Wine Ballin’

Here is a story about Mr. Hogan who was an All-American high school basketball player out of Mission Viejo in Orange County, CA. He could have gone to any college in America, but he chose to go to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo because he loved the area and people when on his recruiting trip hanging out with his future teammates. He ended up being Cal Poly’s leading scorer of all-time and was a lights out three point shooter, although he couldn’t rebound worth a shit. His handles were next level and had this left to right Allen Iverson-like crossover that used to punish the Big West Conference. He really loved to party but somehow he always delivered for his team and school. He had really long blonde hair and wore different colored headbands playing with a full beard other than one season where he shaved his head and wore a thick goatee. He once got player of the week back to back when he spent the two weeks wasted out of his mind. He got benched for smoking cannabis when he was trying to just heal his knees, back and crazy brain. Towards the end of his senior season, his coach asked him if he wanted to play in France and Mr. Hogan was all for it. While playing in France he found his second passion, wine. He drank and studied Bordeaux and Rhône wines throughout his three year injury-prone professional career. He eventually moved back home and substitute taught, earning his teaching credential and a job teaching music history at his alumni high school. While he was subbing he tried out for the Portland Trail Blazers, but didn’t make the team unfortunately. However, he found a group of wine lovers that just happened to be in the NBA.

When Mr. Hogan was up in Portland at the Blazer’s tryout, one person that he met and really bonded with was CJ McCollum, the NBA player who owns a vinyard in Willamette Valley Oregon wine country. He also had his own wine brand, McCollum Heritage 91. He played with the Trail Blazers when Mr. Hogan met him, but is currently balling it up in New Orleans with the Pelicans. Mr. Hogan had never been to Oregon before so when they were in CJ’s vineyard for the first time, it was strange to him because he felt like he was at home for some reason. CJ produces a Rosé, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a Sparking wine. He partnered with Adelsheim Vineyard, so the quality is as good as it gets for the area. When the two were in CJ’s vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Mr. Hogan curiously asked, “Why did you get into wine CJ?” “Wine brings people together and connects them to each other, to history, to places and to culture.” Mr. Hogan deeply agreed and understood how CJ would fall in love with the beautiful landscape, kind people and eyebrow raising wines from Oregon. Especially Pinot Noir. Pinot thrives in the Willamette Valley because the grape experiences a cool, maritime climate with warm summers, cool evenings, mild winters with a longer growing season. Mr. Hogan loved the elegance, silky textures, bright red fruits, vibrant acidity and earthiness of Oregon Pinot Noir. During the Summers when Mr. Hogan was not teaching he visited CJ and enjoyed his time talking grapes, wine and ballin’.

When Mr. Hogan was hanging out talking Pinot Noir grapes with CJ, he learned that it was not only him that was into wine, but a list of NBA players who were already deep into their pursuit. Wine and the NBA might date back to 1996 when the San Antonio Spurs hired Gregg Popovich also known as the “Popfather of wine” where he began introducing unique wines at team dinners walking around sharing and educating them on the wines that he was serving. Wine can stimulate the mind and soul, bringing people together, elevating relationships through the bottle being shared. Mr. Hogan had the pleasure of meeting Pop one day and got invited to one of his bring your own bottle wine get togethers. The invite list was exciting and surprising. It was LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Steph Curry, Channing Frye, Chris Paul, Kevin Love, Jimmy Butler and Carmelo Anthony, all who are a group of wine loving ballers. Mr. Hogan who was 6’6” wasn’t intimidated by the height of everyone or their wine savvy, although he was with the level of ball these guys played and the bottles that were brought by Pop and the players. Mr. Hogan ended up having an exquisite and riveting time and his bottle showed very well. He was now officially wine ballin’…