Peyton Manning fans now have a new way to officially toast the retirement of their favorite player. A Colts release announced the launch of Ring of Honor 18, a limited edition wine created to honor Manning’s illustrious career.
The number 18 is significant for two reasons. Manning’s jersey number, 18, is the first to be officially retired from use when he joins the Colts’ Ring of Honor. 18 also marks the number of years Manning has been with the NFL.
The wine is made by Andre Hueston Mack, CEO of Maison Noir Wines. Andre built his reputation first as sommelier at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry, and then as head sommelier at Keller’s NYC restaurant, Per Se. In 2007, Mack struck out on his own to create unique, small-lot wines with a punk rock/skater attitude. These wines were rapidly picked up by NYC restaurants and are now available nationwide. As a major sports fan, Andre was a natural pick to create a special wine for the Colts.
The resulting Ring of Honor 18 is a 2015 Colombia Valley AVA red blend. The wine is medium-bodied, with tasting notes that include “blackberries, cherries, and spice.” The wine is available for the very reasonable $19.95 on Mano’s Wine.
This marks the second wine created by the Colts to mark special occasions. The first wine was launched in November 2016 to honor the 10th anniversary of the Colts’ 2006 Super Bowl win.