“ROXANNE. You don’t have to put on the red light. Those days are over…”
Back in 1978 the British rock band the Police with their bassist and lead singer were staying in a slightly seedy hotel in France. Out of that experience came the song “ROXANNE” loosely telling the story of a man who falls in love with a prostitute. Now I tell you this for a reason. Although I am not a fan of Sting or his now defunct band, I have become a fan of the wine bearing the name of the fictional prostitute.
So, what do you do when you’re a rock singer, a star, newly married and maybe a little bored. Your recording days are long over and you need something to occupy your day. What else? Buy a winery which has been producing fine wines since the 1500’s in the region of Italy known for just that. Sting and his wife Trudie Styler have really worked to restore the winery and its historic grounds and now use it as a retreat for themselves and their special guests. The name Roxanne is taken from the story of Cyrano de Bergerac (she was his unrequited love) and was also the name of the wife of Alexander the Great, so there is a little bow there to history and literature.
The wine itself is a blend of 87% Vermentino, 10% Sauvignon Blanc, 3% Viognier grapes, giving it a light refreshing look and taste. There is just of a touch of sweetness balanced with a splash of tartness which fits perfectly. Hints of lime, a rarity, as well as other citrus flavors are dominant making this an ideal wine to pair with fish, such as a flounder stuffed with crabmeat (a favorite of mine) as well as a pasta primavera. It would also do well as an aperitif as the rich yet delicate body can stand very well on its own. This type of wine is made to be refreshing, to be sipped. To be enjoyed on a hot day sitting on a cool patio. Some bianco wines, sauvignon blancs most notably, are so light and delicate that they sometimes lack body or character. Not so with this. Sting and Trudie have created a masterpiece which will grace any table on any occasion.( Still, I am not a fan of his music though.)
Here in the Carolinas I have found this wine to be pretty well available, finding it at local markets and wine shops. Now you may have to look around a little in your area but believe me, it is well worth the time and effort to find it. Again, I’m not what you’d call a fan of him or of his music but wine is a far different art form. Maybe it is the influence of his wife or of the area of Italy or maybe just his own maturation. But with a bow to tradition and taste there is definitely a strong leaning here to quality .At about $16 per bottle it will work its way into any fine collection. I would rate this a very solid 8 out of an unachievable 10 grapes for flavor, appearance and value.
You can read more about this and other vineyards owned by celebrities by logging onto Lifesvoyager.com. Any comments, thoughts or even recommendations are welcome.
Lifesvoyager 
I remember this wine. It was delicious!
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