Pixar’s chief creative officer John Lasseter and his wife, Nancy, opened up to the Hollywood Reporter last week about their previously deeply-guarded secret-winemaking business, Lasseter Family Winery, which they started eleven years ago. The winery, which consists of three generations of Lasseters, boasts an Old World-style approach to wine-making using Bordeaux and Rhône varietals to create unique blends.
The couple has spent the past decade perfecting their business, including performing an energy healing on their property, which is the site of a gruesome 1989 mass murder, turning the land organic, and decorating the property with their own quirky flair.
The wine labels also embody the couple’s creativity, featuring original artwork depicting different stories about the Lasseters, including Marie E., the locomotive that sits on the winery property, and Wally B., John’s first animation.
The couple decided to go pro in July, when they hired a publicist and got representation from distributors covering eight states. Previously, they were giving away their wine at charity events and selling it in small amounts via a mailing list.
Nancy says about the winery, “John jokes that the winery is my movie. Now we can talk. Our wines are ready – we know the story.” And John compares the winery to Pixar – “nothing competitive, only supportive. They’re always rooting for you.”
John Lasseter Opens Up About Secret Winery for First Time [The Hollywood Reporter]
