Carmelo Anthony is making significant strides in the wine industry with his partnership with the renowned Robert Mondavi Winery to launch a new wine named "Ode to Soul." This robust red blend features grapes sourced from the famous To Kalon Vineyards in California. It represents the second release from Anthony’s wine brand, VII(N) The Seventh Estate, which he co-founded with Asani Swann in 2022, just prior to his retirement from the NBA.

Although basketball and wine might not appear to go hand in hand, for Anthony, wine appreciation has been a part of his lifestyle since his days as a rookie with the Denver Nuggets. He reminisced about the challenges he faced in his early wine journey, noting that consuming wine at a young age was often frowned upon. As his palate developed, he sought to carve out a niche within the wine community.

Anthony recalled traveling with wine and sharing it with teammates, successfully introducing stars like LeBron James and Chris Paul to the world of wine. His influence is seen in the NBA’s increasing embrace of wine, illustrated by the league’s recent partnership with Kendall-Jackson and several players, including Dwyane Wade and Stephen Curry, launching their own wine labels.

Recognizing the money he was spending on wine, Anthony decided to invest in his own brand. He is involved in all aspects of the business and is determined to make a mark in a highly competitive market. His wines come with a hefty price tag—Ode to Soul is priced at $275, while its predecessor Ode to Fidelity costs $135. However, he is aware of this and plans to introduce more affordable options in the future.

Anthony aims to diversify his offerings on an international scale, looking to produce wines from countries such as Argentina, New Zealand, Portugal, and South Africa. Furthermore, he and Swann are intent on addressing the lack of diversity in the wine industry, where less than 1% of wineries in the U.S. are black-owned. They hope to highlight various career opportunities within the wine sector to encourage greater representation.

Through his journey, Anthony hopes to inspire others and demonstrate the hard work that goes into building a brand in the wine industry. He believes that by sharing his experiences and challenges, he can help open doors for more individuals in this field.