The 20 Best Celebrity Wines

The wine industry has an old saying about owning a profitable business: "To make a small fortune in wine, you need to start with a large fortune." The untold truth about wineries is that owning them and making this popular beverage is expensive. You are looking at over half a million dollars (on the low end) just to get started (via 2ndKitchen). However, regardless of the amount of money involved, celebrities are often still willing to invest. 

So why do so many famous people want to put their names on bottles? Is it ego, prestige, a genuine love of the grape, or circumstantial? As many celebrities have the financial means and the enthusiasm, we believe it could be because they're a fan of the beverage. 

The wine industry has grown in popularity among famous people, from Real Housewives and musicians to notable small-screen faces and major movie stars. But not all of their big-name beverages deserve a place in your wine rack. Here are the best celebrity wines we have tried.

"The Godfather" put Francis Ford Coppola on the cinematic map, establishing him as one of our generation's finest directors. However, his investment in Inglenook may be his most significant accomplishment for Napa Valley wine lovers. 

The vineyard was established in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum, reports Wine Spectator. A pioneer in the industry, his standards and innovations are still utilized in the business today, including using a naturally cool underground cave for the fermentation process. Coppola has spent years restoring the historic 235-acre property, and recently added a new 23,000-square-foot production cave lined with 120 fermentation tanks (via Inglenook). Tasting Table spoke with the directorial icon, asking about the importance of the cave to Inglenook's production. Coppola said, "Our goal is to keep each parcel in its own fermenter and to keep each parcel separate for months until we're ready to blend, giving us unprecedented control." This will ensure precision and quality in the winery's selections, including its finest flagship wine.

Inglenook Rubicon ($215), is the premier representation of the vineyard. It is the definition of what premium Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon tastes like — a bold, highly complex, and structured wine that balances power with refinement. It is produced from fruit grown organically from the Rutherford benchland to the valley floor, adding dimension to the character-filled beverage. 

Touting the pleasures of the bottle has been a central theme in rap, hip-hop, country, and pop lyrics for decades. In a 2017 study, Counseling@Northwestern found that 22.4% of Billboard's top 100 songs from 2007-2016 mentioned alcohol or an alcoholic brand. The inclusion often reflects a stamp of approval for the brand by the musician.

Early in his career, hip-hop mogul Shawn "Jay Z" Carter was a Cristal champagne lover, helping grow the brand's fame among his fans. However, that quickly changed after the managing director and now CEO of the brand, Frederic Rouzaud, made comments that the rapper considered racist (via Quartz). 

Swearing to never promote the brand again, Jay Z later acquired a 50% interest in Armand de Brignac, adding the remaining 50% in 2014 (via CNBC). In 2019, the brand produced over 500,000 bottles, with the Ace of Spades Gold Brut Champagne available for $326. 

The luscious champagne symbolizes elegance and refinement as a non-vintage cuvée blending pinot noir, pinot meunier, and chardonnay fruit. The wine's front palate opens with juicy nectarine and apricot, melding with hints of sweet candied ginger, orange blossom honey, and freshly baked brioche. Though it is a brut beverage, there is a touch of ripe-fruit sweetness, along with thousands of dancing bubbles throughout. 

In 2008, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie purchased the Château Miraval estate (via Decanter). It is in the picturesque Provence countryside near the French Riviera and home to some of the world's finest dry rosé. The timing was perfect, as the world was beginning to embrace the refreshing wines from the Mediterranean-influenced region. 

The couple partnered with Famille Perrin, a prestigious producer of some of the finest wines in the Rhone Valley, to produce Château Miraval. It was an instant hit, with the first vintage of the salmon-colored Côtes de Provence Rosé Miraval selling out in less than six hours (via Decanter). 

According to Page Six, there is a tense battle over real estate between Pitt and Jolie; however, the wine remains delicious. From the first vintages to its current iteration, the rosé has received high scores from Wine Spectator, Decanter, and more. The 2021 release ($24) blend of grenache, cinsault, and syrah grapes is an aromatic explosion of peaches and berries, fresh lavender, and wild herbs. Clean, crisp, and very dry, this wine is the reason we want to drink rosé all day.

