Ditka The Coach Cabernet Sauvignon

Ditka The Coach Cabernet Sauvignon is a California Bordeaux-style red wine bottled at 13.5% ABV in a standard 750ml bottle. Built on a three-grape blend rather than a single varietal, this expression stands apart from typical California Cabernets with its 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc composition — a structure that delivers approachable fruit intensity alongside layered complexity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: California, USA  |  Bordeaux-Style Blend  |  Cellared & Bottled by: 2Sons Winery, Rutherford, CA

Production & Heritage

This wine is the product of a partnership between NFL coaching legend Mike Ditka and Terlato Wines International. Production is handled by 2Sons Winery, a winemaking team operating out of the Rutherford Hill facility in Napa Valley — one of Terlato's holdings. The Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc results in a wine that is intentionally lighter in body than many single-varietal California Cabs, with the Merlot and Cab Franc softening the structure and adding mid-palate depth. Ditka originally partnered with Mendocino Wine Company before the label moved to the Terlato portfolio and Rutherford production.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Raspberry leads the nose, followed by red currant and a layer of dark chocolate. There is a gentle warmth underneath, with no aggressive alcohol or oak dominance.

Taste: The palate opens with juicy plum and raspberry, carrying forward the fruit-driven character from the nose. At mid-palate, the Merlot component rounds out the texture while dark chocolate notes emerge from the tannin structure. The 78/15/7 blend creates a full-bodied but not heavy profile — the Cabernet Franc adds a subtle herbal edge that keeps the wine from becoming one-dimensional.

Finish: Medium-to-long with firm but approachable tannins that frame lingering dark fruit and cocoa. The finish stays dry without turning astringent, making it food-friendly and easy to return to.

How to Drink The Coach Cabernet

This wine drinks well at cellar temperature (around 60–65°F) poured into a large-bowled glass to let the fruit aromatics open up. Decanting for 20–30 minutes softens the tannins further and brings the chocolate notes into better focus. For cocktail-adjacent serves, The Coach Cabernet works in a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola over ice) for a casual, crowd-pleasing highball; a New York Sour, where its dark fruit intensity holds up under the bourbon and lemon; and a classic Sangria, where the raspberry and plum character provides a natural fruit foundation without added sweetness.

Best For

• Gifting a Chicago Bears fan or NFL memorabilia collector
• Grilling season — pairing with charred steaks and burgers off the backyard grill
• Introducing Bordeaux-style blends to someone who typically drinks single-varietal Cabernet
• Game-day entertaining where you want a full-bodied red that pours easily for a crowd

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Coach Cabernet taste like? It is a fruit-forward California red dominated by raspberry and plum flavors, underpinned by dark chocolate notes from well-integrated tannins. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the blend give it a softer, rounder body than a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

How does The Coach Cabernet compare to Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are California Cabernets with celebrity branding, but The Coach is a declared three-grape Bordeaux-style blend (78% Cab, 15% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc) while the Coppola Diamond is marketed primarily as a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. The Coach tends to show a lighter body and more prominent raspberry character, whereas the Coppola leans toward darker black cherry and cassis.

Is The Coach Cabernet good for sipping neat? Yes — its balanced tannins and 13.5% ABV make it an easy wine to enjoy on its own, particularly after a short decant to let the fruit and chocolate aromas fully develop.

Where is The Coach Cabernet made? The wine is cellared and bottled by 2Sons Winery in Rutherford, California, operating out of the Rutherford Hill winery facility in the heart of Napa Valley. It is produced under the Terlato Wines International partnership.

What foods pair well with The Coach Cabernet? Grilled ribeye steak matches the wine's bold tannins and dark fruit. Slow-braised short ribs echo its chocolate undertones. Aged cheddar or Gouda complements the raspberry acidity. Italian sausage pizza brings out the Cab Franc's subtle herbal notes. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa finish.

What sizes does The Coach Cabernet come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle.

Is The Coach Cabernet worth the price? The Coach positions as a mid-range California red, landing in the accessible everyday-to-weekend tier rather than the premium collector segment. For a Bordeaux-style three-grape blend cellared in Rutherford, it represents solid value compared to single-varietal Napa Cabernets at similar or higher price points.

Why The Coach Cabernet?

What separates this wine from the crowded field of celebrity-branded bottles is the actual winemaking pedigree behind it. Production at the Rutherford Hill facility under the Terlato umbrella means the fruit and blending decisions are made by a serious Napa Valley team, not simply a licensing arrangement. The 78/15/7 Cabernet-Merlot-Cab Franc blend is a deliberate stylistic choice that favors approachability and food versatility over sheer power — a distinction that most single-varietal celebrity Cabs do not attempt. For anyone who wants a well-structured, fruit-driven California red with genuine Napa Valley production credentials and a conversation-starting label, The Coach earns its spot on the table.