Love wine? Love HEAT? Guest writer Shawn Zylberberg (@shawnzylberberg) has the perfect pairings for you. Starting at $15, these buzzer-beating bottles rep the NBA’s hottest team…
Garmin watch has been buzzing my wrist with reminders to ‘relax’ at 8:30pm most nights. My blood pressure is 150/110. I can feel my carotid artery pushing against my neck. Duncan Robinson hits a three. BANG!
The Miami Heat are in the finals. Black Magic. Sick Shit. Whatever you wanna call it, we’re here. Jimmy Butler, the Heat’s fierce leader, has showed the power of team and how all individuals are melted into one unit on the court. What basketball is to Jimmy, wine is to me. And luckily, we share that love for wine.
So I decided to do something fun. Below you’ll find most of the Miami Heat roster. The professional athletes, fathers, brothers, friends, homies, responsible for bringing Miami to its knees as it prays to an arena that wishes American Airlines would come back. For each player, I chose a wine that I think they represent in some way. For the next Heat vs. Nuggets game, pick up a bottle, uncork it, and see if you can match the player with the flavor. It should be easy:
Bam Adebayo: Daou Vineyards 2021 ($25)
Pure power, full body. Daou is Bam in a bottle. This Cabernet Sauvignon is from Paso Robles, California, where you can find high quality Cabernet below three figures. From sleek jumpers to mind-bending blocks to putback dunks, this big red wine will give you a taste of lion mentality.
Jimmy Butler: Château Lynch-Bages 2010 ($225)
The 2010 Lynch-Bages is seriously on point right now, just like Jimmy. Hailing from a top Bordeaux vintage, top producer (one of Jimmy’s favs actually), and a decade in bottle, this Cabernet-dominant blend is fully integrated and complete, offering a structured core of black fruit and a finish that doesn’t quit, just like Jimmy Butler.
Kevin Love: Domaine Michel Mallard et Fils Ladoix ‘Les Buis’ 2019 ($39)
There’s a few reasons the Miami Heat won Game 2, and Kevin Love is one of them. The Denver Nuggets have size, but so do we. From solid defending, expert passing, and some crucial shots, K Love looked as complete as this Burgundian Pinot Noir. At under $40 (which is extremely rare for good Burgundy), this wine is elegant, refreshing, and easy to sip. It doesn’t crack under pressure, just like this NBA vet.
Gabe Vincent: Domaine du Pavillon de Chavannes Cote de Brouilly Beaujolais 2021 ($28)
This is funky and packed with strong scents of vibrant red fruits. Gabe Vincent has been an absolute weapon during the playoffs, and this wine showcases his superb energy and old school aura that puts you under the spell of winning.
Duncan Robinson: Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino 2018 ($80)
Italy’s Brunello di Montalcino might be light on its feet, but it packs intense concentration and a laser-focused beam of red fruit that takes at least 15 minutes to burst. Duncan might be a skinny, innocent looking kid, but his intense drives and lethal 3s will convince you otherwise. He’s the grim reaper dressed like Greg Hirsch.
Caleb Martin: Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #5 Mosel 2019 ($70)
GET THIS MAN PAID. Caleb Martin is quick, agile, and a menace at the three point line. So far, he’s blown our minds on the court, and so will this wine. Constantly evolving, this German Riesling is rich with tropical flavors and sweet undertones. It makes your mind race with a surprise at each end of your brain. If it’s true J. Cole got Caleb on the heat, throw on G.O.M.D. during halftime and swirl that glass.
Kyle Lowry: Bodegas Muga Reserva 2019 ($34)
Kyle Lowry is ripe for winning. An all-star NBA baller, he’s been in the league long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. Mistakes don’t phase him. Scary shots don’t scare him. There are few wines where you know exactly what you’ll get, and Spain’s Muga is one of them. Reliable and consistently amazing, this Tempranillo-based red blend has the right level of fruit, complexity, and acidity to always want more. Buy two.
Udonis Haslem: Château Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 ($390)
Legend status. He may not be playing in the finals, but Udonis Haslem is the heart of the Heat…and Miami. He represents the ‘dog mentality’ attached to this eighth seed team fighting for glory. This California Cabernet is one of few producers who put U.S. wine on the map. It’s got a depth of flavor and fruit that may be past its peak, but has enough gas left to do serious damage to the palate…it comes with years of battle.
Max Strus: Tania & Vincent Careme ‘Terre Brûlée’ Chenin Blanc 2021 ($16)
How did something this good come along unnoticed? Undrafted in 2019, Max Strus bounced around until he landed in Miami. Now, he’s one of the team’s top shooters. Just like Strus, this South African Chenin Blanc is on a meteoric rise, drinking like a $60 white for under $20. Ripe peach, golden apple, honey character, and luscious texture, this wine gets the crowd going.
Cody Zeller: Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve ($58)
Sometimes it’s not the player that drops 30 points who you remember, but the guy who scored those four points that changed the course of the game. Down low, game is close, Cody Zeller drains a shot over Denver’s giants, and suddenly a wave of hope fills you. That’s Charles Heidsieck, a razor sharp bubbly that lifts the senses and knows how to score when it matters most. It may lose power over time, but has a stubborn anger to it that brings bright flavor under pressure.
Tyler Herro: La Fête du Rosé 2021 ($24)
A young a up-and-coming phenom, Tyler Herro has become one of the NBA’s biggest stars, similar to La Fête du Rosé, a French rosé that has taken over the growing wine category. La Fête, which partnered with NBA’s Chris Paul and is based in Miami, produces a rosé that doesn’t miss, like Herro when he’s on point. If it’s tied in the 4th quarter and Jokic has the ball, pour a glass of this and cool down. The party isn’t over.
Burnie: Juan Gil Jumilla Monastrell 2020 ($18)
The Heat’s mascot, Burnie, is the best dancer on the court, representing the fire in all of us to move and pour our energy into each possession. This Spanish red is pure spice and smoke, with strong dark fruits to keep you awake and ready to burn the last drops of oil in overtime.
Erik Spoelstra: Bodega Catena Zapata ‘Nicolas Catena Zapata’ 2019 ($110)
Calm, anxious, patient, trusting, stressed, cerebral, fierce, leader. These words define the Heat’s greatest coach ever, Erik Spoelstra. Nicolas Catena Zapata red blend is a winery’s ode to its leader, Nicolas, who pioneered an era of quality wines in Argentina. His relentless pursuit for glory against all odds is Erik’s story this season, and this bold and elegant wine radiates a deep persistence in flavor and finish that defines legacy in every drop.
Shawn Zylberberg, born and raised in Boca Raton Florida, is a former Assistant Editor of Wine Spectator magazine. He joined joining Colangelo & Partners, a wine-focused public relations firm, in 2022, and is currently a WSET Diploma candidate. Find him on Instagram or Twitter.
Sarah is a freelance wine educator, writer and events host, based in South Beach. She holds the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits and is a current Master of Wine student.
