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exploring taste—santa margherita gruppo vinicolo people —kurt russel

“The way you make

“I don’t like interviews.” This is how Kurt Russell starts of that, I should mention that Goldie [Hawn] and I have always
many of his press meetings. He complains, albeit with a smile. taken long trips to Europe, bringing our bikes with us. Italy
“The fact is I’m no good at these things, I want to say every- and France are our favorite destinations – we love Tuscany your wine is the way you
thing all at once, I don’t explain myself well and things don’t and Burgundy. We like to ride in the countryside, especial-
come out the way I’d like.” Strange for an artist who, at age ly among vineyards. From time to time we stop off at local
65, has spent 55 years of his life under the spotlight. In fact, wineries and taste the different products of the region we are tell your story. Grape harvesting
Kurt Russell started hanging around TV studios and film sets passing through.
when he was only ten years old. At twelve he appeared along-
side Elvis Presley in It Happened at the World’s Fair. Walt Dis- So how did this passion grow?
ney offered him a contract and made him a young star of the I took lessons from two producer friends of mine – I have a is like film editing, you take only
Mickey Mouse Club. This was in the ’60s and a decade later wonderful memory of my first grape harvest, they handed me
he started working on his first projects as an adult. Contrary a pair of shears and a basket. The first thing I did with my first
to the fate of many child stars, Kurt Russell was not forced to bunch of grapes was cut myself. That was my first harvesting the best and, at the end,
retire from the film industry when he grew up. In fact, many experience. Too proud to complain, I held in a cry of pain and
of the movies made during his youth became cinema classics: hid the wound until I retrieved a pair of gardening gloves and
Escape from New York, The Thing, Big Trouble in Little Chi- continued my education in the fabulous world of wine-making.
na, Tango & Cash and Backdraft being the most popular. The harvest is a magical moment, a celebration. Now, I finally the individual images and
have my own brand GoGi, produced in California, Santa Bar-
In his last movie he played the part of a real-life hero, se- bara wine region. My top product is a biodynamic Pinot Noir.
curity officer Jimmy Harrell in Deepwater Horizon, that scenes become one smooth
tells the true story of the fire that took place on the oil Being a wine enthusiast, you must also love food.
rig in April 2010. In 2016, he was irascible and violent Absolutely! I love wine with food. Let me explain better, food
bounty hunter, John “The Hangman” Ruth in Quentin is the reason I love wine. For me it has never been about sitting
Tarantino’s western The Hateful Eight. However, before down and drinking a bottle on its own, with no accompani- masterpiece, a good movie,
that it seemed he had disappeared from the scene. ment. For the way I see it, wine and food are two intrinsically
That’s true, I have been less present on set because I have inseparable elements.
been pursuing another interest, my great love for wine – I or a fine wine.”
have always enjoyed wine, but my true passion blossomed What is your favorite dish?
thanks to a movie. I love meat, especially game. I hunt American venison; its
meat is excellent, especially if accompanied by a good glass of
Which movie was that? red. Did you know that one deer alone provides enough meat
It happened in 2007, when I was shooting Death Proof with for a whole year? I also hunt pheasants; Goldie is excellent at
Quentin Tarantino. We were in the Santa Rita hills north cooking them.
of Los Angeles. I was amazed to find the area had excellent
wines. I have always been a bit of a connoisseur, I love to savor You and Goldie spend a lot of time at your ranch in Colo-
a good wine, but at that moment I realized I wanted to learn rado – what does it mean to you?
more about this wonderful product of nature. Even before I love it there. I go riding every day and personally look after

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