Doddie Weir is not only a legendary Scottish Rugby International and British and Irish Lion, he is also one of the Sport’s great characters. As you will already know, he is fighting a battle against Motor Neuron Disease, and in June 2017 launched ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’ to raise funds to aid research into the causes of MND, investigate potential cures, and to make grants to individuals suffering from MND to enable them to live as fulfilled a life as possible.
Simon Halliday, co-founder of Sporting Wine Club, jumped at the chance to work with the Foundation and Kenny Logan of Logan Sports Marketing to kick off a unique fundraising initiative. Combining two of Doddie’s greatest passions – rugby and wine – the idea for ‘Doddie’5 Red Blend’ was born.
They approached Schalk Burger & Sons, a legendary Springbok family, and one of the leading Sporting Winemaker’s at the Sporting Wine Club, from their amazing Welbedacht Estate, in South Africa, to see if they could mix a traditional Bordeaux blend with 5 grape varieties, representing Doddie’s shirt. In imitable style, they have produced a real winner.
To top it all off, renowned mouth painter and former academy player at Saracens, Henry Fraser, has designed the label. A freak accident in 2009 left Henry paralysed from the shoulders down
and he has since found a new path with his remarkable ‘mouth-painting’ artwork.
