Emmy Award-winning commentator Jim Nantz, known for calling everything from the Masters Tournament to the Final Four and the Super Bowl for the CBS Television Network since 1985, is teaming up with a top player in the wine industry, Peter Deutsch, CEO of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits to produce a Sonoma-based wine brand named The Calling. It will be introduced to the market in June.
Deutsch and Nantz reached out to leading California winemaker Marco DiGiulio, a longtime friend of Peter's, to identify the best vineyards for the style of wine the duo wanted to produce. They selected grapes from the esteemed Dutton Ranch Vineyards in the Russian River Valley to produce two Chardonnays: Dutton Ranch ($30) and Jewell Vineyard ($40), each aged 12 months. Two red wines from the Alexander Valley complete the portfolio: a 2009 Rio Lago Cabernet Sauvignon aged 24 months ($35) and 2009 Alexander Valley "Our Tribute" Bordeaux-style blend, aged 30 months ($60).
Emmy Award-winning sports commentator, Jim Nantz, left is teaming up with a top player in the wine industry, Peter Deutsch, CEO of Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits to produce a Sonoma-based wine brand named The Calling. They selected grapes from the esteemed Dutton Ranch Vineyards in the Russian River Valley to produce two Chardonnays.
"Jim and Peter were in concert with the wine style from our initial blending process," says DiGiulio. "They had a clear vision for what they were looking for. Together we chose terrific vineyards in the Russian River and Alexander valleys, which gave us a great opportunity to deliver outstanding quality in the final blends. I am proud of what we have produced and the attention to detail that shows in every bottle of The Calling."
Deutsch and Nantz also collaborated on the packaging design, the graphics and copy to capture the essence of The Calling. The result is an elegant label that features a keyhole as a centerpiece of the design.
Deutsch and Nantz also collaborated closely on the packaging design, the graphics and copy to capture the essence of The Calling. The result is an elegant label that features a keyhole as a centerpiece of the design.
"The keyhole symbolizes the consumer's chance to unlock their calling in life. It goes back to what my father always said to me and Bill Deutsch would say to Peter, 'Pursue your passion. Be the best you can be,'" says Nantz. "Our joint calling is to make a great wine that we can call our own and that would make our fathers proud. But above all, we want to give the consumers a chance to enjoy what we believe is a spectacular handcrafted wine. And remind them, to unlock 'the calling' that lives within them."
"Serendipity brought us together one night at a restaurant in Connecticut where we both happened to be dining. I had recently finished reading Jim's best-selling book, ALWAYS BY MY SIDE, and went over to introduce myself. Jim happened to mention his long-standing desire to enter into the wine business. I recognized right away that he had researched this for years and had an understanding of the industry. We soon discovered that we shared both a passion for wine and a deep respect for our fathers, both of whom served as our personal mentors. Through time, and many brainstorming sessions, we decided it was a calling at this stage in our lives to try something new. We realized we could team up and build something special. Our shared virtues bonded us as business partners," says Deutsch.
More is at http://thecallingwine.com/