Posted November 9, 200618 yr http://i13.tinypic.com/2m34gpk.jpg Reached at his winery Wednesday morning, Ciccone confirmed he has treatable prostate cancer, and he’ll undergo treatment after Thanksgiving. “It was a miserable fall,†said Ciccone, a retired engineer and physicist for General Dynamics. The longtime grape grower who took his passion to a commercial level now is occupied making the wine from the 2006 crop. He lets wife, Joan, run the Worry Department. “Tony had a high PSA, and some cancer was discovered in June,†she said. “Everybody assured us it was curable, treatable. I am not concerned. I don’t know where this colon thing came in.†On the bright side, the new Madonna wines made by Ciccone Vineyards, with labels taken from her recent “Confessions†tour and CD, are targeted to be collectibles, priced at $39.99, and signed by Madonna and Ciccone. They are in limited production, and each bottle is numbered. They are available now at G.B. Russo & Son, a specialty food store in Grand Rapids, at Luciano’s restaurant in Ludington and at the winery tasting room. Total distribution, with restaurants in Manhattan already on board to carry it, is still being worked out. John Russo of G.B. Russo & Son is a personal friend of the Ciccones and has collaborated with them on “Project M†(Madonna wine) for the last two years. He said Wednesday that consulting winemakers from France, Italy and Chile are involved in the project and visited the winery last year. Experts from California also are advising them on equipment and blends. All the wines for the new line are from the high-quality 2005 Michigan vintage. They include a Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio Ambrato, Chardonnay and a proprietary wine called Pallino Red, named for the ball used to play bocce ball with a picture of Ciccone on the label on his 75th birthday. They were launched last week at a charity fundraiser for the Metropolitan Hospital Foundation in Grand Rapids, one of several charities that Madonna supports in west Michigan. “It’s the best wine Tony ever made,†Russo said. Where to buy Madonna wines: The special collector series of wines runs $39.99 per bottle. Shipping to Michigan residents is legal, but shipping costs are extra. The wines are all from the 2005 vintage: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio Ambrato and Cabernet Franc. The new Pallino Red has a picture of Tony Ciccone on the label. For now, the wines are at G.B. Russo & Son, Grand Rapids, (800) 767-8776; Ciccone Vineyard and Winery, Suttons Bay, (231) 271-5553; Luciano’s Restaurant, Ludington, (231) 843-2244 :rofl: Luciano's Restaurant :lol: I swear it's not mine :kink:
