Celebrity bottles are all the rage—and, yes, most are more about the celebrity than the juice within. But while the obvious branding exercises are easy to spot (and easier to ignore), consider the following five from respected musicians and their winemaker partners as true collaborations between artists.
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Z. Alexander Brown 2019 Uncaged Cabernet Sauvignon
Image Credit: Courtesy of Z. Alexander Brown Singer-songwriter-musician Zac Brown is no stranger to crossing genres: In addition to fronting his country-rock outfit Zac Brown Band, he’s a cofounder of the electronic-dance group Sir Rosevelt. Brown is also the driving force behind Z. Alexander Brown Wines, a partnership with Napa winemaker John Killebrew that produces an accessible line of whites and reds from California, with this satisfying North Coast Cabernet offering smooth tannins and bright flavors of raspberry, cherry and mocha. $20
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Hampton Water 2021
Image Credit: Courtesy of Hampton Water Wine While some think this wine is named for being as refreshing as a dip in the frigid Atlantic Ocean that surrounds Long Island, it’s actually a reference to the way denizens of the luxurious east-end enclaves quaff French rosé: like water. A joint effort between rocker John Bon Jovi, his son Jesse Bongiovi and famed Languedoc winemaker Gérard Bertrand, this blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre is the gentle pink of a summer sunset and bracing at first sip, with a soft note of nutmeg and flavors of cherry, pomegranate and Sevilla orange leading into a bright finish. $20
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Il Palagio 2020 Sister Moon Toscana IGT
Image Credit: Courtesy of Il Palagio When it comes to wine, former Police front man and solo artist Sting and his wife, actress-producer Trudie Styler, are far from tourists. After buying Il Palagio in 1997, they implemented biodynamic farming on the Tuscan estate and began producing wine, olive oil and honey. The elegant Sister Moon, a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot named after the Sting song, has flavors of raspberry and blackcurrant joined by notes of mint and milk chocolate, with slightly chewy tannins that mellow into a silky finish. $50
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Armand Brignac de Brignac Gold Brut
Image Credit: Courtesy of Armand Brignac Known colloquially as Ace of Spades for its distinctive logo on metallic bottles, Armand de Brignac has soared since a company led by hip-hop mogul Jay-Z bought it from Champagne Cattier in 2014, with luxury conglomerate LVMH acquiring a 50 percent stake in the brand last year. The only Champagne available in 30-liter “Midas” bottles, Armand de Brignac Gold Brut has flavors of green apple and lemon blossom along with richer notes of almond and toasted brioche; a pleasing layer of creaminess is the result of aging in oak barrels prior to secondary fermentation in-bottle. $325
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Kylie Minogue Signature Prosecco Rosé
Image Credit: Courtesy of Kylie Minogue Wines Anyone familiar with the superstar Australian’s ethereal, club-friendly hits won’t be surprised to find that her signature wine is pink, bubbly, vivacious and massively popular on a global scale. Made by Italy’s well-regarded Zonin family, the country’s largest family-owned winery, Kylie Minogue Prosecco Rosé is the No. 1–selling—and still fastest-growing—rosé Prosecco in the UK; now available stateside, the lightly effervescent sparkler has flavors of red berries and citrus, with a mild floral note and a pleasing orange blossom finish. $20
