Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell is accustomed to spending time in the lab, fine-tuning his explosive game. But this offseason, the five-time NBA All-Star was introduced to a new kind of lab at The Prisoner Wine Company in Napa Valley. Mitchell spent a day immersed in a wine education experience as part of what the winery calls an "NBA star wine apprenticeship," learning about branding, blending and pairing wine with food.
Bukola Ekundayo, vice president and general manager for The Prisoner, said when they first connected with Mitchell, he was already a fan of the wines, which have been a gateway brand for many in the NBA community. "As we got to know him better and learned more about his relationship with wine, it became apparent that he was really interested in expanding his knowledge," she said.
For Mitchell, the hands-on experience was a big step in broadening his wine knowledge, which he admits was minimal coming in. "I started with Moscato—not one of my better decisions," he jested. "But, for me, it's ok that I don't know."
Mitchell noted that it was only a few years ago that he started discovering wine. "This is my first time in Napa Valley. Two years ago, I knew what I liked but couldn't put words to it. Now younger guys are asking me [about wine]. I knew I needed to learn what's behind the wine."
A Day in the Life
It was an opportune day for Mitchell to arrive, as Sauvignon Blanc grapes were delivered to the crush pad that morning. He sampled the grapes and strode through the cellar. Chrissy Wittmann and Todd Ricard, The Prisoner's winemaking team, gave Mitchell a tour, culminating with a blending session. Here, Mitchell measured varying percentages of barrel samples and combined them while gaining a deeper understanding of varietal differences, the impact of new vs. used oak, and more.
"What impressed me was his humility and openness, despite being new to wine," said Wittmann. "Seeing someone who excels in his craft approach ours as a novice with such enthusiasm and curiosity was inspiring."
In the end, Mitchell's final blend, which he unofficially dubbed "The Spida Blend" after his nickname, was 60 percent Syrah, 30 percent Zinfandel and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, all from the 2023 vintage. The Prisoner will make one barrel for Mitchell and bottle it with a custom label for him to personally enjoy.
A Message Behind the Wine
Beyond learning the ins and outs of winemaking, Mitchell also sat down with Ekundayo to discuss the branding, art and story behind The Prisoner label, including its advocacy awareness. The Prisoner has been focusing on social justice and prison reform initiatives. The winery has been working with NBA players since 2020, beginning with former NBA player Moe Harkless.
In 2022, the winery introduced its "Corrections" label, a limited-edition wine that explores how wine labels can be a canvas for advocacy. The winery collaborates with a different artist for each vintage, and a portion of the proceeds go to an organization that supports formerly incarcerated individuals. The winery partnered with NBA players Malcolm Brogdon, Kent Bazemore and Tobias Harris for the label's launch.
Mitchell appreciated the winery's work, citing his mother, a teacher, as a driving force behind his impulse to educate and use his platform to educate others. Through his SPIDACARES foundation, he supports youth and athletic programs and awards grants and scholarships to students who need financial assistance. His purpose is to provide resources to accelerate opportunity and build an equitable society.
"Donovan uses his platform to champion equality, education and community empowerment. United in our missions, we're driving meaningful change and creating opportunities," said Ekundayo.
To honor the day's experience, Mitchell and The Prisoner will donate $25,000 jointly to the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to quality higher education for incarcerated people.
The day's final session included matching food and wine with the help of Ricard and Leland Garner, executive sous chef at The Prisoner. Mitchell sampled the 2022 The Prisoner Red Blend with a simple patatas bravas dish and then again with spices, acidity and a tomato-based sauce added, showing that food can influence the taste of the wine and complement a dish.
Wine in Mitchell's Future?
Ekundayo said they hope to continue working with NBA athletes in the future, particularly those who are hungry to learn and leverage their platforms for good. They cited NBA players Terance Mann and Tyrese Haliburton among those they have connected with. "We love what the NBA community has done, and continues to do, for the wine industry. Wine, in general, can be intimidating for a lot of people, and because of that, they avoid exploring it."
Mitchell agreed. "Like with my [signature] shoes, I want people to afford them. It starts there. I want to use my platform to show wine is for everybody," he said, noting that through his experience, which he documented and shared on social media, he hopes to make wine feel more approachable to those, who like him, don't know a lot but want to learn.
Mitchell said the next time he visits The Prisoner, he wants to dive deeper, spend a few days learning about blending, and even get his hands (or feet) deeper. "When I come back, I want to do some stomping," he said with a bright smile.
When asked if he plans to start his own wine label one day and join the list of wine-loving basketball stars with their own labels, Mitchell said maybe, but only after he's done the work. "If I'm going to do something, I want to be hands-on. I don't want to have things just to have them. I want to understand all the little things," he said. "That's my life. That's basketball."
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