As it happens, the Formula 1 champion really knows his stuff – and his new wines prove it.
Dan Ricciardo is really good at driving fast. Like, really fast. But is this Formula 1 driver any good at making wine? Our team of expert wine buyers reckon he is. That’s why they decided to give him a shelf takeover to celebrate the latest releases in his outstanding collaborative wine range with iconic Barossa winery St Hugo. But here’s where things get awkward.
Not one to coast along in second gear, Dan raced to accept our invitation, except he thought we said “store” takeover (we did not). He even announced it on Insta…and updated his LinkedIn. But here at Dan’s, we welcome that sort of blue-sky thinking and the wines are top tier (plus, we’re fan-girling hard), so rather than let the air out of his tyres, we’ve agreed to give him his own store (for the weekend).
Dan Ricciardo’s résumé is mighty impressive. As a lauded Formula 1 driver, he’s an eight-time Grand Prix winner, a Member of the Order of Australia, and The New York Times once described him as having the “sunniest disposition” as well as being “generally the nicest guy” in Formula 1.
He’s also working with one hell of a partner in St Hugo, who come with a heaped serving of long-standing acclaim for the elegance and precision of their wines. There’s no doubt that it’s truly a win for fine wine drinkers to see these two powerful forces come together – but is Dan ready to get behind the wheel at his own Dan Murphy’s store?
As it turns out, Dan knows what he’s on about when it comes to wine. He’s spent a lot of time in South Australia’s Barossa Valley in recent years getting in on the winemaking act with the team at St Hugo to create their wines. This year, the range comprises the DR3 x St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, DR3 x St Hugo Shiraz 2021, and the red blend, Ric Red by DR3.
We could tell Dan has a thing for the number three (it’s his lucky number), but we wanted to delve a little deeper to find out how an F1 driver ends up with a serious side hustle in wine.
Dan’s passion for wine has been a long time in the making, with particular thanks to his Sicilian-born father. “It’s in my blood,” Dan says. “Growing up in an Australian-Italian household, wine was always around. Whether it was at the dinner table or my family experimenting with some homemade drops, it’s just been a part of my life. Also, as I've gotten a little older, wine has been something that Dad and I have bonded over. Being able to then develop my own range and share that with him, it's been special – not to mention it tastes a lot better than the stuff he had been making!”
It’s this growing interest that led him to join forces with iconic Barossa winery St Hugo – a collab that began with Dan working alongside chief winemaker Peter Munro in 2020. They launched their first wines under the DR3 x St Hugo label in 2021, and the joint project, which he says was a “natural fit” from the start, has since evolved into a serious long-term thing. “I always love learning things, and wine is a true craft,” Dan says. “I wanted to get in, get my hands dirty, and make really spectacular wine that provides a unique perspective on what fine wine is.”
Dan says he gets over to St Hugo as often as he can – “an incredibly beautiful part of the world” – where he loves to walk the vineyards, sample the grapes and get hands-on with the blending and tasting in the winemaking process. “The Barossa Valley is where we create our wines and where the magic happens,” Dan says. Being present and involved with the team helps Dan and the team to drive the shape, structure and flavour profile of the wines, while also talking shop and brainstorming ideas for what lies ahead.
As for his favourite part of the process, he says it’s difficult to name just one element. “I think I’m still in that honeymoon phase where you’re excited with every aspect,” he says. “The work is very rewarding, being able to run the process with Pete, experiment with different styles, develop my own palate – that is all really fulfilling. As a final point, seeing your own wine on a shelf, opening it with friends and family, it's hard to beat that!”
Of course we had to ask, if he wasn’t racing cars, would he perhaps have gone into winemaking instead? “I don’t know about full-time – I’m still a long way off Pete!,” Dan laughs. “But believe it or not, there is a decent amount of overlap with F1 (the engineering side) and making wine. During practice we’re constantly reviewing elements of the car, making small tweaks and adjustments, and a large part of that feedback and feel is what you like, how you want the car to perform. It’s the same in wine – you can make small adjustments that have a big impact to the taste and your experience. It’s a process.”
Although he might not be planning a full pivot to the vineyard anytime soon, and he doesn’t quite see Pete becoming his F1 apprentice – “Please don’t put this idea in his head,” Dan jokes – their relationship has blossomed into one akin to that of driver and engineer. Pete providing the technical prowess and Dan the strong instincts. “We work well together, and we want to challenge ourselves to go out of our comfort zones to produce something particularly special.”
The DR3 x St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant wine, all bright red fruits and hints of oak wrapped up in fine tannins. A premium wine priced at $80, this special drop is drinking beautifully now, but it’s also a top contender for stashing away – if you can resist cracking it open. “When I smell it, I think of Blackcurrant Pastilles, so it’s got that real sweet indulgence, but then there’s also a lot of structure and class to it,” Dan says. And so did the critics at the 2023 Global Fine Wine Challenge and 2024 Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters, where this bottle nabbed Double Gold and Gold awards, respectively.
The excellent DR3 x St Hugo Shiraz, also priced at $80, is all dark and brooding, blending top parcels of fruit from various regions. Expect berry, pomegranate and raspberry fruit flavours, which work to lift this powerful expression of shiraz. Thanks to a “phenomenal harvest and perfect spring conditions”.
Alongside the cab sauv and shiraz you’ll find Ric Red by DR3, which is a super-approachable red blend (this one is priced at $39.99) that comes with a little intrigue. Dan calls this wine his “secret sauce” as they’re keeping the blend close to their chest. What we can tell you is this wine is ready for any occasion, best paired with good food, good music and good friends. “Ric Red is what I pull out when I’m with my best mates and we’re sharing stories and laughs.”
