Mariners Catcher Chris Iannetta finds passion off the field in wine industry

SEATTLE -  "Along the time I started playing baseball I got introduced to really nice wine and started liking the taste," says Mariners Catcher Chris Iannetta.

Chris Iannetta has been playing professional baseball for over a decade. In 2012, the catcher was with the Angels when he became friends with teammate Vernon Wells.

"We were just kicking around ideas of things we could do to keep our friendship after baseball --  and also what would be a good business venture --  and we both love wine and we said that'd be kind of cool."

The guys teamed up with winemaker Grant Long Jr. and after a year and a half, their winery took life, starting with a tasting in 2014.

"He came down, our winemaker, with some barrel samples to spring training and we sat around tasted how we wanted it to be like. The biggest debate was if we wanted a big estate cab that you can lay down for 10 to 15 years or if we wanted something that we could drink right now. I eventually won out because I am a little old school wanted something you could cellar and it was just going to get better over time."

Chris and Vernon settled on two wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc. The name, JACK, is a combination of their kids initials.

"When it comes to our cab, it's very big. It'll hold up to any food you put in front of it. Big bold steak, ribs and stuff like that. Our sav blanc is very unique. It almost borderlines a chardonnay. It's very oaky. It's something that you don't normally get in a Sauvignon Blanc," says Iannetta.

"I was impressed by their passion. You know a lot of people in their position, professional athletes, they tend to you know get an idea in their head and they want to do it kind of like a hobby and then get bored real quick. Wine is not an easy thing. It sounds fun and is romantic, but at the end of the day it's a lot of work to be able to bring your brand to the American public in a way that showcases what they want to do," says winemaker Grant Long, Jr.

"Our focus is baseball and it takes so much of our time and energy to excel at this but you also need distractions. Doing something that is a little more intellectually driven you know the wine process and the business aspect for me gives me an outlet to flex your mental muscles a bit and work on a project and grow it, see what it's like to start something small and hopefully end up with something special," says Iannetta.

To find out more visit: JACKWinery.com