I have long believed that chefs and winemakers have become acceptable idols of people of a certain age – rock stars for those who may be a bit mature for the groupie label, if you will. Foodies swoon over Tyler Florence and Todd English, Rachel Ray’s empire seems unstoppable, and, at Boston University’s recent Big Event, I watched as fellow blogger Rodney became giddy at the prospect of meeting Jacques Pepin. I, too, experienced the groupie rush when meeting Argentine winemakers Santiago Achaval of Achaval-Ferrer and Ricardo Giadouro of Dolium. There is clearly a new category of stars to be idolized.
But what about when bona fide rock stars decide to crush grapes instead of girls’ hearts? Sting, Vince Neil, and Bruce Cohn come to mind, but the most intriguing rock star winemaker is Maynard James Keenan. Better known for being the lead singer of Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer, Maynard is an unexpected winemaker making wines in an unexpected state, Arizona, at Caduceus Cellars & Merkin Vineyards and Arizona Stronghold Vineyard.
As a fan of Maynard’s music, I was quite interested to see what his wines would be like. In June 2009 Maynard and winemaker Eric Glomski spent two days selling wine and signing bottles at the Whole Foods in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was an opportunity to finally try Arizona Stronghold. More Tool concert than Wine Expo, the bottle signing was a bit of a surreal experience. Maynard fans and wine aficionados alike patiently waited in the parking garage beneath the store. The garage had been closed off and rope marked the long, winding line in which we were directed to stand. I had arrived after the early rush and waited in line behind about 100 or so people while Maynard and Eric took a break and rested their writing hands. As we waited, the staff confiscated all bags, cell phones, and cameras and instructed us to not touch Maynard, not talk to Maynard, and not to attempt to take any photos or request autographs on anything other than the bottles of wine that we had purchased. Maynard and Eric were shielded from view inside a tent within a tent lit by standing halogen lamps. With only one person at a time allowed inside, it was not until I was the next person to go in that I glimpsed the winemakers.
Sitting on the left side of a wide table, Maynard was protected from any mistaken advances by a staff person standing on the fan side of the table directly in front of him and a body guard behind him. Eric was very friendly, greeting me and thanking me for purchasing wine, while Maynard focused on the task at hand – signing the bottles. I quickly left with my autographed bottles, reclaimed my bag, and headed back into sunny reality.
So, how were the wines? In short, I haven’t been disappointed. In the coming weeks, look my thoughts on Tazi, Chupacabra, and Nagual de la Naga.
