Few athletes can recall life-defining moments with the precision of Jimmy Butler. While most wine enthusiasts stumble into their passion, Butler knows the exact date he fell for the vine: September 14, 2013. It wasn’t just any ordinary evening—it was his 24th birthday. And the man who uncorked that moment? None other than Mark Wahlberg.
Back then, Wahlberg was in Chicago filming Transformers and reached out to the Bulls for a friendly scrimmage. Somehow, amidst a wall of NBA headshots, he chose Butler. The next day, on set, Wahlberg pulled him aside, opened a Rimowa case, and poured a glass of 2010 Sassicaia. It was Butler’s first taste of wine, and it left a lasting impression.
“I’m so biased—Sassicaia is my favorite. I mean, come on, the first wine I ever had in my life was on my birthday with Mark Wahlberg”
A second bottle, a 2010 Château Lynch-Bages, sealed the experience. By the next day, Butler was in Binny’s trying to build a modest starter collection. But sticker shock quickly set in.
“They see NBA player and think I’m making 10 billion dollars… I had no idea how expensive the wine I was drinking was”
What began as an unforgettable birthday toast turned into an obsession. Within two years, Butler was collecting in earnest—reading, traveling, and investing in the world’s most storied labels. Today, his wine collection has ballooned to 11,000 bottles, with 7,500 housed in a custom-designed cellar at his off-season home in San Diego. Now playing for the Golden State Warriors, his wine journey has become as legendary as his on-court performances.
He frequents Bolgheri, Bordeaux, and Burgundy, and though he’s long favored Europe, Butler plans to spend more time in Napa Valley—now conveniently close to his Bay Area base. Still, it’s the stories behind the bottles that captivate him. Whether it’s a vintage Margaux or a 1940 Sassicaia, he’ll often select bottles by asking guests:
“What year were you born? What year did you graduate college? That’s the bottle we’re going to drink”
For Butler, wine is about more than taste—it’s about connection. He opens rare vintages for teammates, trainers, old friends, and even college students who assist with his workouts.
“I like to share my wine with people who don’t get the opportunity to drink wine like this. It gives them a memory like, ‘Man, I don’t know what that bottle was, but I can remember every single conversation we had while we were drinking it”
While his cellar boasts labels like Petrus, Château Lafite, Montrose, and Cos d’Estournel, his collection spans continents. He’s gone on extended Malbec kicks after falling in love with Terrazas de los Andes in Argentina, and he’s developed a refined palate for Burgundian Pinot Noir—thanks in part to former teammate JJ Redick.
“In Burgundy, you’ve got nothing but time and space. You just sit, talk, and go through bottles. It’s lighter than Bordeaux. I’d keep getting a second, third, fourth wind,” he says with a smile.
Though wine remains a personal passion, Butler has dabbled in business—most notably through Bigface, his specialty coffee brand born in the 2021 NBA bubble. He sees coffee and wine as twin passions.
Though wine remains a personal passion, Butler has dabbled in business—most notably through Bigface, his specialty coffee brand born in the 2021 NBA bubble. He sees coffee and wine as twin passions. “You can share wine with everyone—same with coffee. They both create moments, conversations, and stories you remember”
From a glass of Sassicaia in a Hollywood trailer to curating one of the most notable personal wine collections in the NBA, Jimmy Butler has proven he plays with passion on and off the court—and now, in every perfect pour.
