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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
We tried Meghan Markle's new As Ever rosé in a blind taste test. It wasn't what we expected, but we'd buy it again.
Meghan Markle's As Ever brand released its first wine, a rosé from Napa Valley. A group of Business Insider reporters tasted it in a blind test, comparing it to three other rosés. As Ever's flavor was unexpected, but we'd definitely buy the rosé again. "Rosé all day" is more than a phrase. It's a mantra, a lifestyle, and — some might even say — a call to action. Meghan Markle answered that call when her lifestyle brand As Ever released a rosé on July 1. The wine space is getting more crowded by the day, particularly as more celebrities join the fray, and I, for one, couldn't wait to see how Meghan made her rosé stand out. Meghan Markle is in her wine-making era. The Duchess of Sussex launched her As Ever brand in the spring, selling items like fruit spreads, high-end honey, and flower petal sprinkles. As Ever's first two product drops sold out within an hour, and in June, the company announced it was debuting its first-ever wine, a 2023 Napa Valley Rosé curated by Meghan. As Ever said its rosé is supposed to taste "crisp" and has notes of "stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish," much like Provençal rosés from France. The rosé retails for $30 on As Ever's website, and it sold out almost immediately after going on sale on July 1. The bottles are only available in packs of three, six, or twelve, so it costs consumers at least $90 to taste Meghan's rosé. As Ever has not yet announced if or when it'll restock the rosé. Because royals and rosé are two of my greatest passions, I knew I had to try As Ever's wine. I've been writing about the royal family and Meghan for years. I've also been closely following As Ever over the past few months as Meghan further expands into the lifestyle space. Plus, I'm a big rosé fan when I'm off the clock, so I knew I had to try Meghan's wine when it was released. I decided the best way to experience As Ever's rosé would be in a blind taste test, comparing it to a few other popular rosés on the market. I got a few of my colleagues to participate in the taste test with me. I didn't think it would be fair to assess the wines by myself, especially because I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to rosé. Give me a glass of pink, cold wine, and I'll be a happy camper. Three of my colleagues graciously volunteered to spend a Tuesday afternoon drinking with me. (They are such givers, I know.) Here's a quick rundown of why you can trust us. Spoiler alert: The main qualification is that we like drinking wine. Callie Ahlgrim, senior pop culture writer: I did work at a wine bar for like a year, but that was a long, long time ago. And since then, I drink wine recreationally and copiously. Samantha Rollins, deputy editor of entertainment and real estate: I'm a wine enthusiast who has been to France, the rosé capital of the world, in my opinion. So that's my only qualification. Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief, Life: I'm a new wine lover. I did not drink wine that much in my 20s. I love Rieslings and rosés, and I just got into red. So I think I would be quite picky because I'm sort of new to the whole thing. Samantha Pettyjohn, senior lifestyle reporter (me): I love rosé, especially in the summer. I'm also well-versed in Meghan Markle and went to California wine country on my honeymoon. We sampled four rosés total, including another celebrity brand. For the taste test, I selected three wines in addition to As Ever, choosing rosés that were pretty similar in price point to Meghan's. It seemed only fitting to include another celebrity brand, so I chose Côtes de Provence Rosé from Château Miraval, Brad Pitt's wine company. Pitt's Provençal-style rosé cost $23.88. Next, I selected the $22.49 Summer Water Rosé, which is made on the California coast and offers a slightly different experience with a screw cap. Finally, I included Whispering Angel, one of the most popular rosés on the market. It's a personal favorite of mine and is made in the Provençal-style like As Ever. It was $22.96. As Ever ended up being the most