Veteran Hollywood director and producer James Cameron has moved into wine production in his native Canada.
Photo: Angela George / Wikipedia
The 59-year-old director of The Terminator and Avatar has purchased Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery in British Columbia for an undisclosed sum.
Beaufort’s manager, Mark Timmermans, said the sale completed on 6 February. An official statement from Cameron is expected in the next few weeks.
‘Despite the excitement surrounding the sale to Cameron, we don’t foresee any big changes,’ Timmermans told decanter.com. ‘Our plan is to continue to release approximately 2,000 cases this year, and we are finalising our plans for this vintage.’
Beaufort is located in the Comox Valley on the east coast of Vancouver Island and with just over three hectares under vine.
It was founded in 2006 by Jeff and Susan Vandermolen, who previously worked in the oil industry, and produces a range of wines including a traditional method sparkling red, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir rose.
‘We look forward to working with the Camerons to carry on with the Beaufort Vineyard & Winery, and will do what we can to assist them,’ the Vandermolens said.
‘Susan and Jeff will remain involved as vineyard and wine making consultants through the 2014 vintage. Beyond that, decisions haven’t been made yet,’ Timmermans said.
Several other film stars have also gone into wine, including The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola in California, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in Provence, France, and Drew Barrymore, who has her own label of Italian Pinot Grigio.
Written by James Lawrence
