Surfing legend Robert August, co-star of the most enduring surf movie, “The Endless Summer” has turned his taste for fine wine into a new family business.
August will showcase his first release of merlot and pinot grigio during a personal presentation at Crest Liquor, 3787 Ingraham St. Thursday, June 12, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The special engagement at Crest Liquor hosted by August and his son Sam is the only one scheduled in San Diego County, other than a fund-raising event in north city.
“It’s a natural thing for us, being here at the beach,” said Crest general manager Brian Goodloe. “It’s good wine and the packaging is perfect, with the surfboard and all. It should be an interesting time.”
The displays will include August’s wines and some surfboards from his internationally known board shaping shop in Huntington Beach.
Robert and Sam are long-time acquaintances of Crest clerk John Cocozza. A surfer and part-time professional photographer, Cocozza was instrumental in arranging the special visit after the wine became available and sold at Crest two months ago.
“I have know them through the surf community for years,” Cocozza said. “It should be fun. We are going to hang some of Robert’s boards around and have a wine table. There will be a chance to talk to them, get some decals and stickers, an autograph and some of their wine.”
August earned his international name recognition when he walked out of his high school graduation and onto a plane to tour the world while making “The Endless Summer” with Bruce Brown and co-star Mike Hynson of La Jolla. When the documentary surf movie was released in 1966 in regular movie theaters, the world got its first honest look at the pure joy of the sport.
The movie leaped out of the familiar breaks of Southern California right into Africa, then on to Australia, Tahiti and Hawaii. Who can forget the search for the perfect wave and Cape St Francis?
August has made his own line of surfboards since 1974. The resurgence of longboards in the mid ’90s expanded his business interests and have given him a chance to frequently visit his vacation home in Costa Rica on his endless quest for great waves.
In 1994, August made a cameo appearance in Endless Summer II which featured two new young surfers retracing much of the original world surf tour.
August has been a faithful participant in the annual cancer research fundraising Luau and Longboard Invitational for surf legends at Scripps Pier in La Jolla every August.
The August label wine-making enterprise grew out of a joint venture with vintner Dennis Hill.
“Wine, like surfing, is a passion for me that is endless,” August says on his website.
Red grapes for the 2005 Robert August Merlot are from the Edna Valley near Pismo Beach while the white grapes for the 2006 Robert August Pinot Grigio are sourced from the Monterey, CA area.
Information is available at www.robertaugustwines.com or from Crest at (858) 274-3087.