It’s understandable if wine isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Kix Brooks. After all, as half of the record-breaking country duo Brooks & Dunn, Brooks’ name has become almost synonymous with honky-tonks and everything that goes with them (including a certain popular beverage that isn’t wine).

Nonetheless, Brooks will soon be making a name for himself in a very different world. On February 3, the country star will officially launch his latest business venture, Arrington Vineyards, a winery located on 75 acres in the town of Arrington, Tenn., about 30 minutes south of Nashville. They currently offer 12 different wines, including Stags’ White (described as a medium bodied dry white), Desert Rose (a dry rosé), Red Fox Red (a red blend) and Raspberry (a sweet fruit wine).

“Being from Louisiana, I’ve been drinking for a long time,” Brooks joked to Nashville Wine Press. “But there is a difference between drinking wine and appreciating wine. By the time I had kids, drinking became less of a party and more of an appreciation. I’m still far from a connoisseur, but it’s enjoyable to hang out with people who are and can help you appreciate nuances. Wine is like golf in that you can always get better at it over time, but never really know all the answers.”

Brooks cites country stars Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Martina McBride as fellow wine buffs, and Aaron Tippin, who makes his own Muscadine variety. But Brooks is the first one to take his appreciation to this level, partnering with winemakers Fred Mindermann and Kip Summers to start his own wine business. “Right now, I am doing more listening than I am talking,” Brooks continued. “One thing we are hoping to do is have a few concerts out at the vineyard and make it a great experience for people. As I learn more about the winemaking process, I’ll feel better equipped to talk about it.”

The February 3 kick-off party for Arrington Vineyards will coincide with the Super Bowl kickoff. Held at the Blue Smoke Restaurant and Jazz Standard in New York City, the event will include football viewing, wine tasting, barbecue and entertainment. Proceeds benefit the TJ Martell Foundation.

With one of the most ambitious touring schedules in country music, Brooks & Dunn are adamant about scheduling time to work out. On the afternoon before a show, Ronnie Dunn and a few guys in the band will find a local gym that’s not too crowded.

“When we’re on the road, we work out every single day, just to get rid of the bus heaves,” he says. “You get cooped up in there, or the plane, so to get out and blow it out is important. It’s more for your mental state than a physical issue. We’ll generally 30 to 45 minutes of cardio, and then we’ll do light weights – not trying to pump up, just to keep it in shape.”

Meanwhile, Kix Brooks either golfs or rides a bike that he keeps under the bus. “I pedal hard for 30 or 45 minutes, or sometimes an hour, just to get some fresh air and get outside and clear out the cobwebs and get the heart beating.”

Of course, all the traveling can cloud their sense of direction.

“It’s easy to get lost,” Dunn says. “You take off in strange towns and wake up in an odd place. You don’t really know where you are. I bought a pocket GPS not long ago and I have it on my phone too. It will save you. We were at Qwest Stadium in Seattle, which is in the middle of everything. I just took off and realized after a few blocks, ‘I’m not sure whether I went left or right here…’”

Brooks adds, “I am more concerned, when I get out in the country sometimes, especially at fairs and festivals, when you hear a big dog barking and you realize there’s not a fence around… You’ve got to gear down and really pedal hard!”