What Finally Got Sting To Drink Wine After Years Of Refusing
While Sting may have always been a beer drinker growing up, wine did eventually make its way into his life. It just took touring the world with his bands to expose him to wine and to get him thinking about it (via Decanter). During his concert tours of the 70s and 80s, Sting explained that he would always have bottles of wine waiting for him in his dressing room from tour promoters. Unfortunately, he still didn't have an appreciation for wine at the time. "I didn't drink them; I didn't go for wine, but my road manager would take them," he explained. Ultimately, it was Sting's loss.
At some point well after the touring years, Sting finally indulged after visiting his road manager's place. "I visited him at his home and he showed me his collection of fantastic wines — great Bordeaux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape," the singer said. "”Wow,' I said, 'what a collection!' And he explained to me that they were all mine. All those gifted bottles from the tours! It was at that point that I began to take an interest." Even though he missed out on enjoying those great bottles earlier on, he's definitely making up for it now.
Sting even makes his own wine now
According to Decanter, Sting and Trudie Styler, his film producer and director wife, acquired a 16th century villa in Tuscany in 1997. Together they brought both the villa and the grounds, including forests, vineyards, olive trees and lakes, back to life. Today, people can visit and rent the villa, Il Palagio, one of the six additional guesthouses or all of the grounds. Plus, it's only 45 minutes outside of Florence, so it's easy to get to.
But all of that aside, it's the property's products that prove just how far Sting has come in his appreciation for wine. He not only enjoys great bottles these days, but he makes them too. The couple aligned with wonderful winemaker, Riccardo Cotarella, in 2020 to make their own wines. Now Sting and everyone else can enjoy his own wines, which include one sparkling, one white, one rosé and three reds to choose from. The estate produces roughly 150,000 bottles annually and follows organic guidelines. So, keep an eye out for bottles like Sister Moon and Message in a Bottle among others. You might even stumble across Sting's line of olive oil and honey from Il Palagio too.