What’s with A-list actors from Ocean’s 11 movies buying chateaus in the south of France and starting their own wine companies? That’s exactly what George Clooney has done, following in the footsteps of his best friend Brad Pitt.
George and Amal Clooney actually bought the estate back in August of 2021 for a reported $8.3 million, but only visited the property on holiday. Now they’ve moved there to live full time with their family in the small town of Provence, France.
The estate, named Domaine Le Canadel, is situated on 425-acres, and has a pool, tennis court, a boules pitch, lush gardens for his family to enjoy, and has a 25-acre vineyard that George and Amal Clooney are now releasing their first wines this Spring, including a white and a rosé produced at their Domaine du Canadel winery estate in Brignoles in the south of France. They haven’t yet settled on a name for their new wines, but it’s expected to be a new venture with its own unique branding.
This isn’t George Clooney’s first foray into the drinks business. He partnered with Nespresso in 2006 for a series of commercials and has been a brand ambassador for Nespresso. George Clooney has reportedly made $40 million dollars from the endorsement deal.
That first sip of success in the drinks business might have been what led George Clooney to co-found the American tequila company Casamigos Tequila, which he founded along with Rande Gerber who’s married to Cindy Crowford, and Mike Meldman. Together they helped craft the taste of Casamigos Tequila, participating in branding and marketing of the company, and eventually in acquired in June of 2017 by the multinational beverage company Diageo for an estimated $1 billion dollars.
And George Clooney isn’t the only celebrity to get into the wine business in Provence, France. George Clooney’s best friend Brad Pitt purchased the Château Miraval winery, along with his wife at the time Angelina Jolie, in 2012. They are now in a contentious legal battle over ownership of the estate. In 2017 Star Wars creator George Lucas purchased Château Margüi in Provence. And it turns out before any other celebrity had discovered Provence, John Malkovich was already proning his vineyard at his Les Quelles de la Coste winery.
It goes without saying that George and Amal Clooney wouldn’t have bought their estate and winery in Provence, France if it weren’t for the fact that George Clooney’s best friend Brad Pitt owns the Château Miraval winery, which is only 30 minutes away. Brad Pitt has had great success in building up Château Miraval winery and launching new award winning wines and champagnes. Now George Clooney is hoping to follow in his friend’s wine making success with his own winery in Provence, France.
Does George Clooney Make Wine? From Casamigos to Domaine du Canadel