expensive wine of the bunch, which wasn't surprising considering it isn't widely available like the others. We kept the test completely blind. For the test, I put a piece of tape on the bottom of each wine glass with "A," "B," "C," or "D" written on it, which corresponded to one of the wines. The code was: A: Summer Water B: As Ever C: Whispering Angel D: Château Miraval The wine was poured out of sight and given to us in a random order, so we didn't know which rosé we were tasting. Brad Pitt's rosé wasn't a hit with our group. First, we tried Miraval's rosé, aka Brad Pitt's wine, aka "wine D" during the test. The flavor was a bit intense for some of us. McKenzie: It's good to me. Ahlgrim: It has kind of a sharp aftertaste. Rollins: It's honestly kind of bitter. I usually like bitter things, but it's a little too bitter. Pettyjohn: I like it. It's sharp, and I wish I had some cheese to eat with it. It has a champagne-y flavor. McKenzie: And that, to me, resonates. Rollins: There's something about it that I don't really like. Pettyjohn: If a bottle were offered to me, I would certainly have a glass, if not two. McKenzie: It'd be perfect for hot weather. Ahlgrim: I think it's more of a dinner wine than a relaxing by the pool kind of wine. Summer Water tasted the most like a classic rosé to us. Next, we tried Summer Water, known to us as "wine A." We immediately noticed that it had a pinker hue and a distinct aroma. As we took our first sip, it was easy to see why. Pettyjohn: Oh, that is way more berry-forward. Rollins: It's a little more effervescent. Pettyjohn: This is definitely more pool vibes to me. McKenzie: This is a better wine. Ahlgrim: Lighter. McKenzie: I didn't notice the aftertaste being that sharp on D, but now, this has no aftertaste, and I'm like, "This is better." Ahlgrim: I like a funkier, tangier wine, but I think most people expect rosé to be a bit sweeter and smoother. So I think this fits what people reach for when they reach for a rosé, more so than the first one. McKenzie: As a sweet enthusiast, it has my vote. Ahlgrim: I don't know if I would spend $30 on it because it feels like such easy drinking. Rollins: To me, this is giving rosé all day. There ain't nothing wrong with it. As Ever took us by surprise. As Ever was the third wine we tried, under the alias "wine B." It had the most unexpected flavor profile of the bunch. Ahlgrim: Oh, I like the smell. This smells more expensive. Pettyjohn: This tastes expensive. But it doesn't taste like rosé to me. It's good, but it is not what I would expect. Rollins: This is like a very dry white, maybe. McKenzie: It has a very bold flavor. Ahlgrim: I actually like that I don't think it tastes like a rosé. It's much bolder than I expected. I feel like it's aged. Rollins: There's something oaky about it. Pettyjohn: It's fancy. Ahlgrim: It's earthy, almost. McKenzie: It tastes like a chardonnay. It is giving oak chardonnay. Whispering Angel had the group split. The final wine of the test was Whispering Angel, which we labeled "wine C." It was a hit or miss vibe for the testers. Pettyjohn: I do like this one. This is what I would consider easy rosé drinking. Ahlgrim: Oh, this is bland. McKenzie: It's very harsh on my tongue. I don't prefer this at all. Rollins: Really? This one seems like an easier drinking version of B and D. McKenzie: This one? I don't like it at all. I just taste more of the alcoholic taste, which I don't love. Ahlgrim: Yes, I think there's very little flavor, and it's more alcohol-forward. This is my least favorite of the four. Rollins: I feel like this one splits the difference between all of them. It's got a bit of the berry of the other ones, but it's still dry, and it's got the rosé. Ahlgrim: If somebody gave me a glass of this by the pool, I would drink it, but I would not opt for this if I had the other options. We revisited all four wines before the reveal. While we still didn't know which wine was which, we compared them to each other, referring to them by their letter code. Overall, our takeaway was that Summer Water was the best for casual rosé drinking, thanks to its light and berry flavor, but the taste of As Ever's wine stood out for being unexpected and refreshing. Miraval sat in the middle of the pack, while