Fresh Out of Axl Rose Rosé? No Need To Fret. Insania & Pursued By Bear Shall Whet

The latest rock star to join the trend of collaborating with boutique wineries to create limited run liquid harvests is none other than Queensrÿche's Geoff Tate. In February, 190 cases of a Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec-based blend will be released under the name INSANIA. Props to Tate for staying in his state, perhaps in mind but also in location as he chose Three Rivers Winery in Walla Walla, WA. The wine will be released just in time for Ryche's new American Solider opus, due out March 31. An American Soldier and An American Vintner shall be brothers in arms.

Read Tate's Wine Spectator interview

Pre-order a $35 bottle here

Walla Walla is a burgeoning wine region with many of the winemakers young and artistic themselves, and whom see their wine community as a modern incarnation of the comeuppance of Napa Valley in the late 60's. There's definitely a palpable buzz among the locals and many recent vintner transplants from places as far away as France.

In fact, the vineyards of Walla Walla are also home to another set of celebrity grapes. Winemaker Eric Dunham from Dunham Cellars in Walla Walla recently struck a partnership with Twin Peaks / Desperate Housewives actor Kyle MacLachlan to make a limited-edition red called Pursued By Bear.

MacLachlan is a native of Yakima, WA which is about 1/2 way between Seattle and Walla Walla and the centerpiece of the Yakima Valley, one which rows some of the juiciest vines in the Western hemisphere.

Long a wine-collector, sharing notes and rare bottles with his buddy David Lynch, KM named his Bacchalian debut after the Shakespearean stage direction “Exit, pursued by a bear,” from The Winter’s Tale, this Cabernet-Syrah-Merlot blend contains grapes from both Lewis Vineyard in Rattlesnake Hills and Red Mountain providing dark plum, Bing cherry and violets on the nose with a richly woven tapestry of Friar plum and black cherry cobbler. The first edition 2005 vintage is delicious and ready for swilling. Just ask daytime TV foodie Rachel Ray who highlighted it on one of her shows in October.

Order a $65 bottle of Pursued By Bear here

Read Kyle's Wine Spectator interview