What do professional ice hockey players do when they retire?
Michael Bolan
Photos Alexey Zhukov
They make wine. Or at least that’s what Soviet and Russian hockey great Igor Larionov does. Having traded in his Stanley Cups for some stemware, Larionov now owns a winery that produces Californian and Australian vintages. On August 21, in the library of Moscow’s Baltschug Kempinski hotel, some local oenophiles had the chance to sample some of Larionov’s wines. A couple of dozen of Moscow’s top businesspeople were present at the quiet, invitation-only affair, which was hosted by Deloitte. Larionov himself was on hand to discuss the offerings, each of which was decanted from a bottle with a cork stating “hockey is my life, wine is my passion.” Larionov offers several different labels catering to different tastes and budgets, all with names drawn from his hockey days, ranging from the premium Triple Overtime to Hat Trick and Off Season. The wines are available through Larionov’s St. Petersburg-based distributor, SOVT. For details, contact Moscow representative Gennady Korolev at (499)130-1498) or visit www.iltripleovertime.com.
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