Rocker Uncorks His Softer Side, Puts Name on Wine

The wine business already has grand cru, a French term for fine vintages.

Now there’s Motley Crue.

Rocker Vince Neil, lead singer for the heavy metal band, said Friday that he was going into the business with music agent Burt Stein and Emerald Vodka entrepreneur Russ Dale.

Their Vince Vineyards plans to start with -- a 2003 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2003 Sonoma Chardonnay.

The partnership will make only 500 cases of the Cabernet, which will retail for about $20, and 250 cases of the Chardonnay, which will retail for slightly less.

Other wines, food-related products and a winery project are planned as well.

Neil is the latest in a growing number of celebrity vintners that include NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, racing legend Mario Andretti and director Francis Ford Coppola. Like many celebrities, Neil won’t have much to do with the winemaking besides putting his name on the bottle.

The vintages will be produced by Harry Parducci at Adler Fels Winery in Santa Rosa, Calif. Initially, the wines will be available in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville and New York.

Given that he comes from a raunchy world where sex, drugs, rock and hard liquor are the norm, Neil may be the most unusual celebrity winemaker yet. His songs include “Poison Apples,” “Generation Swine” and “Rattlesnake Shake.”

But Neil, 44, turns out to be a wine lover. He attends tastings in Las Vegas, where he lives with his fourth wife, Lia Gerardini.

“I have enjoyed great wine for most of my life and wanted to create something other wine lovers could experience and appreciate,” Neil said in the statement.

Ever the entrepreneur, Neil has another product to complement his wines: a “dietary supplement” hangover pill called RU-21.