F1 Daniel Ricciardo star releases racing boot-shaped decanter

Known for celebrating wins by drinking fizz from his shoe, the Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo has decided that it’s time to give appropriate glass-wear the green light.

The “shoey” is particularly popular in Australia, with MotoGP rider Jack Miller using it as a form of celebration before Ricciardo gained fame for the practice. Ricciardo even got Sir Patrick Stewart partaking of a shoey after the 2017 Canadian Grand Prix. Though currently 19th in the F1 standings, Ricciardo has had cause to celebrate in recent years, including a win at the Italian Grand Prix last year. Now the Aussie racer, nicknamed “The Honey Badger”, has immortalised the ritual into something more concrete – or, rather, glass.

Although this might seem like an April Fool’s joke which didn’t quite cross the line in time for the 1st, Ricciardo takes his wine very seriously. He is partnering with Barossa-based St. Hugo Wines once again after the success of his original run of DR3 with a 2020 South Australian Shiraz and a 2018 Coonawara Cabernet Sauvignon. Tongue somewhat in cheek, Ricciardo describes the latter as bursting “onto the centre of the palate”, while the former unfolds “with the focus of a diamond”.

 

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Lamenting that he could not find “a vessel worthy of the wine”, he then unveils the crystal-clear boot – like Cinderella’s slipper, this is designed to be the perfect fit for his wines. The decanter itself took more than 100 hours to design, being a 3D modelled replica of Ricciardo’s left boot. Each is hand-blown and costs $700 (for one, not a pair). Supposedly the design does succeed in properly aerating the DR3 wines, and it’s certainly preferably to drinking from a boot after a two-hour race.

To those who doubt the receptacle’s efficacy, Ricciardo has a clear message: “They said decant, and I said decan.”