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Star Wars Prequels Media Movies

Skywalker Ranch Wines 319

Posted by CmdrTaco from the it-dulls-the-pain dept.
Gates82 writes "The creative force of George Lucas is at it again. Producing his own wine. "I would love to see them plant another 5 to 10 acres. There must be spots on that ranch to make some really interesting wines."" Wonder if there's any spots on that ranch left that can make a good Star Wars movie?
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Skywalker Ranch Wines More

Skywalker Ranch Wines

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  • Best and worst. (Score:5, Funny)

    by (54)T-Dub ( 642521 ) * <tpaine.gmail@com> on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:24PM (#8333625) Journal
    My favorite part of the article:
    Viandante del Cielo means "sky walker" in Italian and for those who are new to our planet, Luke Skywalker is the lead character in Lucas' "Star Wars" epic.
    My least favorite part :(
    Currently 3.5 acres are planted, including a small patch of Pinot Noir that Lucas keeps for himself.
    Pinot Noir is my favorite.
  • The force was strong with this vintage... it's actually not too bad a wine, but horridly overpriced. Of course due to collectors only 2 bottles will ever be consumed, the rest stored away with all those action figures :)
    • The force was strong with this vintage... it's actually not too bad a wine, but horridly overpriced. Of course due to collectors only 2 bottles will ever be consumed, the rest stored away with all those action figures :)

      In this event, best keep it in a dark, cool basement. Not on the bookself in your room, near your computer, unless you're into explosive interior decorating and the stink of vine vinegar.

  • yeah... (Score:5, Funny)

    by U.I.D 754625 ( 754625 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:26PM (#8333651) Homepage Journal
    You mean he's producing something that's not 90% CG?

    • Re:yeah... (Score:5, Funny)

      by PhotoBoy ( 684898 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:37PM (#8333781)
      No, but he will be filming a documentary of the production of the wine. He will re-release this documentary in 20 years time, and digitally alter the film to show the evil grapes shooting first thus justifying them being crushed.

      Jabba the Hutt will be digitally added to the label of the bottles too.

    • Re:yeah... (Score:3, Funny)

      by prockcore ( 543967 )
      You mean he's producing something that's not 90% CG?

      Yeah, it's 100% CG.. if CG means "Concentrated Grapes".

    • Re:yeah... (Score:3, Informative)

      by Dukael_Mikakis ( 686324 )
      You mean he's producing something that's not 90% CG?

      Skywalker Ranch is in Marin here by San Francisco, I think we can expect his wines to have at least 90% California Grapes.

      I assume that's what you meant ...

  • SPACEBALLS: THE CHARDONNAY! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Tackhead ( 54550 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:27PM (#8333654)
    Tell ya the secret, son! Moichanizing!

    Lucas: We couldn't get Star Wars movies right, we cost Hasbro hundreds of millions of dollars in Episode I-II toys, we made the 2003 Coaster of the Year "Worst MMORPG Evah" award! Ruining things is too easy. We need a challenge. What haven't we ruined yet? What would be almost impossible to fuck up? Oh yeah! Booze!

  • advertisement budget (Score:5, Informative)

    by stonebeat.org ( 562495 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:27PM (#8333655) Homepage
    and just like any star wars movies, they have a huge advertisement budget for the wine as well. In CA, f you tune in KGO or KCBS, you can hear the Ad many times a day.

    • The TV ad ... (Score:5, Funny)

      by Greedo ( 304385 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @10:53PM (#8336141) Homepage Journal
      Man walks into liquor store and heads for the Italian section. Clerk in robe comes over.

      Clerk: These are not the wines you're looking for.

      Man: These are not the wines I'm looking for?

      Clerk: (offering Lucas Wine bottle) This is a much better purchase.

      Man: This is a much better purchase!

