Latest news with #FairwindsEstate
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Meghan Markle launches ‘thoughtful' collection of wines
Meghan Markle has announced her latest foray into lifestyle branding, with the Duchess of Sussex expanding As Ever product line now set to feature a 'thoughtful' collection of wines. A press release on Tuesday described the first wine to become available as 'a light, fresh, and effortlessly celebratory 2023 Napa Valley Rosé, thoughtfully curated by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex'. 'This debut rosé marks the beginning of As Ever's thoughtful expansion into wine, with a Méthode Champenoise Napa Valley sparkling wine planned for the near future and additional varietals to follow,' it said. Meghan's team also set the stage for where the wine might be best consumed: 'Designed for summer's best moments – from lunches that turn into dinners and sun-drenched weekends where the only thing louder than the music is the laughter.' The manufacturer, Fairwinds Estate in Napa valley, located six hours drive from the Montecito home Markle shares with Prince Harry, also makes wine for Barry Manilow, the estate of John Wayne and the TV series Yellowstone. Other celebrities who have also put their names to wine in recent years include Cameron Diaz (Avaline), director Francis Ford Coppola, Post Malone ( Maison No 9) and the ever-entrepreneurial Snoop Dogg, with 19 Crimes Cali Red. Some celebrities have done well with alcohol ventures, including Brad Pitt, whose Miravel rosé brand is valued at around $200m, and George Clooney's Casamigos tequila brand, established in 2103 and sold for $1bn four years later. The bespoke or craft wine business is rapidly growing. Estimated at $35bn globally in 2019, it is projected to reach almost $49bn by 2027. Meghan's growing list of As Ever products includes a crepe mix, a shortbread mix with flower sprinkles, apricot spread in 'keepsake packaging', a limited edition orange blossom honey, and various teas. All products on As Ever's website were sold out as of Tuesday morning, along with the reassuring message to consumers: 'More coming soon.'
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Meghan Markle's As Ever wine is on sale for wild price per bottle... but it is already SOLD OUT
Meghan Markle 's As Ever rosé wine is now available for purchase for a steep price - but it is already sold out. On Tuesday, the sales for the wine went live, with customers able to purchase three bottles for $90, six bottles for $159, and 12 bottles for $300. If you bought the six bottle package, Meghan promised that you were receiving 12 per cent off, while a 12-pack gets you a 17 per cent saving. Daily Mail exclusively revealed this week that the alcoholic beverage is made by Fairwinds Estate, a California winery that creates bespoke wines for celebrities, as they've now added Meghan to their list of clients. When FEMAIL in New York went to purchase a bundle of the wine, we weren't asked for proof of ID - only our birthday. In New York State, there are strict rules about the shipping of wine, as 'manufacturers in other states can make direct shipments of wine, distilled spirits, cider, mead, and braggot to New York residents with an Out-of-State Direct Shipper's License,' per the state's website. The state also requires that the manufacturer must require the customer to represent that they are 21 or older at purchase (and on delivery provide proof that they are 21 years of age or older) and that the alcohol is being purchased for personal use only. Wine shipped to New York must also be labeled in a specific way, as the package must read, 'signature of person age 21 or older required for delivery.' When FEMAIL in New York went to purchase a bundle of the wine, we weren't asked for proof of ID - only our birthday So, in New York, you may be able to order the wine online, but you will need to show proof of identity and age in order to accept the package. But while it may be simple for anyone of age to get their hands on Meghan's As Ever wine, a supplier like Total Wine won't even ship wine to New York State. Other websites, like Wine Access, however, follow As Ever's lead and only ask for a birthdate upon ordering. The As Ever wine is the first alcoholic product to be sold under the brand, and will join her current rolodex of raspberry and apricot spreads, cookie mixes, flower sprinkles and herbal teas - all of which received a less-than-perfect review by FEMAIL. However, Caitlin Jardine, a Social Media Manager at Ellis Digital, previously shared with Daily Mail that The Duchess could risk 'alienating' some fans with the boozy introduction. Jardine noted that Meghan will be 'entering a highly competitive and established market' that is 'most likely to appeal to a more expansive audience, particularly those who see wine as more than just something to drink but an accessory to their lifestyle.' 'However, having already associated herself with all things wellness, this could alienate some of her fan base who feel as though she is going against her core wellness-centered brand image, different to her existing line of products, with the potential to contradict her values around mindful living,' Jardine explained. But it is not all bad news for the entrepreneur. However, Caitlin Jardine, a Social Media Manager at Ellis Digital, previously shared with Daily Mail that The Duchess could risk 'alienating' some fans with the boozy introduction 'What it does do is add versatility to her current line of As Ever products, reflecting a more modern, balanced lifestyle,' she shared. 'Rather than one that is more rigid and "clean," it reflects one that is more in tune with her diverse audience and how they live.' Jardine noted that in the past, Meghan has faced criticism from the public about her lack of relatability - and thinks this new line of rosé could help recover her image. Meghan's July 1 wine launch is her second in just a matter of weeks. On June 20, she released a new apricot spread and limited-edition orange blossom honey - but unfortunately, her infamous raspberry spread was nowhere to be found.
