This is nothing new. Wealthy ancient Greeks and Romans owned vineyards for their personal use, after all. But with the explosion of social media, the celebrity grapevine has found the perfect conditions in which to thrive.
Here, we uncork the finest stars.
Main image: Invivo Wines/ Graham Norton
The Delevingne Sisters
The Delevingne sisters – Cara, Poppy and Chloe – are models, actresses and major party people whose Instagram reach is the stuff of millennial dreams. This vegan Prosecco, made by third generation wine-makers in northern Italy, is their first business venture together. When it launched with a bang this year, they said: ‘Prosecco has always represented moments of connection and celebration between the three of us. It’s our drink of choice when we come together, so it seemed like a very natural fit.’ On-the-ground drinkers really do rave about its quality. Shop it here.
Sting
Sting and Trudie Styler bought their dreamy Tuscan estate in 1999, to the envy of most of the world. For centuries, Il Palagio has harvested, fermented and bottled its own wines. Sting and Trudie have used organic farming methods to replant eleven hectares of vineyards since 2000, with the result of four well-regarded reds: Message in a Bottle, Casino delle Vie, Sister Moon and When We Dance. Reviewing the 2019 When We Dance Chianti Vintage Roots, The Times says: ‘I imagine Sting and Trudie Styler’s Tuscan estate to be a sort of biodynamic Xanadu. The wine isn’t bad either, with an earthy, soft texture and notes of cherry and dark fruit.’ Shop it here.
Kylie Minogue
The pint-sized pop star partnered a year ago with Benchmark wines and has sold over a million bottles since her collaboration launched. Tesco had to re-order the first bottle three times. Now, as we embark on a summer of garden revelry, Minogue is bringing out a vegan-friendly rosé Prosecco. As she told The Times this month, she hasn’t got a ‘pop-star villa with a vineyard’ but she does have ‘a curious mind, eagerness to learn and willingness to ask really dumb questions’. Buy it here.
Sam Neill
Sam Neill first planted his vineyard in 1993, with the first vintage hitting the shelves in 1997. He owns the Two Paddocks estate and, with his family, takes a keen interest in every element of the wine production. Two Paddocks has since been joined by three other small vineyards and the team has big plans, all of which are taken very seriously by oenophiles and those in the trade. ‘We have become outrageously ambitious,’ they say. ‘We want to produce, year after year, the world’s best pinot noir.’ Buy it here.
Cameron Diaz
Diaz and her friend, the entrepreneur Katherine Power, are proud to have created a clean, organically produced wine that consumers can feel good about drinking. Avaline’s few ingredients are listed on the label. As Diaz says: ‘For us, clean starts in the vineyard with organic grapes, organic farming and the fewest ingredients necessary. Transparency is also important. We want our consumer to know what’s in there and what isn’t.’ Buy it here.
Brad Pitt
For the well-heeled out there, nothing says summer like a bottle of Miraval rose. Though we can’t be completely certain, the Pitt-Jolies are said not to have ditched the French estate in the mega divorce. Which is good news for consumers. The Evening Standard says: ‘Year on year, this wine delivers a delightful drinking experience with its aromas of wild strawberry, white peach and tangerine. It’s the perfect summer sipper but has enough weight and complexity to be enjoyed all year round.’ Meanwhile, The Times reckons of the 2020 Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé: ‘When it comes to celebrity-backed rosé, this is the real deal. Created with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the 2020 has gentle, discreet fruit and a dry, soft finish.’ Buy it here.
Sarah Jessica Parker
When it launched in September 2019, SJP said of her collaboration: ‘Every part of the process, from our initial conversations discussing wine styles, to the creative process on the brand and label design and, of course, the Sauvignon Blanc blending session; it’s all been one exciting step after another. And a thrilling education in the business of winemaking, but more importantly, the love and passion behind Invivo.’ Her New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is described as having delicious notes of grapefruit, honeysuckle and citrus zest. Buy it here.
Graham Norton
Word is that Norton has an excellent palate and now owns part of the New Zealand wine company he’s been collaborating with since 2014. The Times says of 2019 Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc: ‘Who knew Graham was such a sophisticated oenophile? This is spot on: fresh, delicate and light, with some quite attractive, gentle tropical fruit flavours.’ Buy it here.
By Becky Ladenburg
May 2021
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