For some, becoming an EGOT winner would be the pinnacle of achievement. But for uber-talented John Legend, he needed to add another accomplishment to his résumé: winemaker. 

In a 2020 Wine.com discussion, the artist shared how he and partner Jean-Charles Boisset came together to create LVE (Legend Vineyard Exclusive). So many of his favorite moments include the beverage, and the singer-songwriter noted that his music is the perfect wine pairing. He added that when launching LVE, he wanted to partner with Boisset based on the entrepreneur's reputation for quality and his passionate enthusiasm for creating beautiful wine. Boisset is the owner of Napa Valley's Raymond Vineyards, JCB Wines and JCB Spirits, and the Boisset Collection (via Boisset Collection). 

The LVE Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($85) blends grapes from St. Helena, Rutherford, and Yountville. It is a plush, balanced wine with a palate of red cherries, espresso, and dark chocolate, ideally enjoyed with our red wine marinated ribeye.

In 2007, after retiring from playing professional football, former quarterback for the New England Patriots, Drew Bledsoe, knew what he would do next: He moved from Boston back to his hometown of Walla Walla, Washington to launch the Doubleback winery.

The brand's first vintage, a 2010 cabernet sauvignon ($125), was picked for Wine Enthusiast Magazine's 2013 top 100 cellar selections list, earning a 95-point rating. Today, the wine is produced from four sustainably farmed, estate-owned vineyard sites within Walla Walla. The wine is elegant and polished, with a distinct mineral earthiness from the soils of the area. It is an aromatic beverage with roasted espresso and pencil lead scents that meld with brûléed cherries, tobacco, and vanilla.

In a 2021 interview with Wine Spectator, the brand's CEO and winemaker Josh McDaniels told the publication that "owning the land and working the land yourself is the most unique and personal reflection of how wine is ultimately enjoyed." This thought and sentiment is key to what sets Doubleback above many in the celebrity wine industry.

While 13-time NBA all-star and three-time NBA champion basketball player, Dwyane Wade, didn't grow up understanding the wine industry, he jumped in with both feet in his later life. In an interview with Wine Spectator last year, the Olympic gold medalist shared how, back then, he didn't drink at all, focusing on his career instead. 

However, over his years of playing professional basketball, Wade would observe guests in restaurants connecting over wine. So, when the opportunity to enter the industry presented itself, he agreed, partnering with Napa Valley's prestigious Pahlmeyer family to create Wade Cellars. The brand's mission is to make the beverage inclusive, approachable, and welcoming to any interested wine lover by creating affordable, high-quality Napa Valley vintages. In a time where a basic Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon costs around $70, the brand's Three by Wade Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is $40. The wine is produced from Rutherford, Oakville, and St. Helena grapes and aged for 18 months in French oak to create a structured, spicy drink. It has a nice balance of fruit, including black cherry and blueberry, which melds into bitter dark chocolate, toasted spice, and cedar. 

After 18 years playing professional football in the NFL, Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson launched Intercept (via Intercept). 

Tasting Table spoke with the All-Star recently, asking why the former Oakland Raider wanted to get into the business. Woodson shared that during the off-season, he would drive up to Napa Valley from Oakland and became immersed in the culture and connection he, his friends, and family had around wine. Believing that great wine is for sharing, his goal is to make a drink that is approachable and affordable. Woodson partnered with Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles with rising star winemaker Amanda Gorter, creating a portfolio of wines retailing for $20.

Balanced and inviting, Intercept's Monterey County Pinot Noir has a hint of red berries, earthy dried leaves, and woody herb notes, perfect for pairing with maple-glazed salmon. It is an absolute bargain for the quality.  

Sipping delicate rosé wine may not be expected from one of the greatest rock musicians of our time. But, that is precisely what Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi does with his son: enjoying bottles of their Hampton Water Rosé. In 2018, Bon Jovi and his son, Jesse Bongiovi, launched the brand in collaboration with winemaker Gérard Bertrand (via Hallgarten & Novem Wines). 