      Clerk: Move along.
  • Chardonney's & Merlots might be nice, but then again StarWars Episode I sounded nice too, but look how that turned out :S

  • Cynicism :-) (Score:5, Informative)

    by BWJones ( 18351 ) * on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:27PM (#8333663) Homepage Journal
    Wonder if there's any spots on that ranch left that can make a good Star Wars movie?

    Oh, the cynicism. :-)

    Seriously though, growing wines in west Marin leaves me wondering about the quality of these wines (particularly a Chardonnay), but Coppola has produced some rather tasty wines including a scrumptious Merlots and a Claret or two, so I am inclined to believe there may be something of note.

    • Re:Cynicism :-) (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      scrumptious

      Yup, your a yup from SF...

    • Coppola produces his wines right in the middle of the Napa Valley (unless he buys his grapes from somewhere else like most "Napa" producers).
      On the other hand I never bought the whole "terroir" thing. With the recent advances in wine making (and even some old fashioned blending) it is possible to get good wines even without the best soil or climate.

      • Re:Cynicism :-) (Score:4, Informative)

        by BWJones ( 18351 ) * on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:55PM (#8333984) Homepage Journal
        With the recent advances in wine making (and even some old fashioned blending) it is possible to get good wines even without the best soil or climate.

        The classic example of this is the blended wines from Jadot in France. They have blended some exquisite wines that are quite reasonable in price.

    • Re:Cynicism :-) (Score:5, Informative)

      by gwernol ( 167574 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:44PM (#8333867)
      Seriously though, growing wines in west Marin leaves me wondering about the quality of these wines (particularly a Chardonnay), but Coppola has produced some rather tasty wines including a scrumptious Merlots and a Claret or two, so I am inclined to believe there may be something of note.

      Yes, but the Niebaum-Coppola wines are grown on the Rutherford Bench, which is generally considered the finest grape growing area of the Napa Valley. Fine wines have been cultivated there for over 100 years. He also has some very serious winemakers working for him.

      West Marin though, as you note, hasn't exactly got an illustrious history of viticulture. That said you can grow some great wines in some unlikely spots in California, thanks to the excellent climate. One of my favorite wineries is Ridge [ridgewine.com] whose main vineyards are on the ridge overlooking Silicon Valley.
    • Some really good chardonnays come from the S part of Sonoma and Napa that is right on the border between the Bay Area's cool climate and the really hot parts of Napa and Sonoma - the place where Domain Chandon has their huge tourist trap comes to mind.

      What prevents more wine growing in W Marin is that land is even more ridiculously expensive there than in Napa - it's really fairly well within the Bay Area suburban fringe. Most think of Marin as rural but is it really suburbs all the way to the coast. (Mari

  • Now (Score:5, Funny)

    by blackmonday ( 607916 ) * on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:28PM (#8333671) Homepage
    Now I know what Lucas was drinking when he created Jar-Jar.

  • Hey, you're late. (Score:5, Funny)

    by Seth Finklestein ( 582901 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:28PM (#8333676) Journal
    I think George Lucas should stop making wine and start making movies. I can't really imagine waiting until 1997 to see all nine parts of the Star Wars series. [google.com]

    Sincerely,
    Seth Finklestein
    Usenet Historian
  • Ok, I happen to be fine with Ep I & II. That Coppolla has been making wine for years is nothing new, that he's been using a tiny (2.5 acres!) amount of grapes for a tiny amount of wine is nothing.

    This would have been news if Lucas was doing a few hundred acres and bottling himself, Jar Jar Brut, Tattoine Port, Darth Zinfandel or something connected to the films, but as it is it's no more relevant than to American Graffitti or THX-1128

  • Star Wars Wine (Score:5, Funny)

    by Cruciform ( 42896 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:28PM (#8333681) Homepage
    The early vintages were full-bodied and flavorful, but alas, more recent efforts have been dry and prone to leaving a bad taste in one's mouth.

