Are Celebrity Wines actually decent?
Celebrity wines are becoming increasingly popular, with well-known personalities like Graham Norton, Kylie, Gordan Ramsey, and even Gary Barlow venturing into the world of winemaking.
But are these wines simply a marketing gimmick or do they offer something special? Some of these celebs are not just slapping their names on any bottle of plonk; they are actively involved in the blending process, working with talented winemakers to create wines that they personally enjoy.
I have taste tested my way around all the star-studded sips so you can enjoy a taste of the high life without the high price! Find out my favourites below:
The Whites
Graham Norton, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand £9 - This is a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and you may find words used here like ‘single vineyard’ which is usually a sign of quality. Grapevines are super sensitive to location (due to soils, sun and so forth) so the better located vineyards produce higher quality fruit and can be used in a ‘single vineyard’ wine (similar lingo to Burgundy i.e Grand Cru; Cru meaning site).
This is a lovely balanced New Zealand Savvy B actually. I like how its got all the tropical fruit feels and green pepper flavours typical of these wines but it’s not so intense it makes your eyes water!
Kylie, Sauvignon Blanc, Pays D’OC £9 - This is also a Sauvignon Blanc but from the South of France…and so very different…remember me saying how grapevines are location sensitive? Well if you’ve never compared a NZ Sav to a French then go do it today and you will see how the different personalities of this grape are expressed! I’d say the South of France offers the best bang for yer buck in terms of wine so it’s already a good start.
A refreshing zesty wine with floral pleasantries. I do like the more laid back style of a French Savvy B and this is a nice example…could I maybe pick this up in a non-celebrity version for £7? Probs.
Gordan Ramsey, Vibrante Bianco, Italy £10 - Gordan blends up a bit of France and Italy here using both French and Italian grape varieties (Chardonnay and Vermentino…2 of my favourite grapes!) which usually wouldn’t be allowed in the premium wine zones of Italy.
A good quaffable wine showing off elements of each of these fruits - Lemon, blossom, apple and that subtle bitterness that only Vermentino gives you. I often find an Italian white a little boring but this Labradoodle of a wine gets a thumbs up.
Ian Botham, Sauvignon Blanc, Margaret River £10 - Another Sauvignon Blanc. A different location. This time we are in a little sweet spot in Australia called Margaret River that is well-known for producing Burgundy bashing Chardonnay’s; which is why I was excited to try a Sauvignon from here as the cool sea breezes should keep any white grape on it’s toes!
Certainly a great expression of the Sav - It’s got the vibrancy and fruitiness of a New Zealand but the chilled out sophistication of a French with a hint of creaminess which I love!
The Reds
Kylie Merlot, Pays D’oc £9 - We’re in the South of France again where the Merlot grape thrives soaking up the hot sun. If you see PAYS D’OC on a wine label then this is the name of the larger wine growing area in South of France making affordable, quality wines.
A typical example of a Merlot (Cherry, Damson and subtle Spice) which is very easy drinking. Doesn’t exactly bowl me over though …yes I know…I should have kept this pun for the Botham wine!
Ian Botham, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra £10 - Cab Sav from Australia grown in a renowned area called Coonawarra famous for its ‘Terra Rossa’ soils assisting the grapes reach their full juicy potential.
A fruit forward Cab Sav which doesn’t disappoint with its typical flavours…I always conjure up images of blackcurrant bushes on a Ribena advert but ones that have maybe grown next to some mint when drinking a cab sav!
Gordan Ramsey, Intenso Rosso, Italy £10 - A bit of a Romeo and Juliet wine he as they rip up the rule book and cross blend grapes from 2 different Italian wine regions, namely Tuscany (Sangiovese grape making well known wines like Chianti) and Abruzzo (Various grapes allowed in this Southern part of Italy).
I really liked this wine actually, it had that sophisticated sour cherry and Italian deli feel of the Sangiovese but then a fun, fruity & flirty side!
Gary Barlow Organic Red, Spain £8 - A newbie onto the celeb wine scene and I was excited to see that ol’ Gazza had chosen Spain for this collaboration. I love Spain as a wine country; it’s not as well-known but inhabits modern and innovative winemakers producing great wine for a great price. This wine is also the lowest price of the bunch.
Fruity and easy drinking…quite dangerously so as its still 13.5%! Its a quaffable wine and I would say it is more matched to it’s offer price of £6…which annoyingly had finished when I purchased…typical.
Conclusion - If I had to choose just one white and one red? It’s certainly a close call between Botham and Ramsey so I think I’d go Botham Sav and Ramsey Rosso.
