Words by Helena Nicklin
Perfume lines and clothes ranges amongst A-listers are so 2018. It’s all about launching a wine brand nowadays; preferably something that says ‘down to earth sophistication’ that you don’t need a new mortgage to buy. While Cameron Diaz’s ‘clean wine’ and Snoop Dog’s ‘Cali Red’ make their way across the pond, here are some of the best celeb sippers you can buy right now.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Invivo X Sarah Jessica Parker, Sauvignon Blanc, £12 Sainbury’s (UK), $ 18.99 wine.com (US)
Classic, Kiwi Savvy B, this is ‘girls’ night in’ kind of wine with punchy, tropical fruit aromas, but smooth on the palate and not too tart. You can drink this alone or it will sing with salty snacks and goats cheese.
Invivo X, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosé, $19.99 from wine.com. Coming soon to the UK!
From the sun drenched coast of Saint Tropez, SJP’s pretty pink is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah and is an elegantly perfumed, softer style of pink with lots of ripe strawberry and red fruit flavours. Great alone, but it would work very nicely with fruit salad.
Graham Norton
Graham Norton's Own Sauvignon Blanc, £8 Tesco
Also made by Invivo, the same producer as SJP’s wine, Graham’s Sauvignon has less upfront fruitiness and more savoury, smoky, saline notes while still rocking that classic, grassiness the grape is famous for. A good picnic wine this and a great crowd pleaser.
Graham Norton’s Own Prosecco, £11 at Sainsbury’s
The first celebrity Prosecco, Graham has gone for a classic ‘Extra Dry’ style which, ironically, means it has a decent dollop of sweeter fruit rather than actually being dry. Go figure. In any case, these are brilliantly balanced bubbles with indulgent notes of ripe pear and baked almonds. Fantastic party fizz.
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue Rosé, currently £7 down from £9 at Tesco until Aug 10th.
Pale, pretty and perfectly packaged, this easy-drinking pink is from Southern France, but not the usual Provence. Made from a beefier blend of Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, it’s grippy enough for cold cuts, but light enough to enjoy alone. Think crunchy, red fruit flavours and a summer berry scent. Cracking value, Kylie!
Phillip Schofield
Philip Schofield Benvenuto IGT Falanghina, £24.99 (2.25 litres. Equiv £8.33 per 75cl) from Waitrose
Philip went to Italy for his pair of premium, bag in box wines and has produced two delightfully different drops from native Italian grapes. This eco-friendly white, made with fabulous Falanghina from the South of the country, is easy to love: citrusy and crisp with stone fruit and pear notes, it’s an easy going, summer sipper that’s perfect for parties.
Phillip Schofield organic Nero di Troia IGT Puglia, £24.99 (2.25 litres. Equiv £8.33 per 75cl) from Waitrose
Earthy, smoky and rustic, like grandma’s homemade jam, this is a great little holiday, red wine, made with grapes native to Southern Italy. Serve it slightly chilled with some grilled meats or cold cuts to get the best out of it.
Bon Jovi
Hampton Water, South of France Rosé 2019, £19.51 from Winebuyers.com
Made in Southern France’s Languedoc with the help of superstar winemaker Gérard Betrand, Bon Jovi’s super cool pink was voted the ‘best rosé in the world’ by a top wine magazine when it first arrived. A brilliant balance of fresh peach, strawberry and citrus with a cool slick of saline, this bottle is well worth the price tag. The only question is, why did he not call it ‘Le vin on a prayer?!’ Lolz.
Sir Ian Botham OBE
Botham & Balfour, English rosé 2018, £12 from Tesco
Is this the first celebrity wine made in England? Produced by renowned winery Hush Heath in Kent, this collaboration with one of England’s greatest cricketers, Sir Ian Botham OBE, is delicate and aromatic with crunchy red fruit flavours, an apple skin tang and a quintessentially English leafy note.
Botham 80 Series Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, £7 down from £11 at Tesco
Sir Ian Botham is a huge fan of the grape and named his ‘80 Series’ wines in homage to his greatest year in cricket: 1980. This classic Coonawarra Cabernet packs a punch with juicy blackcurrant notes and a mouth filling, minty finish. Smooth enough to drink alone but ideal with beef at your barbecue.
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
Miraval Rosé, £19.99 (£14.99 mix six price) from Majestic (UK) or $21.99 from wine.com (US)
Angelina and Brad loved this winery so much, they bought it. As beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside (and we are still talking about the wine here), this cool and elegant rosé set the benchmark for celebrity wines. It’s a beautifully balanced blend that manages to capture that seductive Provençal salinity so well.
Studio by Miraval, £9 at Tesco
The baby sister of Miraval above, Studio does a smashing job of offering similar glamour and quality at a much more attainable price. Named as a nod to the recording studio still on site where Pink Floyd recorded their iconic albums, this dreamy drop is smooth and dry with subtle notes of peach and melon. For the money, it’s magic.
Sting & Trudie Styler
When We Dance Chianti, il Palagio, 2018. £12.99 from www.vintageroots.co.uk
A classic Chianti that’s light to medium-bodied with tangy, sour cherry notes and a characteristic whiff of sage and dried herbs. Made with organically grown grapes in the heart of Tuscany at Sting and Trudie’s very own Il Palagio estate, this vino is romantically rustic. A great wine for a picnic and perfect with cheese and salami on focaccia.
Have you tried any celeb wines recently? Let us know over Instagram @TheThreeDrinkers. If you liked this, try hilariously unfortunate drinks names and 6 cracking canned drinks for summer.