Playing the Wine Game

Wine and cheese go together. Why not wine and Cheeseheads?

Football Hall of Fame player and coach Mike Ditka, former Patriot quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Green Bay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson all have ventured from the gridiron to the vineyard. You can add former Green Bay Packers and Cheeseheads-at-heart Daryn Colledge, Tony Moll and Jason Spitz to that list.

Their third vintage of Three Fat Guys Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon will be released soon.

The self-proclaimed three fat guys, Colledge, Moll and Spitz, were all were drafted by the Packers in 2006. And despite the fact they have all moved onto other teams, the business they started in 2008 has thrived. With the help of fellow Packer Woodson's winemaker Rick Ruiz, the small production wine label took off.

Less than 130 cases are producing each year from a vineyard owned by Heitz Bros. Vineyards in northern Napa Valley. The land is managed by one of the third generation brothers, Mark, who prides himself on focusing solely on the grape growing process. Most of the land is dedicated to production of cabernet sauvignon, provided to wineries like Sterling, Clos Pegase and Schramsberg.

Three Fat Guys wine is "a flavorful collaboration of life, love and laughs -- just like us," according to the label.

The wine is licensed to sell in more than 20 states, but unfortunately not available in Canada yet. The label could expand in coming years with demand for more wine and different varietals.

For more information, visit the Three Fat Guys website or follow the brand on Twitter.