Alexandra Grant reveals early 'wine culture' memory that inspired new venture

Alexandra Grant has built a globally recognized career as a visual artist, but she says there is another path she could easily imagine for herself: winemaking.

Speaking exclusively to People at the LOVE Wine launch event in Los Angeles on May 28, the 53-year-old artist said that if she were not working in the art world, she would likely be producing wine.

“I’d really like to make a wine, I love wine,” Grant said, explaining that her fascination with wine dates back to her childhood.

Grant recalled first being introduced to “wine culture” at the age of 12, when she was living in Paris with her mother, a diplomat. 

During their stay, she would explore the city by day and dine out with her mother at night, where she was first exposed to how wine is traditionally paired with meals.

She shared a memorable moment from one restaurant visit, when staff served her a glass of wine despite her age after her mother requested a non-alcoholic drink.

“The waitress stormed off and came back and put a giant glass of wine in front of me and said, ‘Madame, la Coca-Cola, c’est mauvais pour votre enfant,’” Grant recalled, noting that the experience shaped her early perception of wine as part of cultural and culinary tradition rather than simply an alcoholic beverage.

“It was something that came with a meal that was sort of like a proposal from the chef,” she said. “Wine culture goes with food culture.”

That early exposure sparked a long-standing interest that eventually evolved into a creative ambition. 

Grant said she spent years imagining what it would be like to enter the winemaking world before the opportunity finally emerged through her philanthropic and artistic work.

She eventually developed the LOVE Project under her grantLOVE foundation, which led to meetings with various vineyards before she found the right partnership. 

That journey ultimately connected her with J Vineyards and the E. & J. Gallo Winery team, resulting in the launch of LOVE Wine, a California Brut sparkling wine.

Grant described the collaboration as creatively aligned, noting her connection with J Vineyards Estate Director Nicole Hitchcock. She said their shared enthusiasm for agriculture, grapes, and production created an immediate bond.

“We had this sort of super meeting where we each put together like a PowerPoint,” she said, describing their collaboration as a deeply engaged creative exchange.

The LOVE Wine project also highlights women in creative and winemaking industries, with artist-designed labels and grantLOVE supporting grants for women creators. 

The latest release features label artwork by Sonoma-based designer Blanca Molina, which pays tribute to her Mexican heritage and California upbringing.

Grant said Molina “knocked it out of the park” with the design, adding that she hopes the bottle reflects both visual and creative storytelling.

“I want someone to fall for the label,” she said. “But the art is also inside the bottle.”

Reflecting on similarities between winemaking and art, Grant said both rely heavily on experimentation and adaptability.

“The great thing about being an artist is experimentation,” she explained. “Winemaking keeps you on your toes in the same way.”

She added that both fields require working with uncertainty, shaped by factors outside of one’s control. 

“Whether you're an artist or you're a winemaker, you are in the process,” she said.