Celebrities toast their lines of wine

Arts and Culture

Lil Jon joins a growing list of celebrities that includes Martha Stewart, Paul Newman and Francis Ford Coppola who have their own lines of wine.

It might not pack the same punch as Crunk Juice, but Atlantan Lil Jon has decided he wants to be a winemaker. Little Jonathan Winery will produce a selection that includes chardonnays and merlots. "This is not no ghetto Boone's Farm," the rapper says. We'll have to see for ourselves.

Lil Jon is not the first celebrity to tiptoe through the vineyard. The wines produced by director Francis Ford Coppola's winery, Niebaum-Coppola Winery in Napa Valley, are frequently highly rated by wine connoisseurs. www.rubiconestate.com or www.ffcpresents.com

Martha Stewart came out for the movie that was based on the book 'Bringing Down the House.' But because that's the same title of a 2003 comedy movie starring ueen Latifah and Steve Martin.

"Sopranos" star Lorraine Bracco has a line that includes a pinot grigio and a primitivo. Her line was featured on the season one finale of "Top Chef." www.braccowines.com

Paul Newman has added wine to the salad dressings, pasta sauce, popcorn and other products his company produces. The star worked with Rebel Wine Company to make Newman's Own 2006 California Chardonnay and 2006 California Cabernet Sauvignon, which became available last month. www.newmansown.com

Dan Akroyd invested $1 million in Diamond Estates-owned Niagara Cellars in 2005. Later this year, a line of Aykroyd-labeled wines will be distributed in United States.

When he's not making films, Sam Neill is in the vineyards of New Zealand overseeing production of his Two Paddocks label, which specializes in pinot noirs because of the climate. www.twopaddocks.com

Olivia Newton John founded Great Stone Wines in 1983. The grapes used for the Koala Blue line are grown on Limestone coast of Australia. www.koalabluewines.com.au

Athletes need another source of income, too. Golfer Greg Norman has wineries in the Limestone Coast of Australia. Like Coppola, the wines have been critically acclaimed. In 2005, the collection was expanded to include California wines. www.shark.com/gnestates

In 2004, another golfer, Ernie Els, opened the Ernie Els Winery in Stellenbosh, South Africa. In addition to their signature wine, there are three additional labels: Engelbrecht-Els, Cirrus and Guardian Peak. www.ernieelswines.com

Every year since 2000, when he collaborated with Beringer winemaster Ed Sbragia to create a cabernet sauvignon for a charity wine auction, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana has helped create a blend under the name Montagia.

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It might not pack the same punch as Crunk Juice, but Atlantan Lil Jon has decided he wants to be a winemaker. Little Jonathan Winery will produce a selection that includes chardonnays and merlots. "This is not no ghetto Boone's Farm," the rapper says. We'll have to see for ourselves.

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