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He purchased a house on the San Francisco Bay, with a dock the place he retains his boat. He takes his canine Rocco to dog-friendly seashores alongside the Pacific Ocean. He jumps into the chilly native waters for some psychic therapeutic. He boats close to Angel Island, by Raccoon Strait.
“It’s simply so lovely,” Thompson mentioned of Marin County. “It’s really easy to clear your head.”
And, naturally, like many Northern California residents, he has gotten into wine.
“I like Cabs, however I do like Pinot and a pleasant white as nicely,” Thompson mentioned just lately. “I’m open-minded in terms of foods and drinks. It form of depends upon the temper of the day.”
And the temper lately, since profitable a fourth NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors?
“On particular events, I do wish to have a pleasant, chilly glass of champagne,” Thompson mentioned a number of weeks earlier than he was spraying champagne on his teammates.
Thompson is greater than only a wine connoisseur. He’s now, formally, within the wine enterprise. He and St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado, a childhood buddy, have simply launched Diamond & Key, a Napa Cabernet.
“I wished to make one thing near my coronary heart,” Thompson mentioned.
The enterprise took place in partnership with Joe Harden, a winemaker at Nickel & Nickel, and Joe McLean, wealth supervisor for each Thompson and Arenado. Harden grew up on a winery in Lodi, and performed highschool basketball at St. Mary’s in Stockton, shedding a state championship to that “different Harden” (James). He and Thompson’s paths first crossed in AAU basketball. Harden performed at Notre Dame, then at UC Davis the place he studied viticulture and, later, in Australia. He additionally performed within the D league for the Warriors earlier than hanging up his excessive tops for the wine enterprise.
In 2017, Thompson grew to become concerned with causes elevating cash for the fireplace victims in Sonoma and Napa counties. He additionally began spending extra time within the wine nation.
“I didn’t notice how lovely it was,” Thompson mentioned. “It feels just like the Lord of the Rings. Like Rivendell.”
Round that point, he and Harden began a dialog a few wine undertaking.
“It was a spot the place I may see myself spending a variety of high quality time sooner or later,” Thompson mentioned. “After I noticed Joe’s operation, I used to be like, ‘That is so cool, man.’ It’s a tough job, three hundred and sixty five days a 12 months. I realized loads concerning the seasons and rising operations and the vines and all of the layers it takes to make a bottle of wine.”
He was additionally intrigued by what a household enterprise it’s, handed down by generations.
“Type of like basketball is for my household,” he mentioned.
The Diamond & Key enterprise contains Arenado, who grew up with the Thompsons, enjoying membership baseball with youngest brother Hint. The label identify comes from the athletes’ respective fields of play.
There are a variety of celeb wines. A method of doing it’s to companion with an enormous model, and slap a well-known identify on a bottle only for gross sales functions. The opposite is to make it extra private, extra of a labor of affection.
“The respect comes when celebrities go about it the appropriate means,” Harden mentioned. “Klay doesn’t do shortcuts. He wished to study extra about it and do it the appropriate means.
“He strikes at his personal tempo. Klay needs to face behind one thing he’s happy with and actually obsessed with.”
In the course of the course of, the enter has been collective. The wine was tasted by Thompson, his brother Mychel and their good buddy Seth Tarver.
“I don’t drink a lot wine, however I can let you know what’s good,” Tarver mentioned. “And that is good. Joe (Harden) is an in depth buddy and he’s excellent at what he does. This wasn’t simply Klay slapping his identify on a bottle. Joe helped us navigate that.”
The 2018 Cabernet, made in St. Helena, has simply been launched. Harden describes it as a excessive depth, high-end Napa Cab. The enterprise has bottled 4 Cabernet vintages thus far and has additionally made a rosé.
“Klay wished to have a wine for his boat,” Harden mentioned. “It’s exhausting to have an costly Cab out on the water.”
Thompson has been creating his palette in recent times. Final 12 months, he wandered into tiny Tiburon Wine store. The proprietor, Jerry Horn (who, full disclosure, is a buddy of mine), noticed a tall man in a helmet, sun shades and a masks get off his bike, are available and begin trying out his product.
“Often, meaning nothing’s going to occur,” mentioned Horn, whose retailer is in a closely trafficked vacationer locale.
However this tall man chosen a Silver Oak Cab. An Alpha Omega Cab. A Merry Edwards Chardonnay. A bottle of Dom Perignon. When he put down his bank card, Horn realized this wasn’t only a lookie-loo however the latest high-profile resident of the Tiburon peninsula.
Thompson, nonetheless rehabilitating from his accidents, was going to place all the pieces in his backpack and cycle residence. Horn — an avid biker himself — requested to see his bike.
“Don’t choose me,” Thompson mentioned. “It’s electrical.”
No judgement a few man who, on the time, was nonetheless getting back from an ACL tear and ruptured Achilles. However Horn provided to ease the backpack burden and ship the acquisition and a friendship was cast.
“I at all times cease in to see Jerry,” Thompson mentioned. “It’s enjoyable to enter his store and speak about wine and music. He feels just like the neighborhood gatekeeper.”
When the Warriors made the playoffs, Horn, who is thought within the enterprise as “Dr. Champagne” dropped off a bottle of Krug, with a be aware: “See you when the job is finished.”
The job is finished. A few weeks earlier than the Warriors hoisted one other Larry O’Brien trophy, Thompson mused, “I ponder if Jerry will pick one thing good if we win the entire thing.”
Positive sufficient, when Thompson obtained again to Marin County, a bottle of Dom Perignon was ready for him. To not spray, however to drink.
Simply in time for Monday’s victory parade.
Ann Killion is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. E-mail: akillion@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annkillion
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