NBA Legend Tony Parker Prepares His First Foray Into the Wine World

A rosé from the four-time champion will be out in May.

Basketball Hall of Famer Tony Parker picks grapes in the vineyard of Château La Mascaronne in Provence.

Source: Château La Mascaronne

On a hot day in France’s Provence region last September, former NBA All-Star Tony Parker was picking grapes at Château La Mascaronne intended for its rosé. Then he sat down with the vineyard crew for the regular harvest lunch.

“I felt like a rookie,” he tells me of the experience, as we fork up kale salad and sip the château’s just-released Grande Réserve rosé 2022 at the New York City restaurant Benoit. “I’m hands-on, and I love to be part of that tradition,” he says, adding that he “worked hard enough to realize my back was hurting.”