Wine to be named after Lionel Messi

“I will have a bottle of Leo, thank you…”

Yes, you can soon be ordering a bottle of Lionel Messi at your favorite bar and restaurant within the next two months, as an Argentine vineyard announced its plans to launch a new wine bearing the Barcelona star’s name.

The Bodega Valentin Bianchi Winery revealed on Monday evening its plans to name one of its products after Messi. The company divulged that the brand would be labelled ‘Leo’, and that it had the full support of the Argentine star. The winery is famed for its quality wines and is based in Mendoza which is the home province of Lionel Messi.

According to the winery, the project will be carried out in cooperation with the Leo Messi Foundation and all profits made from the sale of the wine will used for charitable causes.

“This venture will collaborate with the Leo Messi Foundation in order to continue creating projects focused on infant health and education, as well as establishing sporting activity as a key part of the fight against poverty and vulnerability,” the statement from the Winery said.

“These are the fundamental aspects of the Foundation, which since 2008 has worked tirelessly to carry its mission forward; acting to help at-risk children and adolescents.”

This new partnership is however not the first charitable project that Messi has aided through his foundation. His foundation has helped to fund new sporting facilities in Rosario, as well as set up a scheme which offers scholarships in Barcelona to Argentine students studying pediatric medicine.

The involvement of sportsmen in the wine industry seems to be a growing trend. In 2008 former France, Newcastle and Spurs winger David Ginola received a silver medal at the International Wine Challenge for a rosé wine produced at his vineyard in Provence.

Meanwhile Manchester United trio Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra also featured in a commercial of the club’s official wine sponsor.