winery in Oregon. There, you can find James sampling an all-star lineup of wines or Portland Trailblazer C.J. Some players are now also interested in finding the best bottle of wine and diversifying their investment portfolios.ĭon’t just take our word for it. Today, these trappings of wealth have expanded. Twenty years ago, the NBA was rife with extravagant jewelry, fast cars and rock star lifestyles. “I think guys have become more sophisticated all around,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said in an SF Chronicle piece (paywall). Players that cultivate a smart and sleek brand can earn dividends during and long after their playing careers, and fine wine is one of many ways players are building their brand. Every action, whether financial, social or otherwise, informs a player’s brand. Perhaps the most significant through-line is that players are no longer players - they are brands. More importantly for our story, it kick-started the player empowerment era. James, Bosh and Wade formed an instant super team that went to four NBA Finals and won two championships. The decision sent shockwaves through the NBA. James had spent his first seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and was now teaming up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to play for the Miami Heat. studio and would soon be sharing with the world that he was taking his talents to South Beach.

In 2010, after months of speculation, LeBron James found himself in a Greenwich, Conn.
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This trend in drink choice reached its turning point in 2010. Now, more than a decade later, Redick said, “It’s pretty much exclusively wine.” Redick recalled seeing nothing but vodka, Hennessey and 12-packs of Coors on team flights during his 2006 rookie season. In a piece by ESPN, the recently retired J.J. However, the bubbly beverage’s enjoyment has largely been confined to this singular event. Sure, popping celebratory Champagne after winning a “chip” has been a part of sports since the 1930s. As a result, some fine wines can retail for the same price as a new car.įine wine’s history in the NBA isn’t a storied one. High demand and minuscule supply create a large shortage. You don’t have to be an expert to understand why fine wine has long been a status symbol.
