So when I discovered during a recent interview with Sonoma County winemaker Susie Selby that she was one of Redford's favorite winemakers, I had a difficult time maintaining composure.
I settled down and was able to sip the Selby wines and hear the intriguing story of how she grew a successful wine business.
It soon became clear that this self-taught winemaker - and her food-friendly, offerings - appealed to me even without a celebrity endorsement.
Even though the small winery makes only 8,000 cases a year, Utah is one of its top 10 markets. The state carries four of the Selby offerings including a sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon. (See tasting notes below.)
Born and raised in Dallas, Selby moved to Northern California to help her father David, a surgeon, fulfill his dream of making wine. It took a while for Selby to gather the same enthusiasm, but producing a few vintages with her father and taking a job in a local tasting room kick started her obsession.
Later, she took a job as a "cellar rat" cleaning barrels, driving a fork lift, harvesting grapes and helping with crush. Eventually she moved up the ladder becoming an assistant winemaker. When her father died in 1997 she became the winemaker at Selby.
Today, Selby still does everything from stirring barrels and unloading grapes to marketing (her college degree). She is one of the few female winemakers and winery owners in the country and has grown Selby Wines into a successful business without investors.
"I wanted to do it on my own," she said.
It was that independent spirit that attracted the attention of Redford. In 2004, the resort teamed with four West Coast vineyards for a special Sundance label. Selby produces the chardonnay.
A year later, Wine Spectator published an interview with the actor about the Sundance label wines. When asked what he was having that night for dinner, Redford told the reporter fish and "something of [Susie] Selby's."
One more reason to be a fan.
KATHY STEPHENSON can be contacted at kathys@sltrib. com or 801-257-8612. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
Three wines to try, light, rich and beyond
2006 Selby Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County ($10.36) Light and bright with ruby red grapefruit flavors. Perfect for a light summer meal on the patio.
2005 Selby Chardonnay Russian River Valley ($20.76) Aged in lighter French oak it has the taste of apricots, figs and the tropics. The wine Robert Redford picked for his Sundance label.
2005 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon ($19.99) A rich, elegant wine with blackberries, currant and plum. Winner of gold medals at the Houston Livestock & Rodeo Wine Competition and the National Women's Wine Competition.
