Wine Talk: Country Star Scotty McCreery Takes Cab in a Solo on Tour

Fans of country music and long-time American Idol viewers know musician Scotty McCreery for his hits such as “You Time,” “Five More Minutes” and “Damn Strait.” But last year, the singer and guitarist gained a new legion of followers among wine lovers with the release of “Cab in a Solo,” a song in which Silver Oak—an icon of California Cabernet—plays a prominent role.

After winning the 10th season of American Idol in 2011 at the age of 17, McCreery became the first country artist and the youngest male artist to debut his first studio album, Clear as Day, at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart. Since then, he has sold more than 4 million albums, the most recent being Same Truck. In addition, he published a book, Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream. Last year, McCreery was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and was invited by country superstar Garth Brooks to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

McCreery wrote “Cab in a Solo”—the first single of his forthcoming album, due out later this year—with two frequent collaborators, producer (and fellow Cabernet lover) Frank Rogers and songwriter Brent Anderson. He just released the video this week in advance of his “Cab in a Solo” tour, which kicks off this month. (You’ll spot McCreery dumping wine from fine glassware into a Solo cup, along with cameos from Silver Oak bottles.) While wine is mentioned in earlier McCreery songs, such as “You Time ” and “It Matters to Her,” he quips, “We really went for it with this one song.”

McCreery took time out from preparing for his Jan. 26 tour start in Ohio to chat with senior editor Dana Nigro about how the song came to be, what role wine plays in his life and one of his favorite places to drink it.

Wine Spectator: What were your musical inspirations for your forthcoming album?

I really tried to go back to what I grew up with and what I love: Traditional country music. I’m 30 years old, but I feel like I could have really thrived in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. But I grew up in the ’90s, listening to Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Joe Diffie. I love the classic sound, the guitar, the fiddle, where the storytelling is the center of the song and it’s tied up with a bow at the end. To me, the heart of country music is the storytelling.

Tell us about the “Cab in a Solo” songwriting session with Frank Rogers and Brent Anderson.

We had a lot of fun that weekend. It was just a little writing retreat in the mountains. We brought our guitars and sat by the fire writing songs. I kind of told the guys what I was looking for. Brent brought up this idea [that led to] Cab in a Solo, and when he laid it out, I loved it. I love wine in general. So we got to work on the story and, before we knew it, we had a pretty fun song.

How did you get into wine?

It was a natural result of doing what I do—business dinners and meetings. Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, it wasn’t something I was around a lot. It took a while to get a taste for it, but little by little, it was what I ordered at dinner. ‘Do I want a beer? No, I’ll go for the good wine.’ I started with sweet wines and eventually got up to big, bold Cabernets.

Scotty McCreery has played venues all over the United States, including the famed Ryman Auditorium. (John Shearer/Getty Images)

Do you have any particular favorite wineries, regions or grape varieties?

Obviously Silver Oak. We wouldn’t write about it if we didn’t love it. Me and my wife, one of our personal favorites is Hall winery—the whole family and operation out there. I talked with [co-owner] Kathyrn Hall on her Instagram Live. I even signed up for the wine-club membership. But I do not discriminate when it comes to wine. I also love a good Bordeaux and the super Tuscans. As I’ve grown older, I’ve grown an appreciation for all different types and regions.

We hear you’re also a fan of whiskey. Any favorites there?

Whiskey is the newer one for me. I got into wine before whiskey. I started with Jack and Coke … now I prefer it neat or just with one ice cube. I love Buffalo Trace and what they do there, along with Blanton’s, Weller and Eagle Rare.

Do you ever have a drink during a concert, or do you avoid alcohol while performing?

It depends on the night. If it’s an intimate theater setting, I’m probably laying low as I’m talking to the crowd more. If I’m at a big festival, I’ll have a drink on stage with me. I’ve been known to have a big ol’ Solo cup of Cab on stage. What’s in the cup kind of depends on the vibe.

Sometimes after a concert, Scotty McCreery and the band will enjoy bourbon backstage (in whatever cup is available). (John Shearer/Getty Images)

I noticed that your merch store now includes a “Cab in a Solo”-logoed Solo cup for sale.

If you see us at a festival, most of the time our drinks are in a red Solo cup. We’re seeing more and more fans doing it now that we have the song out. I was even talking to Mr. Duncan at Silver Oak and he said, ‘I’d love for folks to not just think about [my wine] as a fancy steakhouse dinner wine. I’d love for them to drink it out of a Solo.”

Are you looking forward to anything in particular with your upcoming tour?

My “hometown show” is going to be in Durham, N.C., at the Performing Arts Center. I can’t tell you how many shows or Broadway musicals I’ve seen there, from Phantom of the Opera to Lion King, so to get to perform there where I’ve been in the seats many times will be a cool night for me.

What are some of your favorite places to eat and drink when you’re on tour or back home in North Carolina?

On tour, we go to a lot of different places. But my favorite restaurant experience is the Angus Barn [a Wine Spectator Grand Award winner], right in my hometown of Raleigh. Their wine selection is amazing; you’re hard-pressed to find a better selection anywhere in the country. They have a huge cellar. They have the $50 bottles and the $13,000 bottles. You’re going to get amazing food and wine but you’ll feel right at home, nice and cozy, with the Southern hospitality. I love that place.

Scotty McCreery was included in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s ”American Currents” exhibit. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

In December, Garth Brooks invited you to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Did you celebrate that night with anything special to drink?

I did. I’ve been fortunate to have Pappy Van Winkle before, usually given as a gift, but this was the first time I ever walked up to the bar and ordered a glass of it to celebrate.

Many people probably associate country music with beer and whiskey, but we seem to have seen a growing number of country stars drinking wine and mentioning it in their songs. What’s your take on the wine scene?

I think wine is getting bigger and bigger in country. I’ve heard of artists who don’t have beer or whiskey on their bus, only wine. I’m in a fantasy football league with Darius Rucker and Jimi Westbrook from Little Big Town, and the big question around our draft night every year is who’s bringing the wine. It’s a big group of 12 to 15 people; whoever loses the year before has to provide the wine for everybody.