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Meghan Markle launches ‘thoughtful' collection of wines
Meghan Markle has announced her latest foray into lifestyle branding, with the Duchess of Sussex expanding As Ever product line now set to feature a 'thoughtful' collection of wines. A press release on Tuesday described the first wine to become available as 'a light, fresh, and effortlessly celebratory 2023 Napa Valley Rosé, thoughtfully curated by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex'. 'This debut rosé marks the beginning of As Ever's thoughtful expansion into wine, with a Méthode Champenoise Napa Valley sparkling wine planned for the near future and additional varietals to follow,' it said. Meghan's team also set the stage for where the wine might be best consumed: 'Designed for summer's best moments – from lunches that turn into dinners and sun-drenched weekends where the only thing louder than the music is the laughter.' The manufacturer, Fairwinds Estate in Napa valley, located six hours drive from the Montecito home Markle shares with Prince Harry, also makes wine for Barry Manilow, the estate of John Wayne and the TV series Yellowstone. Other celebrities who have also put their names to wine in recent years include Cameron Diaz (Avaline), director Francis Ford Coppola, Post Malone ( Maison No 9) and the ever-entrepreneurial Snoop Dogg, with 19 Crimes Cali Red. Some celebrities have done well with alcohol ventures, including Brad Pitt, whose Miravel rosé brand is valued at around $200m, and George Clooney's Casa Amigos tequila brand, established in 2103 and sold for $1bn four years later. The bespoke or craft wine business is rapidly growing. Estimated at $35bn globally in 2019, it is projected to reach almost $49bn by 2027. Meghan's growing list of As Ever products includes a crepe mix, a shortbread mix with flower sprinkles, apricot spread in 'keepsake packaging', a limited edition orange blossom honey, and various teas. All products on As Ever's website were sold out as of Tuesday morning, along with the reassuring message to consumers: 'More coming soon.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Meghan Markle risks 'ALIENATING' fans by launching new wine for her As Ever brand
Meghan Markle is taking a risk by choosing to introduce a new rosé wine into her selection of As Ever lifestyle products - as it could 'alienate' customers, according to a media expert. On Tuesday, Meghan, 43, is set to launch the brand's debut Napa Valley rosé, which has been described as 'crisp and beautifully balanced,' per her promotional emails. Daily Mail exclusively revealed this week that the alcoholic beverage is made by Fairwinds Estate, a California winery that creates bespoke wines for celebrities, as they've now added Meghan to their list of clients. Meghan specifically picked Fairwinds - 75 miles north of San Francisco and a six-hour drive from her home in Montecito - to show her support after the winery was almost totally destroyed in a devastating 2020 wildfire which caused $15 million worth of damage. The wine, which is the first alcoholic product to be sold under the brand, will join her current rolodex of raspberry and apricot spreads, cookie mixes, flower sprinkles and herbal teas - all of which received a less-than-perfect review by FEMAIL. She's noted that the wine is launching 'just in time for summer entertaining,' and according to expert Caitlin Jardine, a Social Media Manager at Ellis Digital, it was a 'deliberate move' on Meghan's part. 'Meghan Markle's decision to launch her very own rose as part of her As Ever collection, is a deliberate move towards the evolution of her brand, establishing herself and her brand within the luxury and lifestyle product industry,' Jardine told exclusively. 