The concept was young Bongiovi's idea, which he took to his father after years of enjoying dry rosé wines. The elder Bon Jovi loved the idea and shared his joy of working with his son in a 2019 Wine Spectator interview.

The brand was an instant hit, landing on Wine Spectator's "100 Best Wines of the Year" in its debut year in 2018 with a 90-point rating (via Hallgarten & Novum Wines). Tasting Table was speaking to the rocker's son about the brand when he noted that it was his "dad's drink of choice."

The $20 wine is a blend of grenache, cinsault, and mourvèdre and is produced in Languedoc, a Mediterranean-influenced region in southern France. The area's long growing season with sunshine-filled days ensures the red grapes are intensely juicy and ripe, perfect for this rosé with flavors of golden peach, pink lady apple, and Asian pear. A percentage of the wine (20%) is aged in barrels to enhance its complexity and texture.

The stories behind great wine often include friendship, which is how Napa Valley's Red Stitch came to be. Six wine-loving friends created the brand, including former MLB All-Star players Rich Aurilia and Dave Roberts. 

The group selected Rolando Herrara as head winemaker for the boutique beverage, crafting everything at his Napa Valley Mi Sueño Winery. Aurilia shared with Wine Enthusiast that one reason the group connected with Herrera was that he is a San Francisco Giants fan, which pleased the former Giants player. But he was mainly selected as a partner due to his passion and dedication to producing quality wines (via Red Stitch). 

With a red stitching graphic across the label, a reference to the stitching found on a baseball, the current release of the group's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is concentrated and powerful, earning a 93-point rating from Wine Spectator. The small production wine is available for $125 a bottle. It has classic Napa Valley cabernet flavors of black licorice and cassis and notes of dusty leather and toasted spice, with a touch of roasted espresso.

Almost 30 years ago, actor Sam Neill planted his first vineyard in New Zealand's central Otago region. With a focus on sustainable farming, his certified organic Two Paddocks brand crafts vibrant, refreshing, cool-climate pinot noir and riesling wines. 

The actor must be doing something right, because the winery just landed on Wine Enthusiast's 23rd Annual Wine Star Award nominee list for "new world winery of the year." This follows the inclusion of the brand's The Fusilier pinot noir ($95) in the magazine's 2021 Editors' Choice buying guide, earning 96 points from the publication. 

Named in honor of Neill's father, Major Dermot Neill, the wine is energetic and bright, with juicy wild strawberry, cranberry, and wildflowers — showcasing the quality of pinot noir produced in the region. 

Eastern Washington has some of the most diverse soils in the Northwest, thanks to catastrophic flooding during the Ice Age, which has become known as the Missoula Floods (via Wine Folly). The water left behind nutrient-poor sediments ideal for producing distinct, fruit-forward, mineral-intense wines with character.

After seeing friends make wine in Napa Valley, actor Kyle MacLachlan wanted to create something special in his home state of Washington. The winery would give him an excuse to travel from his current home of Los Angeles to visit family and friends living up north. In 2005, the "Twin Peaks" actor launched pursued by bear in Walla Walla (via pursued by bear). Vinepair shares that the actor quickly took the project to heart, becoming very hands-on instead of just a face for the brand. 

Consistently receiving a score of over 90 in ratings, the brand's baby bear syrah showcases the best of Columbia Valley's earthy, mineral-intense character. We tried the 2018 vintage, finding the $60 wine structured, spicy, and complex. There is a smoky, meaty, bacon fat characteristic we love to taste in savory syrah that melds with wild berries and freshly cracked black pepper flavors. The combination makes this wine perfect with smoked brisket. Additionally, the drink sees 30 months of oak aging, allowing the astringency of the grape's tannins to soften and become nicely integrated. 

We like many things about il Palagio, the wine from Sting and his wife, actress Trudie Styler. The foremost is that the brand brings ideal connotations of an enchanted life under the Tuscan sun. The estate within Figline Valdarno, a tiny village south of Florence in Tuscany's Chianti region, is one of the rocker's favorite places on earth. It is a sanctuary. 