  • A bit catty today? (Score:5, Informative)

    by steveha ( 103154 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:29PM (#8333684) Homepage
    Wonder if there's any spots on that ranch left that can make a good Star Wars movie?

    Meee-ow!

    By the way, I didn't think the ranch made the movies. That comment is stranger the more I think about it.

    steveha

  • Just one bottle (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Tweakmeister ( 638831 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:30PM (#8333692) Homepage
    You realize that every fan and non-fan in the world just *has* to buy at least one bottle of this.

    What are the margins on wine these days?

  • Celebrity Wines (Score:5, Informative)

    by severoon ( 536737 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:31PM (#8333706) Journal

    I worry about celebrities making wine. Often, the wine's price gets a bump just for the name recognition factor, regardless of how good it is. This is the deal with Coppola's wines--they're just ok wines for better-than-ok prices.

    Celebrity winemakers overally have little impact on serious wine drinkers. Obviously, though, Coppola proved there's a market segment that will spend money for a name on the bottle.

    I would like to point out a brand new up-and-comer, non-celebrity wine--Sawkar Family Vineyards. They make a delicious Syrah that's probably in the upper scale of what most people want to pay for a bottle, but it's one of those that's actually worth it.

    sev

    • Obviously, though, Coppola proved there's a market segment that will spend money for a name on the bottle.

      You've never seen an Eddie Bauer Land Rover have ya? There's sooo many things wrong with that concept its not funny :)

    • Re:Celebrity Wines (Score:5, Funny)

      by Saeger ( 456549 ) <farrellj@nOSPam.gmail.com> on Thursday February 19, 2004 @07:13PM (#8334167) Homepage
      I worry about celebrities making wine.

      You worry about it? Really? Gave yourself away as a wine snob. :)

      I despise just about ALL overpriced celebrity branded crap, except Paul Newman's Newman's Own, because he gives most of the money to charity, instead of hoarding more blingbling. (And I just gave myself away as an "Anti-consumerist Playah Hater")

      --

    • Re:Celebrity Wines (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Penguinshit ( 591885 )

      This is the deal with Coppola's wines--they're just ok wines for better-than-ok prices.

      Yeah, that's what I thought too until I actually tried one of Coppola's wines..

      That sounds flamish, but it's really true. I've got a couple of bottles at home in my basement. They can also be reliably found at Trader Joe's (aka "Home of the Two-Buck Chuck") for a very good price. I don't think Coppola's price-point is out of line for the quality.
  • This is after all the wine valley, and he does bear a faint resemblance to Chase Gioberti [imdb.com].
  • "You can grow this shit, George, but you sure can't drink it."

  • My Guarantee (Score:5, Funny)

    by Tumbleweed ( 3706 ) * on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:33PM (#8333735)
    After the lameness that is sure to be Episode 3, there will be MUCH whine. :)

  • Forget wine (Score:5, Funny)

    by Fervent ( 178271 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:35PM (#8333748)
    Why doesn't he go for Colt 45? He's already got the spokesman. "Lando Calrissian here for Colt 45. The galaxy's FINEST malt liquor beverage." (from a Who's Line Is It Anyway sketch).

  • Well Now! (Score:2, Funny)

    by twoslice ( 457793 )
    The label features an abstract image taken from a stained-glass window in Lucas' home in Ross. McLeod would neither confirm nor deny that it is a close-up of woman's chest

    That's my kind of wine!

  • Part missing (Score:5, Funny)

    by ektor ( 113899 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:37PM (#8333777)

    What the article doesn't tell is that every buyer of Lucas' wines is required to provide his name and address. That way George Lucas can visit you periodically to mess with the wine to make it taste the way he intended at the time, but was not able to by lack of proper technology.

  • The vinitage stuff... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Chagatai ( 524580 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:37PM (#8333785) Homepage
    So, Skywalker Ranch is coming out with some new whines? I prefer some of the old ones:

    But I was going to the Tashi Station to pick up some power converters...
    It's not impossible. I used to bullseye womprats in my T-16 back home; they're not much bigger than two meters.
     No... that's not true... that's impossible!