'The launch of her As Ever rose wine suggests that Meghan is looking to create a more aspirational, adult lifestyle offering, one that aligns with leisurely sophistication and the social status that wine often represents,' she continued. The social media manager explained that Meghan has cemented her brand as one that celebrates 'meaningful, everyday moments,' a theme that's in line with her home entertainment show on Netflix, With Love, Meghan. But releasing a rosé into the As Ever ether could be a risk when it comes to their customer base. Jardine noted that Meghan will be 'entering a highly competitive and established market' that is 'most likely to appeal to a more expansive audience, particularly those who see wine as more than just something to drink but an accessory to their lifestyle.' 'However, having already associated herself with all things wellness, this could alienate some of her fan base who feel as though she is going against her core wellness-centered brand image, different to her existing line of products, with the potential to contradict her values around mindful living,' Jardine explained. But it is not all bad news for the entrepreneur. 'What it does do is add versatility to her current line of As Ever products, reflecting a more modern, balanced lifestyle,' she shared. 'Rather than one that is more rigid and "clean," it reflects one that is more in tune with her diverse audience and how they live.' Jardine noted that in the past, Meghan has faced criticism from the public about her lack of relatability - and thinks this new line of rosé could help recover her image. 'Her new line of rose is actually a smart move that can add depth and relatability to her brand and story, rather than something that is a detriment to it,' she said. 'It has the potential to open up new partnerships, tap into experiential marketing opportunities and create social moments that consumers want to share with her.' Sarah Schmidt, celebrity publicist and president at PR firm Interdependence, seemed to agree, as she shared that Meghan's foray into wine is a 'natural extension' for her As Ever brand. The simple addition can also change how some look at the brand's overall identity. 'With this move, Meghan is signaling that As Ever isn't just a pantry brand, it's a lifestyle ecosystem,' Schmidt said. 'She wants a seat at every table: your morning routine, your dinner party, your slow Sunday night. Wine brings people together, and that's the heartbeat of this brand. It's about quiet luxury, intimacy and showing up in the moments that matter,' she continued. 'With the rosé, Meghan is claiming space in the culture of hosting, connection, and shared experience. It's smart, it's on-brand, and it levels up the experience without drifting off-message.' Meghan's July 1 wine launch will be her second in just a matter of weeks. She said of the April launch of As Ever goods including jam that a 'scarcity mentality at the beginning might be a hook for people,' comparing it to 'a sneaker drop' On June 20, she released a new apricot spread and limited-edition orange blossom honey - but unfortunately, her infamous raspberry spread was nowhere to be found. The shock announcement of an initial restock came shortly after she released a bonus episode of her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder where Meghan told of the difficulties of building her firm and 'tears' she has shed behind the scenes to Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles. She said of the April launch of As Ever goods including jam that a 'scarcity mentality at the beginning might be a hook for people,' comparing it to 'a sneaker drop.' But Meghan feared it might be 'annoying' for customers, adding: 'I don't want you to eat that jam once every six months. I want that to be on your shelf all the time.' The Duchess said: 'So for me at the moment, with As Ever, it was great. We planned for a year we get and then everything sells out in 45 minutes. 'Yes, amazing, great news. Then what do you do? And then you say 'Ok, we planned as best as we could. Are we going to replenish and sell out again in an hour? Or is that annoying as a customer? 'I'm looking at it saying 'Just pause. That happened. Let's wait until we are completely stable and we have everything we need.''
