Darius Rucker will always be a Southern man at heart — but his latest move across the pond helped serve as inspiration for his latest project. PEOPLE caught up with Rucker at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen where the country star shared how how the change in scenery helped keep things progressing ahead of his next studio album, following the success of 2023’s Carolyn’s Boy. “I'm working on my album, I’m sure my single’s going to be coming out here soon, you know, and I'm ready for people hear that,” he said. “I’m looking forward to finishing my record and getting that out. I think it's refreshing, it’s new. I think my fans are gonna be really, really excited.” He continued, “I went to London to get just a different flavor. And I think I did that. I think people are going to like what we did.” Last year, the Hootie & the Blowfish frontman joined As One Cru wines alongside winemaker Chris Radomski, a new endeavor that tested his creativity — and love for wine — in a new way. “I’m drinking a lot of Reds right now, don't know why, but probably because I'm living in Europe and get a lot of those,” he laughed. “The greatest thing for me in getting involved with the wine industry is I got involved with great guys who do a great job and ask me to do what I can do and never really try to ask me to get out of my lane and ask me to be as involved as I want to be.” Joining the company, which features big, bold reds from the West Coast, was a no-brainer for Rucker who bases his decisions on one factor — whether or not he loves something enough to want to be a part of it. “It’s simple for me — I either love it or don't love it, that's the line for me,” Rucker says. “And the first time — and this is not me blowing smoke —the first time I opened a bottle of As One Crew, I loved it. And that's why I'm a part of it.” Rucker says the company its made up of “a bunch of guys who love wine and love food and love each other” and plans to keep it with him on the road as he gears up for his 2025 tour which kicks off on July 10 in Solomons, Md. “I’m looking forward to this tour. You know, the tour is going to be fun,it’s always fun getting out there to play for folks,” Rucker said, noting that his must-haves on the tour bus will be the basics of beer, bourbon and of course, wine. “It's pretty simple out there. We're creatures of habit, we’ve been doing this a long time.” And though Rucker has much in the pipeline over the coming months, the “Hold My Hand” singer is looking forward to some much deserved time to chill. “I'm real good at relaxing. So when I'm done, I'm pretty good at sitting around and doing nothing,” he laughs. “But, you know, golf keeps me humble. My kids keep me humble.” He continued: “I work, and then I don't work. I chill.”