Celebrity Rosé: Whose Is Summer Water and Whose Is Swill?

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published 3 July 2018

It’s pink, it’s delicious, it’s kind of basic: It’s rosé. We’re in the throes of rosé season now, which makes John Legend’s recent announcement that his LVE label is releasing rosé especially timely. Upon further investigation, there are quite a few celebrity rosé vintages out there; and, intrepid reporters that we are, the editors here at MarieClaire.com decided to try them all—to help you avoid sipping celeb swill this summer, naturally.

The rules were simple: A blind taste test to determine flavor, notes, and overall composition (that’s wine-speak, right?), followed by each editor guessing which celebrity made which wine. No one did very well on the last part, maybe because we saved it for the end after everyone had several glasses of wine? But! We did get some good reviews in, and we’re sharing them now. Here are our thoughts on five bottles of celebrity rosé, and what we think they say about the famous people who made them.

1. Drew Barrymore, Carmel Road Rosé of Pinot Noir, $23

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What’s the deal?
Drew herself describes it as “peach and apricot. Grapefruit-forward. Without any sweetness. Enough citrus to keep it crisp. No stinging lemony aspect that can come into an acidic wine.” That’s some genius analysis. She should be on our next wine-tasting panel.

How’s it taste?
Relaxed and springy, not syrupy like other similarly-priced rosé—it’s nice and dry. All of us dug it (and remember, we didn’t know it was Drew’s at the time). One editor said, “It goes down easily, and flows through my body. An experience.” Another said she could “drink it all day.” The only criticism, from three different editors, was that it didn’t taste terribly substantial, like it was “watery.” Overall, though, this was one of our favorites of the pack.

Best quote from a tester:
“Without knowing whose this is, it tastes like Drew Barrymore’s flower crown.”

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2. John Legend, LVE Rosé, $25

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What’s the deal?
Chrissy Tiegen's husband unleashed a rosé this month, the fourth under the LVE label, a collaboration with big-time winemaker Jean-Charles Boisset. More stuff about it: It's made of grapes from the South of France, and Chrissy put up a pretty funny Instagram post about it.

How’s it taste?
Not overly fruity or acidic, but with a flowery bouquet. "It doesn't linger on your tongue, which is good because then I can take more sips," said one editor. "A perfect combination of dry and sweet." While some of the more discerning among us described it as seemingly "watered down," it was the second-most popular of the bunch.

Best quote from a tester:
"It's better than that cough syrup Pharrell was peddling a few years ago."

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3. Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, Chateau Miraval Cotes de Provence Rosé, $27

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What the deal?
This is an award-winning wine made at the Miraval vineyard in France, where Brad and Angelina celebrated their 2014 wedding. Now, you may be thinking, Hey, Brad and Angelina got a divorce, so who’s watching the grapes?! The answer is that they still co-own the vineyard. They decided not to split it when they divested their assets and reportedly consider it “an investment for their family.”

How’s it taste?
The most mature-tasting wine we tried, our editors described it as “dry, different from the others,” and “smoothly tart without being acidic.” One said, “I could drink a bottle of this by myself and not feel sick,” which is probably not recommended! Not everyone was as into it, though. “Bitter, sharp, and I wish it was over sooner—like Brad and Angelina’s marriage.” Again, no one knew which celebrity made the wine when they gave their reviews, it just tasted that much like this couple.

Best quote from a tester:
“I would drink this on a boat.”

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4. The Fat Jew, PINK Party Rosé With Bubbles, $17

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What’s the deal?
As a grating Instagram meme poster, the Fat Jew is the least "celebrity" of our test group, but he might be the most winemaker: His White Girl Rosé brand has been around since 2015 and is surprisingly well-received. PINK Party, which he made specifically for millennial women (we love being catered to), is his first sparkling rosé.

How’s it taste?
Fizzy and light, with a super-sweet aftertaste that more than one editor described as “strawberry Bubble Yum.” “I am excited by this!” said one reviewer. Another suggested pairing it with a strawberry popsicle for a special occasion. Yet another said, not unkindly, that it reminded her of a carbonated soda and she’d “probably down it.” Again, not recommended! Please drink responsibly, people!

Best quote from a tester:
“Is this the one by the Fat Jew? I can tell because it’s trying too hard.”

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5. Bon Jovi, Diving Into Hampton Water Rosé, $25

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What’s the deal?
The rocker and his family (the Bongiovi clan, did you know?) bring entire cases of rosé to the Hamptons with them each year, and Bon Jovi thought, “Why not me?” His creation is apparently a very popular bottle!

How’s it taste?
Very crisp and alcoholic, without being overly sweet. One taster described it as having a “mineral” aftertaste. Another editor, feeling less generous, described the aftertaste as “like Sour Patch Kids dipped in ethanol.” Evocative!

Best quote from a tester:
“I feel like they’d give this to you before wisdom tooth surgery.”

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Cady has been a writer and editor in Brooklyn for about 10 years. While her earlier career focused primarily on culture and music, her stories—both those she edited and those she wrote—over the last few years have tended to focus on environmentalism, reproductive rights, and feminist issues. She primarily contributes as a freelancer journalist on these subjects while pursuing her degrees. She held staff positions working in both print and online media, at Rolling Stone and Newsweek, and continued this work as a senior editor, first at Glamour until 2018, and then at Marie Claire magazine. She received her Master's in Environmental Conservation Education at New York University in 2021, and is now working toward her JF and Environmental Law Certificate at Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains.