As One Cru – the spirit of connection

Darius Rucker and Chris Radomski standing in front of a big blue sign saying 'F&W' with white tents and green hills in the background — As One Cru owner Chris Radomski with Darius Rucker.

(Image credit: Tim Kennedy)

Published 28 July 2026 In Features

For Chris Radomski, wine has always been about connection. After spending more than two decades helping to craft some of Napa Valley’s most sought-after wines and lending his expertise to premium spirits ventures, he launched As One Cru in 2016 with a simple goal: to make exceptional, terroir-driven wines more approachable.

Built around a philosophy of inclusivity rather than exclusivity, the brand sources fruit from acclaimed vineyards across Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Oregon’s Willamette Valley, producing small-lot wines that emphasise vineyard character over winemaking intervention.

The result is a collection of limited-production bottlings with serious pedigree, offered at prices designed to appeal to a broader audience. For Radomski, great wine is ultimately less about status and more about bringing people together.

That spirit of connection eventually extended beyond the wine world. Through As One Cru, Radomski got to know Grammy-winning musician Darius Rucker, first as the unmistakable voice of Hootie & the Blowfish and later as one of country music's most successful crossover stars.

Rucker’s longstanding love of wine and belief in bringing people together made him a natural fit for the brand's growing community. The partnership soon evolved into a friendship – and ultimately a collaboration. They have since worked together on video series Cru Uncorked, showcasing bold food and wine pairings, and demonstrating that that the best way to enjoy great wine is with great company.

Decanter had a chance to interview Rucker about his connection to the wine world.

Darius Rucker and Chris Radomski walking amongst vines — Rucker and Radomski.

Your wine origin story starts with Dan Marino – red wine, early days, and friendship. What’s the first wine moment you remember that felt like more than ‘drinking’… like it was teaching you something about connection?

Darius Rucker (DR): It was one of those nights where nobody was in a hurry. Dan poured a glass and we just sat there talking for hours. And I remember thinking the wine wasn’t the point, yet sharing a bottle was what allowed the moment to happen. That’s when it clicked for me – this is about connection.

Take us back to meeting Chris Radomski, the founder of As One Cru wines: what was the first conversation where you thought, ‘This isn’t just a wine deal – this is a crew I actually want to be part of’?

DR: Chris didn’t come in talking numbers or trying to sell me something. He talked about people. He talked about building something that felt real, something that brought folks together. It felt like sitting down with somebody I’d known a long time, not a business meeting.

You’ve been clear that you’ve said ‘no’ to opportunities for years, and only jump in if the product is genuinely great. What were your non-negotiables, and what made As One Cru the ‘yes’?

DR: If I don’t like it, I’m not putting my name on it. Simple as that. It’s got to taste right, feel right, and it’s got to be something I’d pour for my friends without thinking twice. As One Cru checked all of that.

Cru Uncorked is pure joy: serious pairings without the stuffiness of it all. What do you hope consumers watching an episode will take away?

DR: I want people to see that wine and food don’t have to be complicated to be great. That’s what we’re building with Cru Uncorked. Working with chefs, capturing those moments, and giving people something they can actually recreate at home. If someone watches and thinks, ‘I could do that,’ then we’re on the right track.

Darius Rucker and Chris Radomski with a chef, in front of a camera — Rucker and Radomski filming an episode of Cru Uncorked.

When Cru Uncorked is working at its best, who are you on camera: the student, the storyteller, or the guy who asks the question everyone at home is too intimidated to ask?

DR: I’m definitely the guy asking the questions. I’m learning too. And I think that’s what makes it feel real – nobody’s pretending to know everything. We’re just figuring it out, one plate and one glass at a time.

Let’s talk about pairing – but in plain English. Do you have a personal rule of thumb? And what’s one pairing from Cru Uncorked that surprised you enough to change how you think about wine with food?

DR: If it makes you want another bite and another sip, you nailed it. That’s it. The smash burger episode we filmed stuck with me. You don’t think of something that simple as a ‘wine moment,’ but it worked. Same with the ribs. Those episodes kind of broke the idea that wine has to live in a fancy setting.

Congratulations on your engagement to Emily Deahl. You’ve said you’re keeping it low-stress – basically ‘we’ll get married and throw a big party.’ If your wedding reception had a Cru Uncorked moment – one dish, one bottle, and one song that sums up the day – what are you pouring, what are you serving, and what story do you hope your friends tell about that glass a year later?

DR: I’d want it to feel easy. Good food – something everybody reaches for without thinking twice. A bottle of As One Cru on the table, being passed around, not saved for later. And a song that gets people out of their chairs – something that feels like us. A year later, I don’t want them talking about the wine like it was fancy. I want them saying, ‘Remember that night? Remember how everybody stayed a little longer than they planned?’ If the glass in their hand was part of that story, then that’s the cherry on top.

Discover related editorial tasting notes here.

Learn more about As One Cru: asonecruwines.com

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