    D'oh! Zymurgy... my bad.

  • I live in Marin (where Skywalker is located) (Score:5, Funny)

    by The_Rippa ( 181699 ) * on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:38PM (#8333799)
    More specifically, I live a few miles from it. You don't grow wine in San Rafael, you grow it up in the Napa valley. His place is just a little bit off the 101, so I imagine carcinogens won't add to the flavor.

    I guess when old white directors [imdb.com] run out of good ideas they move up here and start a vineyard.
  • Let him age, and he shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
  • Needs some advice in winemaking, that is. We already know about script-writing issues. He should talk to this guy, [stupedasso.com] who is just up the road.

  • Is his wine like the last few movies? (Score:5, Funny)

    by raider_red ( 156642 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:40PM (#8333824) Journal
    If it is, they'll be selling it in boxes out of 7-11.

    What other celbrity products can they come up with next? Harrison Ford brand bull-whips? Tony Soprano automatic pistols? Michael Jackson -- never mind.


  • Obviously, GL has been crafting to build up his Chef skills! [allakhazam.com]

  • Skywalker Ranch wine and food (Score:5, Informative)

    by payndz ( 589033 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:42PM (#8333842)
    I've had Skywalker Ranch wine (on the premises, at that). It's very nice (Lucas must have been getting tips from Coppola), but considering how much money's been sunk into it, it bloody well ought to be.

    One amusing thing I was told by the Lucas PR girlbot was that grape-picking was an annual event for the employees. From the way she phrased it, it sounded compulsory!

    (Oh, and should you ever be lucky enough to have lunch there, go for the steak. It's delicious. No wonder Lucas has got so fat!)

  • Another One-Liner List: (Score:5, Funny)

    by Eberlin ( 570874 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:42PM (#8333843) Homepage
    1) The Alcohol is strong in this one.

    2) Fear leads to drinking, drinking leads to courage, courage leads to rejection...rejection leads to suffering.

    3) ...as served at the Star Wars Cantina

    4) Skywalker Ranch Wines -- Wet Your Whistle With Moonshine from Uncle Owen's Moisture Farm.

    5) Bacta The Future! Hell, might as well ruin another trilogy.

  • TK-421, why aren't you at your post?

    I bet he's drunk on Skywalker Ranch Riesling again!

    YOU REBEL SCUM!!!

  • In a couple years he'll release "Special Edition" bottles. They'll contain only grape juice and carbonation because Star Wars - apparently - was always intended for kids. He'll deny a wine version ever existed.

    Oh, and you'll be forced to buy a bottle of 2008, 2007 and 2006 grape juice vintages just to get your hands on the 2003-2005 vintages *

    * which will also be grape juice (perhaps with luck they'll *turn* into wine but don't bet on it)

  • Wine takes time (Score:4, Informative)

    by spun ( 1352 ) <loverevolutionary&yahoo,com> on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:48PM (#8333917) Journal
    Grapes from newly planted vines don't make good wine. It takes years for the plant to develop to the point where wine made from the grapes tastes good. Nowadays, people use old root-stocks, grafting new plants onto older roots, to speed up the process. But it still takes time. So all you jokers saying the first vintages will be good, but later ones will leave a bad taste in your mouth, sorry. Nice joke though.

  • Cash Grab (Score:5, Funny)

    by CHaN_316 ( 696929 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:49PM (#8333931)
    You know, George Lucas could bottle some grape juice and attach a label saying 7% Force/Vol, drink responsibly. A bottle of limited edition Star Wars wine would easily go for $1,000 per bottle on e-bay. They could even say that Natalie Portman hand picked the grapes and crushed them with her feet. The star wars geeks would be flocking to get anything tangibly related to Natalie Portman.
  • finally produces something we can't pirate :-)

  • Oh.... Wine... not WINE. (Score:5, Funny)

    by 0x1337 ( 659448 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @06:52PM (#8333949)
    When I read the Slashdot blurb, I thought - "Hey, wow, George Lucas is rolling his own version of WINE. Teh 1337 h4x0r!!"

