45 min
Channing Frye: From the Basketball Court to the Vineyard, Plus His Surprising Wine Pairings Sports & Forks with Kelly Senyei
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- Sports
Today, we pop the cork with Channing Frye, NBA champion and a maestro in the art of winemaking. Channing isn't just a titan on the basketball court; off the court, he's been passionately cultivating his own winery, Chosen Family Wines, while forging a legacy beyond his athletic prowess.
Residing near the lush vineyards of Oregon with his wife and four children, Channing has embraced the family-friendly nature of his environment to grow not just grapes, but the very essence of community and connection through wine.
In this episode, our host Kelly Senyei uncorks conversation topics flowing from the pairing of exquisite wines with surprisingly ordinary foods (think pizza and popcorn) to the nuances of winemaking. Channing reveals how a simple airplane flight tradition with The Cleveland Cavaliers grew into a symphony of stemware and storytelling among teammates.
They discuss the underrepresentation of Black-owned wineries in the U.S. and the challenges Channing faces in a competitive industry saturated with hefty marketing budgets. Channing opens up about his Chardonnay Rosé and his adventures in shifting public perception of athlete-owned wine brands, including a nod to his famous friends, Kevin Love (his business partner) and Lebron James, who himself has grown a strong passion for all things vino.
From elucidating his simple "red, brown and green" wine descriptions to a quick-fire challenge that pairs dream foods with pinot noir, Channing shares a coach's life motto that resonates through his journey in winemaking: focus on your responsibilities, not on excuses.
Pour yourself a glass and settle in for a rich blend of sports stories and vineyard victories with Channing Frye on Sports & Forks.
https://www.chosenfamilywines.com/
Timestamped Overview:
00:00 Intro
05:09 Inspired by Gregg Popovich, alcohol evolution.
11:08 Affordable wines for a diverse group.
15:00 Describing wine using red, brown and green.
18:56 Creating logo, glass, cork, operations, winemaker, marketing.
20:38 Questions about wine sales, production and business.
23:54 Encourage trying smaller producers and different varietals.
28:14 Unexpected wine choices with food bring happiness.
31:26 Demystifying wine, gathering juice, earning trust.
35:06 White label is simpler, like hot cross buns.
38:35 Sports & Forks Quick Fire Challenge
Today, we pop the cork with Channing Frye, NBA champion and a maestro in the art of winemaking. Channing isn't just a titan on the basketball court; off the court, he's been passionately cultivating his own winery, Chosen Family Wines, while forging a legacy beyond his athletic prowess.
Residing near the lush vineyards of Oregon with his wife and four children, Channing has embraced the family-friendly nature of his environment to grow not just grapes, but the very essence of community and connection through wine.
In this episode, our host Kelly Senyei uncorks conversation topics flowing from the pairing of exquisite wines with surprisingly ordinary foods (think pizza and popcorn) to the nuances of winemaking. Channing reveals how a simple airplane flight tradition with The Cleveland Cavaliers grew into a symphony of stemware and storytelling among teammates.
They discuss the underrepresentation of Black-owned wineries in the U.S. and the challenges Channing faces in a competitive industry saturated with hefty marketing budgets. Channing opens up about his Chardonnay Rosé and his adventures in shifting public perception of athlete-owned wine brands, including a nod to his famous friends, Kevin Love (his business partner) and Lebron James, who himself has grown a strong passion for all things vino.
From elucidating his simple "red, brown and green" wine descriptions to a quick-fire challenge that pairs dream foods with pinot noir, Channing shares a coach's life motto that resonates through his journey in winemaking: focus on your responsibilities, not on excuses.
Pour yourself a glass and settle in for a rich blend of sports stories and vineyard victories with Channing Frye on Sports & Forks.
https://www.chosenfamilywines.com/
Timestamped Overview:
00:00 Intro
05:09 Inspired by Gregg Popovich, alcohol evolution.
11:08 Affordable wines for a diverse group.
15:00 Describing wine using red, brown and green.
18:56 Creating logo, glass, cork, operations, winemaker, marketing.
20:38 Questions about wine sales, production and business.
23:54 Encourage trying smaller producers and different varietals.
28:14 Unexpected wine choices with food bring happiness.
31:26 Demystifying wine, gathering juice, earning trust.
35:06 White label is simpler, like hot cross buns.
38:35 Sports & Forks Quick Fire Challenge
45 min