Whispering Angel was too alcohol-forward for McKenzie and Ahlgrim. After the big reveal, we loved that As Ever wasn't what we expected from Meghan. When we finally found out which wine was which, we were all surprised that "wine B" was As Ever. Ahlgrim: Oh, that's the one that doesn't taste like rosé! It's weird, and I like that. McKenzie: It was my number two favorite! Ahlgrim: As Ever was my top in terms of what I like in a wine. I like a weirder flavor, but I think Summer Water is more rosé-y. But if I saw As Ever at the store, I would buy it again. Pettyjohn: Me too. I would buy this again, and I think it would be nice if you paired it with fruit or cheese — that vibe. If you brought this to a party, your friends would be like, "Oh, the rosé you brought is so good. Where did you get it?" Rollins: I would be curious to drink it in a cup, like in one of the "Love Is Blind" cups, where you can't see what color it is, and just be like, "What does that taste like to you?" Ahlgrim: I admire that Meghan didn't take the easiest route. So many celebrities have an alcohol brand, so I think it was bold of her to do something that does not taste like every other rosé on the market. Pettyjohn: If I put my Meghan Scholar hat on, I also feel this reflects her as a flavor. You think you're going to get one thing, but then she surprises you, and it's a really lovely flavor, even if it's not necessarily what you were expecting. McKenzie: It's something that I would order again. Pettyjohn: Me too. McKenzie: Her rosé beats Brad Pitt's. Ahlgrim: 100%. We took a closer look at the As Ever bottle after the taste test. Once we knew which wine it was, we checked out the As Ever bottle. Its 14.5% alcohol content — the highest of the four — surprised us, particularly because it didn't taste too alcohol-forward. We also liked that the wine seemed versatile. Ahlgrim: It is the best bang for your buck if you're looking for the highest alcohol content. McKenzie: 14.5% is pretty high. Ahlgrim: That surprises me because because of how alcohol-forward I felt like the Whispering Angel was. I expected that to be the highest. Pettyjohn: I like to make a rosé sangria, and I think As Ever would be good with that. Ahlgrim: Ooh, with a bit of prosecco or seltzer in it? Yeah, because the flavor is so strong, it would lend itself well to a mix. Pettyjohn: Yes, exactly. Ahlgrim: It's not a poolside rosé. It's like a charcuterie rosé. Pettyjohn: I can see Meghan on her patio, talking to one of her friends, and drinking it. Three out of the four of us could see ourselves buying As Ever. Ahlgrim, McKenzie, and I said we would buy As Ever down the line, though we want people to know they shouldn't expect a classic rosé flavor. Rollins had reservations, especially because the bottles are only available in three, six, or 12 packs. Rollins: As Ever was interesting, but I definitely wouldn't order three bottles because of the price and strong flavor. You really have to love the flavor. Pettyjohn: I would buy it! When I went to Sonoma, one winery had a rosé you could try, and it was very similar to this. It didn't taste how you expected a rosé to taste, but it was good. McKenzie: It's a good wine. I would order it again. It was my top two. It tastes like a chardonnay, and I don't mind that. Ahlgrim: The Summer Water would be what I would drink on a Saturday during the day in the summer. Then I would switch to Meghan's at night. Pettyjohn: I couldn't have said it better myself. I tried As Ever's rosé at home and loved it even more. A few days after the official taste test, I revisited As Ever rosé, pouring a glass for myself and my husband. I gave it a sniff, inhaling that full-bodied, almost orange wine-like scent that surprised me during the test. It was inviting and bright, and as I took a sip, I was delighted that As Ever tasted even more refreshing and crisp than I remembered. My husband was a fan, too, and I had to remind myself not to drink it too quickly over dinner. Meghan's rosé is a hit in my book, and I'm intrigued to see how her foray into the wine industry continues. Cheers! Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
We tried Meghan Markle's new As Ever rosé in a blind taste test. It wasn't what we expected, but we'd buy it again.
