Djokovic Swaps The Court For The Kitchen

NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) and JACOB'S CREEK (@jacobscreek), the official wine of the US Open, will host a cooking masterclass tonight to celebrate the U.S. launch of the Jacob's Creek 'Made By' film series -- films that reveal the story behind the tennis star.

Swapping center court for center stage, Djokovic and Celebrity Chef Casey Thompson will prepare one of his favorite recipes for guests and discuss how his passion for food has played a key role in shaping who he is.

Novak is the star of the Jacob's Creek 'Made By' film series, which since its launch has had six million views. Unscripted and raw, the films show a side of Novak the world has perhaps not seen before. We see the real Novak, recounting the never-before-told life stories from Belgrade, Serbia, celebrating the people, places and passions that have made him the tennis champion he is today.

Commenting on the films at the event, Djokovic said: "I hope by watching the films, people can truly get a sense of my personal journey. Creating the 'Made By' film series has allowed me to share my story, in my own words, with the world."

On celebrating the films with a cooking demonstration Djokovic said, "Food is a huge passion of mine which I touch on in the films—from watching my parents in their restaurant in Serbia to understanding the impact food has on my tennis performance. It's good fun for me to show off my cooking skills and how I handle myself in the kitchen, versus the tennis court!"  

Derek Oliver, Global Marketing Director of Jacob's Creek said, "The 'Made By' film series brings to life the determination and dedication Djokovic puts into his career. Our partnership has been truly collaborative, we have worked together to create a series that showcases the authentic spirit that Jacob's Creek celebrates, one that we are proud to bring to the U.S."

The 'Made By' film series has three chapters, Birthed from Serbia, Shaped by Jelena and Inspired by Dreams. The films plus outtakes and behind the scenes can be viewed online at www.madebyjacobscreek.com

The 'Made By' films are the next evolution of the extremely successful Jacob's Creek 'Open Film Series' starring tennis legend Andre Agassi.

About the films:
Birthed from Serbia
Being raised in war-torn Belgrade, Serbia, it was Novak's family that kept him strong. All of the hardships he faced during these times taught him about strength, resilience and the importance of having a strong support network.

Shaped by Jelena
It was on tennis courts near his parents' restaurant that Novak first met legendary tennis coach, Jelena Gencic. She saw a five-year-old Novak hanging on the court fence, watching as she trained kids from the Belgrade tennis camp and invited him in to have a hit. From that invitation to come and play, a tennis legend was born and Jelena's generosity, dedication and commitment still shapes the way Novak plays tennis.

Inspired by Dreams
In the final 'Made By' film, we see Novak passionately discuss his pivotal Grand Slam win in Wimbledon, the goal he has been aiming for since he first watched Pete Sampras win the tournament in 1993. It was this challenge that inspired Novak, as an aspiring tennis player, to make a replica Wimbledon trophy, which still sits in a prime position alongside his other awards.

Notes to Editors: 
About Jacob's Creek
Jacob's Creek™ is one of Australia's leading global wine brands, offering quality wines with great varietal expression. The brand was first launched in 1976 and is named after the place where Johann Gramp planted his first vines on the banks of Jacob's Creek in 1847. In doing so, Johann founded the Gramp & Sons business and a history of winemaking innovation that dates back over 160 years.

Jacob's Creek wines are crafted with great care, with consumers' tastes at the forefront of the winemakers' minds and are trusted by consumers all over the world for their genuine quality and great taste. In 2014, Jacob's Creek was named the world's most awarded winery by the World Association of Wine-Writers and Journalists—a testament to its outstanding performance at international wine shows.

www.jacobscreek.com 

Jacob's Creek™ is a trademark of Pernod Ricard Winemakers Pty Ltd.

Enjoy Jacob's Creek wines responsibly.

About Casey Thompson: Casey is a renowned US Chef who has been behind some of the top USA restaurants including Rosewood Mansion, Shinsei and her very own Aveline and The European Bar in San Francisco. Casey can currently be seen on Better Living's television show, In the Kitch.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHjhcqzHvGw

SOURCE Jacob's Creek

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