OMG, it’s Super Bowl Sunday. Can’t say we always care about the game itself, but we enjoy the commercials, the halftime show (most years), and the camaraderie that comes from gathering with friends and serving up our favorite game day snacks. Chips and guac, spinach artichoke dip, you name it!
Whatever you’re serving, be sure to open a bottle of something delightful to pair with the occasion – we can think of nothing more appropriate than former NFL defensive back Charles Woodson’s Intercept Pinot Noir ($18). With cherry and a touch of chocolate on the nose, this medium-bodied wine is balanced with soft tannins that linger just enough.
Woodson discovered his love for wine early in his career while in Napa Valley for training camp as a member of the Oakland Raiders. In his last year as a pro player, in partnership with Robert Mondavi winemaker Rick Ruiz, Woodson created a small boutique label called Twenty Four that produced fewer than a thousand cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, priced at $85 per bottle.
While his early label had a decent fan base, the price was prohibitive to many so Woodson set out to explore making quality wine at an affordable price. In 2019, he settled on a short list of offerings: Cab Sauv, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and a red blend and rebranded. Intercept is a football reference, short for “interception,” referring to a pass caught by a defensive player. It’s worth noting Woodson is the only defensive player in history to win the coveted Heisman Trophy while playing at Michigan – Go Blue!
Woodson’s approach to wine is not unlike his approach to football.
“You also have to have a great team around you to make sure that all of those things align,” he continues. “Sometimes it takes a year, or 24 months, or maybe even 30 months, but it’s going to take time. The same goes with football. You might not win in the first year. The second year, you may get a little better, and so on. I played in Green Bay for five years before we won the Super Bowl, so it took time to get it done. Though they’re different businesses, both need a little bit of time in order to get the best out of them. “
-Charles Woodson, Haute Living
His head winemaker Amanda Gorter is a Central Valley native. Together they develop wines that are bold and expressive, complementing Woodson’s preferences for wines with approachable tannins and a long, lingering finish.
If his successful 18 year career with the NFL is any indication, Charles Woodson Intercept is here for the long haul – and the already delicious wine will just keep getting better!
Witty Pairs 