From football fields to grape fields, Hall of Famer and Heisman winner Charles Woodson’s transition from pro football to the world of wine and spirits is one of passion and innovation. Read all about Woodson’s journey into whiskey and winemaking.
As the only defensive player in history to win the Heisman Trophy, Charles Woodson knows a thing or two about marching to the beat of his own drum. Woodson is one of the most decorated players in NFL history, playing for both the Oakland Raiders and the Green Bay Packers. He’s a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Super Bowl winner and trusted sports analyst. But if you’re here, you probably know all that.
What you might not know is how he went from touchdowns to tannins and tipples as the owner of Intercept Wines and Woodson Bourbon Whiskey. His journey into the world of wine and spirits mirrors his football career: it’s driven by passion and a thirst for greatness.
Keep reading to learn the lessons Woodson took from the turf to the terroir and beyond.
Winemaking isn’t something Woodson was surrounded with as a kid from Ohio. It was only when he signed with the Oakland Raiders and traveled to Napa Valley for training camp that he fell in love with the art of making and enjoying good wine. More of his fellow trainees started showing an interest in wine as well; Woodson shared that players would bring their favorite bottles on road trips and break bread together. It was a foundational bonding experience with his teammates that he never forgot.
In 2001, when Woodson was just 25, he made his first wine, a merlot, alongside Robert Mondavi winemaker Rick Ruiz. In 2005, Woodson launched Charles Woodson Wines, a high-end wine label focusing on the robust cabernets that Napa Valley is known for. Later, Woodson created his Intercept Wine collection, to provide people with affordable, everyday wines.
“Drinking wine at a football game, now it’s an accepted thing to do, and I think that’s awesome,” Woodson said. "It's a beautiful match now."
One might wonder what football and winemaking have in common, but the connection is all too clear for Woodson. The determination and commitment to excellence it takes to win a Super Bowl is the same dedication it takes to make a great wine.
“When you watch a game on Sunday, you just see the final output of all the time us players put in the week before, maybe even the summer before. It’s the same with wine,” he said. “You buy a bottle of wine, you open it, you drink it, and, hopefully, you’re satisfied with what you’re getting. You get to enjoy the final product, but don’t necessarily see all the work that went into it.”
Woodson understands that longevity means planting seeds that you may never see sown. That’s why he and Intercept partner Jeff O’Neill established the Charles Woodson & O’Neill Family Wine Scholarships. This scholarship program supports the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students interested in pursuing a career in the wine industry by studying viticulture, enology or wine business at one of two of the top university wine programs in California.
Success in football means supporting your teammates. It’s the same in winemaking. Woodson is paying forward the success and fulfillment he’s experienced in the wine industry so others like him can keep making delicious wine.
As if an illustrious sports career and a wine label wasn’t enough, Woodson launched Woodson Bourbon Whiskey in 2020. A Kentucky bourbon distilled in Owensboro, Kentucky, this whiskey is finished in the same French Oak wine barrels used to age Intercept’s famous cabernet sauvignon. The result is a unique flavor of cabernet berries, a smooth bourbon middle and a long-lasting caramel finish.
With two thriving labels and a solid lineup of products, you might be wondering where to start. Try one of these expert-approved bottles next time you sit down to enjoy the game.
The classic. The OG. Napa Valley’s sweetheart. Charles Woodson is a devotee of Napa’s big, bold, fruit-forward cabernets, and that’s exactly what you get in his iteration of this popular varietal. Aromas of black currant, sweet tobacco and baking spice give way to flavors of plush, vine-ripened fruit and a delightfully tannic finish. If you’re not sure where to begin, add this to your cart. You can’t go wrong.
As much as he loves punchy cabernets, Woodson makes a mean medium-bodied pinot noir, too. The grapes are sourced from vineyards across Santa Barbara, which benefit from cool mornings and warm afternoons. The finished product is an amazing bottle full of strawberry and nutmeg notes. We’re definitely having a glass (or two) with a succulent piece of grilled salmon.
More of a spirits sipper? Pick up a bottle of Woodson’s Kentucky bourbon. The mash is made in Kentucky, then sent in barrels to a manufacturer to accelerate the aging process by using ultrasonic waves. It’s then finished at their San Diego distillery in French oak cabernet wine barrels used to make Charles Woodson's Napa Valley Wine. He prefers to enjoy it neat, but sip it however you like it: neat, with a drop of water or ice cube or in your favorite cocktail. Cheers.
