[ PORTRAIT ]
All-Star Baseball Pitcher // United States
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Talk with Marcus Stroman
"Being able to try some of the best wines in the world really got me interested in wanting to try more and more."
All-Star baseball player Marcus Stroman is covering a number of bases these days. In addition to pitching full-time for the Chicago Cubs, Marcus founded Le Carénage, a boutique winery focused on producing Old World-inspired wines in the heart of California, just last year.
After falling in love with wine while sharing copious bottles with teammates, Marcus began regularly venturing out to the West Coast to explore domestic wine regions for himself.
As his passion for wine grew, he became more intrigued by the idea of making wine approachable and accessible to everyday consumers, with an emphasis on quality always placed first.
When did you first realize your passion for wine?
MARCUS STROMAN
Pretty early on in my Big Leagues career, I was lucky enough to be on a team with some veterans who would take us younger guys out to nice meals, and wine was always part of the table. Being able to try some of the best wines in the world really got me interested in wanting to try more and more. I started to learn about the wines and producers and see that there is a story behind every bottle.
What was a wine (or wine-focused experience) that changed your life and why?
MARCUS STROMAN
One of the first times I got to try Sassicaia was life-changing for me. I am a big Italian food guy, so I had been curious about Italian wines. From that point on, I have loved the Super Tuscan wines, and I'm really enjoying the recent Brunellos I have had.
I started to learn about the wines and producers and see that there is a story behind every bottle.
What inspired you to create a wine brand? How did you go about deciding where to root the project and who would help you make the wine?
MARCUS STROMAN
It was really two things. I've always loved Napa wines, and Napa has become a special place for me, it's an escape. I go every off-season, and whenever I'm in San Francisco to play the Giants or A's, I make an effort to try to make it up there. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and love building companies and brands, so I knew I'd want to make my own Napa-based wine. I was able to find a great team of people on the ground in Napa who could be the day-to-day, and really handle the project especially in season.
What was the first wine you made at Le Carénage? Tell us a bit about that experience.
MARCUS STROMAN
The first wine that I really saw go from grape to grape juice to wine was our 2022 California Rosé. It was fascinating to see the process and evolution of taking a piece of fruit and watching it turn into wine. I didn’t realize all that went into it and how complicated the process really is. I have a great winemaker, so I really trusted his guidance throughout the process and tasted its progress to give my input.
How many wines are you currently making at Le Carénage?
MARCUS STROMAN
We are making five wines to start: California Rosé, Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, and three Cabernets from Sonoma and Napa.
How do you believe your wines are best enjoyed?
MARCUS STROMAN
The great thing about Le Carénage is that there are wines for everyone in this lineup. The rosé is a perfect warm-weather sipper to drink out on the boat, but can stand up in a lineup of real Provencal classics. Our Sauvignon Blanc is a very legit wine—and even converted me from someone who didn’t use to drink a lot of white wine into being a real fan of the variety. Our Cabernets are so varied and that might be what I like best about the project. We make a Cabernet from Knight’s Valley in Sonoma that is delicious right off the bat and really punches above its weight. We also make a really high-end premium Oakville Reserve wine that you can lay down and cellar for years or enjoy now. Ultimately, our wines are best enjoyed when shared with friends and family, so there really is something for everybody.
It was fascinating to see the process and evolution of taking a piece of fruit and watching it turn into wine.
Which wines / winemakers would you describe as inspirational to your brand?
MARCUS STROMAN
Ever since I started collecting wines and drinking seriously, I have always had a lean towards the Old World and Old World-inspired wines. I love the Napa wines that have an Old World lean, like Mayacamas for mountain fruit, or Corison for valley floor fruit. I love Brunellos like Poggio di Sotto and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia. Some of the best wines I have ever had have been Northern Rhône Syrahs from Chave and Clape. I am starting to get more into Burgundy, but it's so hard to get your hands on some of those wines!
What do you enjoy drinking when not drinking your own wines?
MARCUS STROMAN
I spend a lot of time on my boat. I'm not one of those people who won't drink red in the sun or when it's hot, but, for rosé drinkers out there, I do love a bottle of Domaine Tempier Rosé when I'm on the Chicago River or out on the ocean.
What's next for Le Carénage?
MARCUS STROMAN
We are still in the middle of our first year, so getting our foot in the market is the next step and really just the opportunity to show how great these wines are. I really want to keep this a boutique winery, so very limited production, but I'm excited to try different vineyard sites and blends and see how we evolve and grow.
Where are your wines currently available? How can consumers buy them?
MARCUS STROMAN
You can find our wines in some restaurants around the country, but due to high demand and limited production, we are really only able to offer our wines to customers through our allocation list, which you can sign up for at LeCarenage.com.
I've always loved Napa wines, and Napa has become a special place for me, it's an escape.
Article - Vicki Denig
Vicki Denig is a wine and travel journalist based between New York and Paris. Her wine industry career began at Sud de France Développement in Manhattan, followed by a Wine Consultant/Buyer position at Quality House Wines. Since 2017, Vicki has worked as a freelance journalist and content creation full time. Her work regularly appears in Decanter, Food & Wine, Wine-Searcher, Wine Enthusiast, and more. She is a Certified Specialist of Wine.
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