Celebrity Wine Showdown
What do Cameron Diaz, Jon Bon Jovi, and Sarah Jessica Parker have in common?
They all have their own 90+ point wines that cost less than $20.
Don’t believe that celebrities can actually make decent wine?
Here are shopping links, critics’ reviews, and my tasting notes so you can have your own celebrity wine showdown at home. I would drink them in the order below, which is from lightest to heaviest.
I’d love to hear what you think.
Chin!
Wine #1:
Sarah Jessica Parker's 2023 Invivo X Sauvignon Blanc $17.99
Wine Spectator, 93 Points:
“Supple and lithe, with white peach, nectarine and grilled pineapple flavors at the core. Floral accents of lemon blossom, fresh grated ginger, lemon verbena and vetiver linger on the long, juicy and expressive finish.
Alison's Tasting Notes:
Sauvignon Blanc's varietal fingerprint is green pepper and grass, especially when the Sauvignon Blanc is from a New World country. (This one’s from Marlborough, New Zealand.) Look for strong green vegetal notes on the nose, grapefruit and minerality when you taste it. Can you also pick up the delicate oak? It can add some vanilla and spice.
Sauvignon Blancs typically have medium to high acidity (that's the mouth watering sensation you feel) and low to medium body (not too much weight or heft on the tongue).
Wine #2:
Jon Bon Jovi's 2023 Hampton Water Rosé $19.99
The 2023 Hampton Water Rosé isn’t rated yet, but it consistently gets 90+ points. Here’s what Decanter said about the 2022, while giving it a 90:
“A joint-project between Languedoc wine maestro, Gerard Bertrand and Jon Bon Jovi and his son, Jesse, this rosé is inspired by those of Provence but has its own identity. Ripe, fresh cherry and strawberry fruit aromas are joined by a herbal touch, while in the mouth it's impressively sapid and mineral. Flavours of strawberry and herbs lead the way, with some peppery spice emerging on the fresh finish.”
Alison's Tasting Notes:
Sapid is a ridiculous wine word for minerals or salt, but they can feel pretty lovely in your mouth. Do you taste them here? Did you also notice that while the wine has fruit aromas, it doesn’t taste sweet? If you like drier, less sweet rosés, always go with something French, like this rosé from Languedoc. Rosé wines don't age or keep for very long, so drink whatever you buy or have at home within a year or two for the best flavors. Pairing secret: rosé isn't just for summers by the beach or pool. It’s perfect with Thanksgiving turkey.
Wine #3:
Cameron Diaz's Avaline Red Blend $19.99
Tasting Panel, 92 points:
"This delicious blend of Grenache and Syrah from actor Cameron Diaz and partner Katherine Power offers accessibility and freshness prime for food pairing. Joined by Old World acidity and a zing of spiced black cherry, a sprinkling of white-peppered earthiness brings a fine sapidity to the palate. A hint of brown sugar and cinnamon keeps it intriguing.”
Alison's Tasting Notes:
Sapidity strikes again! See if you can taste minerals or salt here too. Are they different in a red wine? Grenache has a varietal fingerprint of lavender or garrigue. I think it’s one of the most challenging aromas to detect in a blind tasting, but see if you pick up that herb quality here. Syrah is much easier to identify. Its varietal fingerprint is game and can often give off a bbq or meaty smell. The two grapes are lovely together. This wine is light to medium bodied, made with organic grapes, and is vegan friendly.
