Spanish born actor Antonio Banderas launched his Ribero del Duero wines, Anta Banderas, in Florida last weekend.
In a seminar entitled ‘Matador’ at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, the Zorro star featured seven of his wines ranging in vintage from 2007 to 2011.
He then headed to Miami wine shop Sunset Corners to sign bottles for a female-heavy throng of fans.
Anta Banderas began in 1999 under the name of Anta Bodegas. Banderas was introduced to the winery by a relative in 2002, and bought a 50% share in 2009, officially becoming co-owner and changing the name.
Anta Banderas consists of 235ha of vineyards in both Villalba Duero and Nava de Roa, and is directed and managed by brothers Federico and Teodoro Ortega.
When the Malaga-born actor was asked in an interview why he chose the northern region of Ribera he said, ‘Ribera del Duero has good winemakers. They have always had good winemakers. They have romantic ideas about wine. This is very important to me.’
Banderas is one of an ever-growing list of celebrities who have bought into the wine business, including Cliff Richard, Sting, Mick Hucknall, golfer Nick Faldo and cricketer Ian Botham. The latest is actress Drew Barrymore, who recently launched her Barrymore Italian Pinot Grigio in the United States.
Anta Banderas wines are currently available for between US$15 and US$48 in Florida, New York and California, with plans for distribution throughout the US and internationally. They are not currently available in the UK.
Written by Christina Pickard
