“The Sopranos,” the U.S. television series about a New Jersey mob family, has sparked an unusual spin-off — a line of Italian wines that will be launched in the United States this fall.
Sopranos Wines are being produced under a licensing agreement between the TV network HBO and New-York based Vesuvio Import Company. The wines will be distributed by Duggan's Distillers Products Corp.
“We feel that these quality Italian wines are the perfect complement to all of our other carefully planned product extensions for ‘The Sopranos’ brand," James Costos, HBO spokesman, said in a statement.
A joint statement said the line from various Italian wineries would feature a variety of wines ranging a Chianti DOCG, Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir priced up to $11.99 to a higher end Chianti Classico at $23.99 and a Chianti Classico Reserva at $29.99.
The Vesuvio Import Company, created to develop this new line, was named after the famed fictional restaurant depicted in the series that ran for six seasons over more than eight years, ending in June 2007.
It's not the series' first overlap into wine.
Actress Lorraine Bracco, who played Dr. Jennifer Melfi in the series, launched Bracco Wines in 2006.