Meghan Markle is in her wine-making era. The Duchess of Sussex launched her As Ever brand in the spring, selling items like fruit spreads, high-end honey, and flower petal sprinkles. As Ever's first two product drops sold out within an hour, and in June, the company announced it was debuting its first-ever wine, a 2023 Napa Valley Rosé curated by Meghan. As Ever said its rosé is supposed to taste "crisp" and has notes of "stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish," much like Provençal rosés from France. The rosé retails for $30 on As Ever's website, and it sold out almost immediately after going on sale on July 1. The bottles are only available in packs of three, six, or twelve, so it costs consumers at least $90 to taste Meghan's rosé. As Ever has not yet announced if or when it'll restock the rosé. Because royals and rosé are two of my greatest passions, I knew I had to try As Ever's wine. I've been writing about the royal family and Meghan for years. I've also been closely following As Ever over the past few months as Meghan further expands into the lifestyle space. Plus, I'm a big rosé fan when I'm off the clock, so I knew I had to try Meghan's wine when it was released. I decided the best way to experience As Ever's rosé would be in a blind taste test, comparing it to a few other popular rosés on the market. I got a few of my colleagues to participate in the taste test with me. I didn't think it would be fair to assess the wines by myself, especially because I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to rosé. Give me a glass of pink, cold wine, and I'll be a happy camper. Three of my colleagues graciously volunteered to spend a Tuesday afternoon drinking with me. (They are such givers, I know.) Here's a quick rundown of why you can trust us. Spoiler alert: The main qualification is that we like drinking wine. Callie Ahlgrim, senior pop culture writer: I did work at a wine bar for like a year, but that was a long, long time ago. And since then, I drink wine recreationally and copiously. Samantha Rollins, deputy editor of entertainment and real estate: I'm a wine enthusiast who has been to France, the rosé capital of the world, in my opinion. So that's my only qualification. Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief, Life: I'm a new wine lover. I did not drink wine that much in my 20s. I love Rieslings and rosés, and I just got into red. So I think I would be quite picky because I'm sort of new to the whole thing. We sampled four rosés total, including another celebrity brand. For the taste test, I selected three wines in addition to As Ever, choosing rosés that were pretty similar in price point to Meghan's. It seemed only fitting to include another celebrity brand, so I chose Côtes de Provence Rosé from Château Miraval, Brad Pitt's wine company. Pitt's Provençal-style rosé cost $23.88. Next, I selected the $22.49 Summer Water Rosé, which is made on the California coast and offers a slightly different experience with a screw cap. Finally, I included Whispering Angel, one of the most popular rosés on the market. It's a personal favorite of mine and is made in the Provençal-style like As Ever. It was $22.96. As Ever ended up being the most expensive wine of the bunch, which wasn't surprising considering it isn't widely available like the others. We kept the test completely blind. For the test, I put a piece of tape on the bottom of each wine glass with "A," "B," "C," or "D" written on it, which corresponded to one of the wines. The code was: A: Summer Water B: As Ever C: Whispering Angel D: Château Miraval The wine was poured out of sight and given to us in a random order, so we didn't know which rosé we were tasting. Brad Pitt's rosé wasn't a hit with our group. First, we tried Miraval's rosé, aka Brad Pitt's wine, aka "wine D" during the test. The flavor was a bit intense for some of us. McKenzie: It's good to me. Ahlgrim: It has kind of a sharp aftertaste. Rollins: It's honestly kind of bitter. I usually like bitter things, but it's a little too bitter. Pettyjohn: I like it. It's sharp, and I wish I had some cheese to eat with it. It has a champagne-y flavor. McKenzie: And that, to me, resonates. Rollins: There's something about it that I don't really like. Pettyjohn: If a bottle were offered to me, I would certainly have a glass, if not two. McKenzie: It'd be perfect for hot weather. Summer Water tasted the most like a classic rosé to us. Next, we tried Summer Water, known to us as "wine A." We immediately noticed that it had a pinker hue and a distinct aroma. As we took our first sip, it was easy to see why. Pettyjohn: Oh, that is way more berry-forward. Rollins: It's a little more effervescent. Pettyjohn: This is definitely more pool vibes to me. McKenzie: This is a better wine. Ahlgrim: Lighter. McKenzie: I didn't notice the aftertaste being that sharp on D, but now, this has no aftertaste, and I'm like, "This is better." Ahlgrim: I like a funkier, tangier wine, but I think most people expect rosé to be a bit sweeter and smoother. So I think this fits what people reach for when they reach for a rosé, more so than the first one. McKenzie: As a sweet enthusiast, it has my vote. Ahlgrim: I don't know if I would spend $30 on it because it feels like such easy drinking. As Ever took us by surprise. As Ever was the third wine we tried, under the alias "wine B." It had the most unexpected flavor profile of the bunch. Ahlgrim: Oh, I like the smell. This smells more expensive. Pettyjohn: This tastes