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE As Meghan's new rosé hits the shelves next week, we reveal the secrets of the Californian winery where it was made... which also produces bespoke tipples for celebrities including Barry Manilow and hit Western series 'Yellowstone'
Gently rolling hills lush with grape-heavy vineyards stretch for miles through California 's verdant Napa Valley until a turn on Silverado Trail leads you to the yawning chasm of a cave carved into the hillside. It is here, deep in a labyrinth of darkened tunnels, that Meghan Markle 's new rosé wine - which goes on sale on Tuesday (July 1) - has been awaiting its debut, The Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal. The cellar entrance leads to the wine-filled oak caskets of Fairwinds Estate, a California winery that creates bespoke wines for celebrities including Barry Manilow, the estate of cowboy movie legend John Wayne and the hit Western television series 'Yellowstone.' Meghan specifically picked Fairwinds - 75 miles north of San Francisco and a six-hour drive from her home in Montecito - to show her support after the winery was almost totally destroyed in a devastating 2020 wildfire which caused $15 million worth of damage. A source said: 'She wanted to lean in and help a California business rebuild.' The 'As Ever' rosé - which Meghan described as being 'infused with joy and whimsy' - is the duchess's first foray into the lucrative world of celebrity alcohol branding but has not been without controversy. Critics have pointed out that she has chosen to launch her wine on July 1, on what would have been Princess Diana's 64th birthday. Prince Harry's mother was killed by a drunk driver, Henri Paul, when Harry was just 12 years old. One woman wrote on Twitter: 'Is it really appropriate to launch a wine on what would have been her mother-in-law's birthday when Diana was killed by a drunk driver?' Another said: 'It feels a little tone deaf.' Regardless of the critics, if Meghan's wine is successful it could net her a fortune. Brad Pitt's Miravel rosé brand is valued at around $200 million while George Clooney sold his CasaAmigos tequila company for a staggering $1 billion. Meghan - a wine lover who named her original blog 'The Tig' after her favourite Italian Tignanello wine - spent months tasting dozens of different blends created in Fairwinds' 25,000 sq. ft. cellar, before settling on the final mix. The bespoke wine is understood to contain a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grapes. A source said: 'Every time she had friends over she would test the different blends out on them and then give notes back to the expert winemaker that it needed more of this, or less of that. This is a custom-made wine.' Meghan was instrumental in every aspect of the creation of her rosé right down to designing the label with her trademark calligraphy handwriting. Meghan specifically picked Fairwinds - 75 miles north of San Francisco and a six-hour drive from her home in Montecito - to show her support after the winery was almost totally destroyed in a devastating 2020 wildfire which caused $15 million worth of damage The gold-rimmed label on the front of the bottle says: 'As Ever Rosé Napa Valley 2023' while the back describes the wine as having 'soft notes of stone fruit, gentle mineralogy and a lasting finish.' She signs off: 'As ever, Meghan.' The 2023 vintage is considered one of the best harvests in living memory thanks to plentiful spring rain and a temperate summer that produced a bumper grape crop. Fairwinds Estate has risen 'phoenix-like from the ashes,' cellar master Troy Harbison told the MoS when we visited on Friday afternoon. Mr Harbison said: 'The winery and tasting room were destroyed in the 2020 fire and haven't been rebuilt, The fire came down Hope Valley, over the hill and ripped through this property. Only the cellars survived. 'We aren't growing any grapes on this site but we have acreage across Napa Valley. We also buy in grapes from other vineyards, all in Napa Valley. 'For a while we weren't sure if the winery would survive. 'Then the owners had the idea of working with celebrities and sports teams to make their own line of wines and it really took off. 'We now produce wines for television shows and American football teams, basketball franchises, hockey and baseball teams. It was all because of the fire.' It is not known what price Meghan will charge for her new rosé but Fairwinds sells its rosé for $36 a bottle. Once Meghan made her final selection her wine was put into barrels and shipped 20 miles across winding country roads to the Kunde Family Winery in the neighbouring valley of Sonoma County. The wine was decanted into vast steel vats 18 feet high and holding up to 40,000 gallons before being piped across the roof of the Kunde's tasting room into its bottling plant. A member of staff said: 'This can produce 90 bottles a minute and up to 2,000 cases of wine a day at full throttle.' The fire that tore through Fairwinds destroyed its own bottling plant which is why it now farms out the bottling of its wines to other vineyards. It is not known what price Meghan will charge for her new rosé but Fairwinds sells its rosé for $36 a bottle Fairwinds has a storied history as the fourth Napa vineyard to be established after Prohibition ended in 1933. The Glass Fire in September 2020 made global headlines as firefighters carefully lowered the Stars and Stripes flag before the winery burned down. Vineyard owners Brandon Chaney - a colourful character whose Instagram handle is 'The Cowboy Wino' - and Anthony Zabit fought a legal battle against their insurance company for money to rebuild, a process which is ongoing. Fairwinds' website recalls the dark days of the fire saying: 'In an act of true patriotism the firefighters of Engine 559 of the Fremont Fire Department saved the American Flag as the Glass Fire overtook Fairwinds. 'The next day, these brave men presented the flag back to Brandon and Anthony to proudly raise about the new structures to rise from the ashes in the coming years.' Meghan and Harry have been strong supporters of firemen.