Since the 1500s, the historic estate has produced wine, olive oil, honey, and other produce focused on organic farming (via il Palagio). Wines reflect the terroir, representing the sun-drenched rolling hills of the estate. 

The first wine from the estate was Sister Moon, named after Sting's song of the same title — like all its branded beverages. The $53 super Tuscan IGT blend of sangiovese, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon layers floral notes with red and black plum, strawberry, and licorice. It is complex and age-worthy while being food-friendly and approachable when paired with dishes like steak Florentine or a classic ragu alla bolognese. Its flavors will instantly transport you to Italy. 

The path for NBA Hall of Fame basketball star Yao Ming's passion for the grape-based beverage began early in his career with the Houston Rockets. The rising star of Chinese origin started eating at Texas steakhouses, pairing hearty ribeyes with bold red wines, quickly gaining an appreciation for the drink (via Yao Ming Family Wines). 

In 2011, Ming launched Yao Family Wines in Napa Valley. Made with cabernet sauvignon fruit grown throughout the area, the beverages are bold and powerful and quickly gained recognition from influential critics, consistently earning scores above 90. 

Wine Enthusiast's Virginie Boone gave the current 2018 vintage cabernet sauvignon ($98) an impressive 94-point rating. With one of the most refined palates in the industry, the critic notes the wine is powerful. Yet, the tannin intensity is well integrated, revealing a drink with ripe fruit, spice, and cedar notes with memory-making complexity. We think it is the perfect pairing with our grilled rib eye steak and prawns.

For singer and rap artist Post Malone, "Rosé is for when you want to get a little fancy." At least, that is what the artist says about his Maison No. 9 wines. Billboard shares that the musician began the brand in 2019, naming it after the artist's favorite tarot card, the nine of swords. 

Wine Enthusiast adds the Méditerranée IGP rosé delivers high quality without the high price point, retailing at around $21. The blend of grenache, cinsault, syrah, and merlot is presented in a tall, thin bottle with "battlements" on the front — a nod to a medieval castle near the brand's vineyards. It is a lovely, light, uncomplicated wine filled with the ripe tropical fruit flavors of mango, pineapple, and fresh berries. We found the wine to be deliciously luscious.

Actress Cameron Diaz and business partner Katherine Power introduced Avaline in 2020 as an "all-natural, organic, transparent wine with nothing artificial added," according to the website. And it quickly became a social media darling, with over 170,000 followers on Instagram today. 

Wine Industry Network Advisor reports that all of the brand's beverages are produced from organic grapes grown at the Targis vineyard in Washington. The winery is one of the largest producers of bulk wine in Washington's Wahluke Slope AVA, producing 1.3 million gallons each year from 2500 acres of land (via Tagaris). 

Avaline has just introduced a new wine to the portfolio, a cabernet sauvignon. Though we haven't tried the $30 wine yet, it's said to have notes of red and black fruit and chocolate and is ready to perform double duty. As its recent Instagram post displays, the online sales-only bottle can easily be used as a rolling pin.

For best friends, actresses, and health advocates Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev, producing a low-cal, low-carb, all-natural wine was a no-brainer. The concept fits in perfectly with their lifestyle. 

Tasting Table spoke with the actresses regarding their Fresh Vine brand earlier this week, asking why the friends wanted to go into the wine business together. Dobrev says, "Any opportunity we can have that includes chatting and drinking wine is our ideal day." Hough adds, "We wanted to make a product that not only complemented our lives but was also still of premium quality and impeccable taste." The duo shares that they are still learning but are highly involved, taking the time to understand the winemaking process under the guidance of winemaker Jamey Whetstone. Hough adds, "We pay close attention to every gram of sugar, calorie, and carb that goes into each varietal."

A favorite of both Dobrev and Hough, Fresh Vine's cabernet sauvignon recently scored 92 points from Tasting Panel Magazine (via Fresh Vine). We had a chance to try the wine and found it to be a nice balance of fruit and oak, with flavors of blackberry preserves, black licorice, and toasted baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Retailing for $22, the wine has about 100 calories per five-ounce glass compared to a typical serving that clocks about 120 calories (via Healthline). 