expensive. But it doesn't taste like rosé to me. It's good, but it is not what I would expect. Rollins: This is like a very dry white, maybe. McKenzie: It has a very bold flavor. Ahlgrim: I actually like that I don't think it tastes like a rosé. It's much bolder than I expected. I feel like it's aged. Rollins: There's something oaky about it. Pettyjohn: It's fancy. Ahlgrim: It's earthy, almost. Whispering Angel had the group split. The final wine of the test was Whispering Angel, which we labeled "wine C." It was a hit or miss vibe for the testers. Pettyjohn: I do like this one. This is what I would consider easy rosé drinking. Ahlgrim: Oh, this is bland. McKenzie: It's very harsh on my tongue. I don't prefer this at all. Rollins: Really? This one seems like an easier drinking version of B and D. McKenzie: This one? I don't like it at all. I just taste more of the alcoholic taste, which I don't love. Ahlgrim: Yes, I think there's very little flavor, and it's more alcohol-forward. This is my least favorite of the four. Rollins: I feel like this one splits the difference between all of them. It's got a bit of the berry of the other ones, but it's still dry, and it's got the rosé. Ahlgrim We revisited all four wines before the reveal. While we still didn't know which wine was which, we compared them to each other, referring to them by their letter code. Overall, our takeaway was that Summer Water was the best for casual rosé drinking, thanks to its light and berry flavor, but the taste of As Ever's wine stood out for being unexpected and refreshing. Miraval sat in the middle of the pack, while Whispering Angel was too alcohol-forward for McKenzie and Ahlgrim. After the big reveal, we loved that As Ever wasn't what we expected from Meghan. When we finally found out which wine was which, we were all surprised that "wine B" was As Ever. Ahlgrim: Oh, that's the one that doesn't taste like rosé! It's weird, and I like that. McKenzie: It was my number two favorite! Ahlgrim: As Ever was my top in terms of what I like in a wine. I like a weirder flavor, but I think Summer Water is more rosé-y. But if I saw As Ever at the store, I would buy it again. Pettyjohn: Me too. I would buy this again, and I think it would be nice if you paired it with fruit or cheese — that vibe. If you brought this to a party, your friends would be like, "Oh, the rosé you brought is so good. Where did you get it?" Rollins: I would be curious to drink it in a cup, like in one of the "Love Is Blind" cups, where you can't see what color it is, and just be like, "What does that taste like to you?" Ahlgrim: I admire that Meghan didn't take the easiest route. So many celebrities have an alcohol brand, so I think it was bold of her to do something that does not taste like every other rosé on the market. Pettyjohn: If I put my Meghan Scholar hat on, I also feel this reflects her as a flavor. You think you're going to get one thing, but then she surprises you, and it's a really lovely flavor, even if it's not necessarily what you were expecting. McKenzie: It's something that I would order again. Pettyjohn: Me too. We took a closer look at the As Ever bottle after the taste test. Once we knew which wine it was, we checked out the As Ever bottle. Its 14.5% alcohol content — the highest of the four — surprised us, particularly because it didn't taste too alcohol-forward. We also liked that the wine seemed versatile. Ahlgrim: It is the best bang for your buck if you're looking for the highest alcohol content. McKenzie: 14.5% is pretty high. Ahlgrim: That surprises me because because of how alcohol-forward I felt like the Whispering Angel was. I expected that to be the highest. Pettyjohn: I like to make a rosé sangria, and I think As Ever would be good with that. Ahlgrim: Ooh, with a bit of prosecco or seltzer in it? Yeah, because the flavor is so strong, it would lend itself well to a mix. Pettyjohn: Yes, exactly. Ahlgrim: It's not a poolside rosé. It's like a charcuterie rosé. Three out of the four of us could see ourselves buying As Ever. Ahlgrim, McKenzie, and I said we would buy As Ever down the line, though we want people to know they shouldn't expect a classic rosé flavor. Rollins had reservations, especially because the bottles are only available in three, six, or 12 packs. Rollins: As Ever was interesting, but I definitely wouldn't order three bottles because of the price and strong flavor. You really have to love the flavor. Pettyjohn: I would buy it! When I went to Sonoma, one winery had a rosé you could try, and it was very similar to this. It didn't taste how you expected a rosé to taste, but it was good. McKenzie: It's a good wine. I would order it again. It was my top two. It tastes like a chardonnay, and I don't mind that. Ahlgrim: The Summer Water would be what I would drink on a Saturday during the day in the summer. Then I would switch to Meghan's at night. I tried As Ever's rosé at home and loved it even more. A few days after the official taste test, I revisited As Ever rosé, pouring a glass for myself and my husband. I gave it a sniff, inhaling that full-bodied, almost orange wine-like scent that surprised me during the test. It was inviting and bright, and as I took a sip, I was delighted that As Ever tasted even more refreshing and crisp than I remembered. My husband was a fan, too, and I had to remind myself not to drink it too quickly over dinner. Meghan's rosé is a hit in my book, and I'm intrigued to see how her foray into the wine industry continues. Cheers!
