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Stags’ Leap becomes official wine partner of Cirque du Soleil
Napa Valley producer Stags’ Leap has thrown its hat in the ring to become the official partner for Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.
Stags’ Leap, one of Napa Valley’s oldest wineries, has signed a deal that will see its wines offered at Cirque du Soleil’s Big Top Shows across the US for one year.
Starting on 8 June, the agreement means that Stags’ Leap Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon will reach a new audience of circus fans, while Stags’ Leap multimedia branding will be displayed in each venue.
Furthermore, an “elevated Stags’ Leap Winery lounge” will be installed in select venues in which the circus performs.
Speaking about the new partnership, Stags’ Leap brand director Megan O’Connor said that the winery’s stag motif was “a symbol of courage and freedom, emboldening everyone to explore all that life has to offer in the pursuit of pleasure.
“I cannot think of a more perfect partner than Cirque du Soleil, whose performances have transformed live entertainment by encouraging all of us to dream the unimaginable.”
The partnership will kick off in Laguna Hills, California, on the opening night of Cirque de Soleil show KOOZA, before going on to visit 10 markets (beginning with the US) until July 2025.
“We look forward to our United States Big Top fans experiencing the premium wine offerings on-site”, said Lauren Hart, head of partnership strategy at Cirque du Soleil.
Stags’ Leap’s first vintage was in 1893, and the long history of the winery is partially what inspired the creation of the Napa Valley appellation of the same name. The 240 acre (97ha) wine estate is known for its dark, well-drained volcanic soils.
Heading up the winemaking team is Ludovic Dervin, who took over from Christophe Paubert in 2022 after the latter’s 13-year stretch in the role.
Dervin said he’d been drawn to Stags’ Leap signature style of winemaking, which he described as having “refined elegance, finesse, and level of traditionality that really showcases the incredible quality of the fruit.”
Stags’ Leap Winery is not the only drinks producer to have teamed up with Cirque du Soleil. In February, The Macallan whisky partnered with the group on an exclusive one-month run of performances to mark its 200th anniversary.