From The Age-

Keanu Loves a Robust Red-May 3 2003

Hollywood star Keanu Reeves has revealed a thirst for rare and expensive Australian red wine.

The star of this month's blockbuster film The Matrix: Reloaded has a prized collection of Aussie red, particularly Penfolds Grange Hermitage and Mount Mary Quintet.

Reeves fell in love with Australia and its top shelf wines while shooting The Matrix in Sydney in 1998 and the two sequels, The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix: Revolutions last year.

"I had a great time in Sydney and I met some awesome people," Reeves told reporters in Los Angeles.

"I miss it, I want to go back."

Asked if he thought about buying a home in Australia Reeves licked his lips and replied: "I brought back some Australian wine. Yummm."

His favourites are among Australia's finest and rarest wines.

The wine cellars in his homes in Los Angeles and Toronto, Canada, are stocked with 1988 and 1990 vintages of Mount Mary Quintet cabernet, made in Victoria's Yarra Valley.

The 1998 sells for about $A270 a bottle and the 1990 a hefty $A420 a bottle.

"The Mary Quintet cabernet blend. Awesome," Reeves said.

"And the Penfolds Grange. The 71 and the 76 are just awesome."

A 1971 Grange sells for $A875 a bottle and the 1976 $A650.

The 38-year-old actor can afford the wine bill as he reportedly earned $US30 million ($A47.66 million) for shooting the two Matrix sequels.

The Matrix: Reloaded opens in Australia on May 16 and The Matrix: Revolutions is scheduled to open later in the year.

I think in addition to making him laugh, I'd like to add "spend time over a glass of wine" to my list of Keanu-wishes.