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's wine sells out in under an hour
The entrepreneur added a Napa Valley Rosé to her As Ever lifestyle range this week, with all available bottles selling out in less than one hour after they became available to the public. Launching at 11 am Eastern Standard Time in the US, the 2023 Napa Valley Rosé was sold out before noon. Costing $30 (£22) per bottle, the wine could only be purchased in packs of three, six or a full case of 12 bottles. The lifestyle brand's media release ahead of the wine launch described the booze as "a bespoke blend" of grapes with "soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality and a lasting finish".
Scottish Sun
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘Cruel' Meghan launching her rosé on Diana's birthday is scheme to hijack Harry's mum's legacy, expert slams
MEGA SHOW 'Cruel' Meghan launching her rosé on Diana's birthday is scheme to hijack Harry's mum's legacy, expert slams A ROYAL expert has slammed Meghan Markle's decision to launch her rose wine on Princess Diana's birthday as a "cruel" way to hijack Prince Harry's mum's legacy. The 2023 Napa Valley Rosé went on sale on Tuesday at around 4pm UK time via a new wine section on Meg's As Ever website. Advertisement 8 Meghan's new Rosé costs $30 (£21) a bottle 8 But Meghan's timing decision has been criticised by a royal expert Credit: Getty 8 Princess Diana in Hong Kong in 1989 Credit: Getty Images - Getty Meghan's new Rosé will set back punters $30 a bottle and she now plans to bring out a sparkling wine. But now, a royal expert has slammed the timing of the wine's release, which is said to "capture the essence of sun-drenched outdoor moments". Royal reporter and podcaster Kinsey Schofield claims that the release of the beverage on the late Princess Diana's birthday has "struck a nerve" with those in the royal household. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Schofield claimed: "As Ever appears to be the latest attempt to stake a claim in the oversaturated lifestyle market. Advertisement "Still, this launch has struck a very specific nerve, not just because of what the product is, but because when it was released, July 1, Princess Diana's birthday. "A source close to the royal household told me, it's not lost on Prince William that Meghan has launched an alcohol brand on his mother's birthday, the very mum he lost in a drink driving tragedy. "When I asked if there was anger at Meghan for using Diana's birthday to promote her commercial products, my source replied: 'It's what he's come to expect from her'. "He doesn't think much of her." Advertisement The beverage, priced at more than £65 for a minimum three-bottle order, had only appeared to be available for US customers to buy, with shipping addresses limited to America. A half case costs $159 (£115) and a full case will set you back a whopping $300 (£218). Why has Thomas Markle NEVER met Harry? There can only be 3 reasons - and 3rd is bad news for Meg The wine went on sale at 4pm UK time, but the site was updated less than hour later to signal stocks were sold out. But Schofield claims that "timing an alcohol launch to Diana's birthday wasn't just a misstep, it was borderline cruel". Advertisement The royal podcaster said: "You have to sit at home, you have to sit and think, what is Prince Harry thinking at home today? "As Meghan is doing victory laps around the kitchen, excited for this launch, Harry is still thinking about the mother he lost, the mother that he loved, the mother that he talks to us about constantly. "This is still a tough day for Prince Harry too. Let's be honest, Meghan has spent years framing herself as the spiritual successor to Diana." Schofield added: "I was once told by a royal family source that Beatrice, I believe this was at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, overheard Meghan tell Prince Harry that Diana spoke to her during her yoga session that morning. Advertisement "I feel like Meghan has hijacked or attempted to hijack this woman's legacy, to the point where Meghan is so important that Diana is speaking to her from the other side of the yoga mat. 8 Kinsey Schofield has weighed in on the latest release Credit: The Sun 8 The release on Diana's birthday has drawn criticism Credit: Getty 8 The rose is being flogged on new website - where more booze will be added Advertisement "So to claim ignorance here doesn't hold up. It wasn't just insensitive. "It felt like a betrayal of the very narrative she's working so hard to craft." Schofield said: "I think Diana's death remains one of the most heartbreaking and symbolic moments in modern royal history. "Linking that memory, whether intentionally or accidentally, to a commercial product, especially one tied to alcohol, feels like a profound misjudgement. Advertisement "There are 363 other days to launch a wine or an alcohol brand. Choosing this one, even if unintentional, speaks volumes." 