Comedian Eric Wareheim is a busy man. Between acting, writing, directing, producing, and eating, he makes wine: He launched Las Jaras Wines in 2015 with winemaker Joel Bert. The winery showcases beverages made with lower alcohol content and higher acidity, creating unique, food-friendly, and highly drinkable wines from non-traditional varieties like charbono, trousseau, and chenin blanc in old-world vessels like amphorae and concrete tanks. 

In a 2021 interview with the LA Times, Wareheim describes that making wine is much more than the pretentious connotation sometimes associated with it, especially high-end, high-priced bottles. This is art, and winemakers are soulful artists. 

The more than 50-year-old Mendocino County-grown fruit is the base for Las Jaras Old Vine Carignan, an expressive beverage retailing for $35. Carignan is a medium-bodied, slightly spicy drink with soft tannins and balanced acidity, similar to zinfandel or merlot, notes Wine Folly. In comparison, Las Jaras Wine's version of the wine has raspberry, red cherry, and licorice flavors, with toasted spice and pepper on the finish. The characteristics make it a great food companion, ideal for anything from lamb burgers to barbecue baby back pork ribs.

Musician Zac Brown lives his life with passion. The connection found over a glass of wine, or when food and the beverage come together, is the heart of why he started Z. Alexander Brown with winemaker John Killebrew (via Z. Alexander Brown). Market Watch reported in 2016 that Nielsen data ranked the drink as the top-selling new wine brand. 

The winery's work focuses on being good stewards of the land, farming clean, recycling, conserving water, and caring for mother nature. The owl on the brand's label honors that, as the owl protects the vineyard from predators that can destroy the grapes. And all selections retail for under $20.

A favorite then and now is the Uncaged proprietary red blend. In trying the wine, we found it full-bodied, rich, and well-rounded. The wine opens with aromas of toasted vanilla, woody herb, and oak leading to a palate of black and blue fruit and toasted spices. It is a bold blend, perfect for toasting as we move from summer into fall. 

The queen of hip-hop soul, Mary J. Blige, does more than steal the stage at half-time shows. She also makes wine she loves to drink. Blige shared her love of white wine and the Italian grape variety as the inspiration for her Sun Goddess wine in a chat with winemaker Marco Fantinel. 

Blige works with Fantinel to create her Sun Goddess Wines from the winery's vineyards of Friuli Venezia Giulia in Northeastern Italy, where pinot grigio grapes grow with juicy, mouth-watering acidity and zesty, mineral-intense character, producing refreshing wines.

To create the brand's Sun Goddess Ramato Pinot Grigio ($20), grapes are left to macerate on the skins after harvest. Decanter notes that this process allows pinot grigio juice to come into contact with the greyish-colored skin of the grape after crushing. For Sun Goddess' pinot grigio, this method leads to a slightly pinkish, copper tint to the juicy beverage, with golden peach and honeydew melon flavors. It adds texture and dimension to the wine with a savory quality, making it ideal for food pairing. Blige likes the wine paired with clam pasta, like our quick linguine and clams.

We love a wine with a purpose — a beverage that does good for a cause important to the winemaker's heart. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher partnered with Walla Walla-based wintery, Nocking Point, creating Quarantine Pinot Noir, and raised over $1 million for various charities and nonprofit organizations (via Wine Spectator). 

In 2021, the couple released their Outside red blend, consisting of Washington-state-grown cabernet sauvignon and syrah. Wine Spectator reports that Kutcher played a part in every aspect of the wine's creation, from the mix to the packaging. Proceeds from the sales of the $31 wine benefit children's charities, including Kutcher's nonprofit, Thorn, and Tony Hawk's Skatepark Project. 

Nocking Point does big business making custom-label wines for celebrities. They are the brand behind the labels for Nicole Scherzinger, Jason Momoa, and Bravo for "The Real Housewives." Still, with Outside, the winery is focused solely on doing good, which we thoroughly support.