    The it hit me - wine, not WINE. Yup, I am a dork ;-D.
  • For those of you who are wondering why Indiana Jones 4 is being delayed, check this link out:

    http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17037 [aintitcool.com]

    Basically the script is done and Spielberg is ready, but Lucas wants to dip his hand in the script and mess around. Just like the Special Editions, can't leave anything alone, always gotte keep tinkering with it...

  • Having been there... (Score:3, Informative)

    by ev1lcanuck ( 718766 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @07:29PM (#8334348)
    I can tell you that there is loads of space to put more vines, but from the general opinion of the staff the products of those vines are, well, un-drinkable. Last time I was there, in January 2003, it looked like they removed a lot of the old vines and had planted new ones and were also expanding it.

    This photo [lucasfilm.com] shows "Lake Ewok" and to the right of it the Technical Building (where Skywalker Sound [skywalkersound.com] is). Between the two and down a little is where most of the vines are, and to the right of the tech building there are vines as well. It's an old picture so these changes aren't reflected in it.

    And no, we didn't sneak in. In fact I don't think it's possible to sneak in. Anyways, I was there to visit family; doing the sound for a movie at SS.

  • The Names of the Wines here (Score:5, Funny)

    by felonious ( 636719 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @07:31PM (#8334365) Journal
    C3 Pinot Grigio
    Chewbaca Sauvignon
    CharddoR2D2
    Darth Shiraz
    Boba Zinfandel
    Jar Jar Blanc De Blanc

    and their motto...

    I will drink no wine until the force is with me

  • Here's where I get flamed to hell and back. (Score:3, Informative)

    by adrianbaugh ( 696007 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @08:10PM (#8334715) Homepage Journal
    Freedom wines, er sorry, French wines, are still undoubtedly the best. Don't believe me? Buy some in France. Don't confuse the stuff the French export as wine with the real stuff - the export is just the horrid crap they fob off on foreigners. But if you actually go to a shop in France[0], especially one of the caveaus in Nuits St. Georges or any village in a good wine producing region, you will find some top wine at pretty reasonable prices. Of course, you can pay through the nose for the excellent crus, but you can do that anywhere; the point is, even the 3 euros[1] table wine from the supermarket actually tastes good.

    But the main thing in their favour is that, apparently unlike almost everywhere else, the French haven't forgotten how to make subtle wines.

    [0] No, I don't mean "EastEnders" in Calais. That barely counts as France ;-)

    [1] Damn. Why has my keyboard stopped producing euro signs...

  • Enough already (Score:3, Insightful)

    by inkswamp ( 233692 ) on Thursday February 19, 2004 @10:05PM (#8335806)
    Wonder if there's any spots on that ranch left that can make a good Star Wars movie?

    I'm sure this will be misinterpreted as flamebait, but so be it. I'm so fucking fed up with this snotty attitude.

    If you don't like the fucking films don't post about them! Pretend they don't exist or something. Nobody is forcing you to go see them. Nobody is forcing you to acknowledge their existence. What is with this incessant need for certain so-called fans to use every opportunity to whine and bitch about films that are primarily intended as fun and eye-candy, not high art. Fercrissake, get your life in order and maybe this might not seem like such an issue. Whether you accept it or not, Ep. 1 & 2 were every bit as good as 4, 5 & 6. We just don't have the gloss of nostalgia to help us ignore the warts of the latter.

    Either leave the films alone to those of us who can get over that and enjoy them for what they are or just shut up about it. "WAAAHHH... I don't like these films so I have to chuck out a load of horseshit whining every time someone mentions it." Christ! Message received, okay? Move on.

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