'TONE DEAF' Schofield also claimed that her source in the royal household said that William and Catherine have been "quite good at ignoring the Sussexes". However, it is claimed that anything to do with Wills mother is still a "tender spot", according to the source. Schofield added: "To launch an alcohol brand on Diana's birthday, it felt pointed, or at the very least, shockingly tone deaf. Advertisement "Privately, there is hope within the family that Harry and Meghan will eventually thrive in the business world, not out of affection, but out of strategy. "The thinking goes, if they're secure and financially stable, maybe the public criticism towards the palace and media outbursts will subside." The new wine is being flogged on new website - where more booze will be added. The Rosé is described by As Ever as "a pale blush wine offers a roundness and depth of flavor that is complemented by gentle minerality and soft notes of stone fruit with a lasting finish". Advertisement They claim the tipple is an "As ever blend" which includes "Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah varietals". While the taste is described as "sophisticated, dry, and refreshing, it is 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". It comes as Meghan is also set to reveal a sparkling wine among new wine varieties. 8 Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry at Thorpe Park when the boys were growing up Credit: Getty Advertisement
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has said her latest venture is all about celebration
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has said her latest venture is all about celebration. The mum-of-two, 43, has been busy launching products under her As Ever brand label, and she made the remarks as she unveiled a new $30-a-bottle Rosé from California's Napa Valley. Meghan told fans: 'This blend captures the essence of celebration, inviting wine lovers to toast all the moments that matter most – both big and small.' The duchess launched her 2023 Napa Valley Rosé through a new wine section of her lifestyle brand's website, It is being sold at $30 (£21) per bottle, with discounts for larger purchases — a three-pack for $90 (£65), a half case for $159 (£115), or a full case for $300 (£218). Meghan is also preparing to release a sparkling wine under the same As Ever label. The wine is described on the site as 'a pale blush wine' that offers 'roundness and depth of flavour', with 'gentle minerality and soft notes of stone fruit with a lasting finish'. The bottle contains an 'As Ever blend' of Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah grapes, which the site says creates a 'sophisticated, dry, and refreshing' flavour 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'. Meghan's return to the business world comes amid renewed speculation around her and Prince Harry, 40, potentially seeking a path back to the royal family. The couple stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and now reside in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. But notes newly published by royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith have shed further light on the reaction of Queen Elizabeth II to the couple's departure — often referred to as 'Megxit'. In one passage, the Queen, who died in September 2022, reportedly told her cousin and confidante Lady Elizabeth Anson she was 'not at all content'. According to Bedell Smith's Extra Substack blog, Lady Elizabeth, who died in 2020 aged 79, told her: 'Harry was rude to (the Queen) for 10 minutes.' The notes also describe tensions leading up to Meghan and Harry's 2018 wedding. Meghan, it is said, would not reveal details about her dress to the Queen. Lady Elizabeth reportedly told the biographer: 'Meghan wouldn't tell her Queen Elizabeth II about the wedding dress.' The dress, a Givenchy design with a bateau neckline and three-quarter sleeves, was ultimately viewed by the Queen as 'flamboyant' and, according to the notes, she felt it was 'not fit for a divorcee'. Meghan had previously been married to film producer Trevor Engelson. Lady Elizabeth also told Bedell Smith: 'The jury (was) out on whether she likes Meghan.' The Queen, according to the interview, was 'so saddened' by the Sussexes' decision to leave royal life behind, the biographer wrote.
