Hi ho, Explorers! It’s time to talk about drinking once again. Just as in the last few instances, we are still unable to walk into our favorite parks to enjoy the boozy wonders within. As such, I think it’s time to delve into a realm of which I know particularly little: wine!
Myriad wine choices are available around the world making this topic tricky to approach even from a simple perspective. Hence, I will focus on some of those wines that have a link to Disney. Some of these wineries were started by Disney folk. Some wines are only available in the Parks. There’s a lot out there if you want to spend some time and cash tracking down these exclusive bottles. Let’s dive in with five favorites!
5. Once Upon a Vine
Disney fans have likely noticed these bottles on the shelf in their resort hotel gift shop or at wine kiosks during the Food and Wine Festival. The labels on these bottles grab attention quickly. They depict in a subtle way an icon from each of the referenced fairy tales set within a forest silhouette with a bold color in the background. Each wine is named with a nod to the classic fairy tales whose stories made Disney. Choose from A Charming Pinot, A Villainous Zinfandel, Lost Slipper Sauvignon Blanc, The Fairest Chardonnay, Enchanted Woods Bubbly, and The Big Bad Red Blend.
I don’t know much about the winery involved or where they acquire the must for their blends, but I have to admit I always pick up a bottle or two when I’m on the property. They’re all solid wines and are very affordable. Sometimes after a day in the Parks, you just need to curl up on your hotel bed and watch some Mickey cartoons while sipping a nice wine. This line isn’t always available everywhere, but during the current park closures, some online shops have been able to get a few cases. Look around! If your preferred online markets are sold out, there’s bound to be another with a few of these bottles for sale.
4. Fess Parker Winery
Fess Parker had a long history with the Disney company. Walt wanted a hard, stalwart man to play the American hero Davy Crockett for his upcoming miniseries. In 1954, the relatively unknown Parker started a genuine craze as the coonskin-cap-wearing Crockett. In the following years, he starred in multiple Disney live-action films. Despite a falling-out with the company after years of similar roles, Disney named him a Legend in 1991 and gave him a window in Frontierland in 2004.
After he retired from acting, Parker opened a vineyard and winery in Los Olivos, California. All of the winery’s labels use a gold coonskin cap as their logo. Several varieties have won awards. His winery is still operated by his family following his death. Proceeds from wine sales are often donated to local food banks.
If you want to enjoy Fess Parker wines, the winery produces several that are available for sale direct from the winery and some that are blended specifically for Disney. They produce a red blend named after Davy Crockett, but their specialty appears to be Pinot Noir blends. They also sell a few Syrahs and Chardonnays.
http://www.fessparkerwineshop.com
3. MacMurray Ranch
Every Disney fan is likely to know Fred MacMurray. The actor starred in The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor, Son of Flubber, and my sister’s favorite, The Happiest Millionaire. MacMurray was the very first Disney Legend in 1987, so it’s no surprise that Disney likes to promote his winery. Fred bought a ranch in 1941 and several years after his death, his daughter converted the space to a vineyard. MacMurray Estate Vineyards now encompass a significant footprint in the Russian River Valley. Their commitment to growing the best Pinot Noir grapes translates well to their commitment to making the best Pinot Noir wines.
You can purchase both Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris varieties online in many states or travel straight to the vineyard to sample some of their rarer bottles. The winery boasts that their grapes are grown in the most coveted regions within California. They don’t boast as many varieties as some wineries, but you can at least be sure they are growing all of their own grapes.
http://www.macmurrayestatevineyards.com/#find-us
2. Skywalker Ranch
You know who George Lucas is.
Lucas built a vineyard in Marin County, California. Not known for its ability to grow grapes, he managed to pull together a serviceable 28 acres of fruit anyway. Skywalker Vineyards' wine offerings include a Pinot Noir, a Chardonnay, and a Rosé. New varieties are being released from grapes grown in the higher-altitude regions of the ranch as well. Their wines are available for purchase directly from the site’s online store.
https://www.skywalkervineyards.com/Shop/Wines
1. Silverado Vineyards
What can be better than wines produced by the Disney family itself? Diane Disney Miller and her husband Ron Miller purchased a vineyard in the 1970s and with the help of her mother Lillian Disney, they established a winery in 1981. Since that time, the vineyards have grown in size and the winery has gained numerous accolades. In 2017, Wine & Spirits magazine named it one of the top 100 wineries of the year. Subsequent Miller generations still own the winery and tend its land.
The winery produces several different varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon. It also makes Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc with its grapes. One of its plantings produces a fine Merlot as well. A few of these exclusive varieties are available for purchase online in six packs. The winery’s site also sells variety packs of their red wines or a sample of all varieties.
