From beauty and fashion to food and tech, celebrities have long been lending their names to a brand. But while many star-backed ventures feel more like marketing exercises than meaningful contributions, celebrity wine labels have often emerged as one of the success stories, bringing genuine quality, expertise and innovation to the industry.
But what makes a celebrity wine successful in a saturated industry? I asked popstar and one of the most popular celebrity wine makers, Kylie Minogue. “I think celebrity wine has more to prove, at least initially, but we had total commitment to the quality of the wine and it had to be authentic to my style and taste,” explains Kylie, the founder of Kylie Minogue Wines.
“In my first meeting with Benchmark Drinks (the wine developer), it was clear that we aligned on these principles,” Kylie added. “If the concept was to just put my name on a bottle, the meeting would have been a very short one!
“My role with Kylie Minogue Wines is very hands-on – I’m involved in every element from taste direction, style, bottle, label and packaging design, through to the overall feeling of the range,” she explains.
Kylie says she started the project with little knowledge but has since learned “so much about the industry and the parallels with music and wine”.
From zero percent sparkling wine to South African Malbec and Italian Pinot Grigio, these are the celebrities you didn’t know were wine makers and the bottles to pick up in the supermarket.
Read more: Best rosé wines, tried and tested
Best celebrity wines
Kylie Minogue
Perhaps the most well known celebrity wine brand, Kylie Minogue Wines has sold more than 22 million bottles globally since its inception in 2020. The Kylie Minogue signature rosé in particular is loved by fans of the blushed wine having become number one selling premium branded rosé in the UK. Alongside the signature rosé , the brand sells a Prosecco rosé, a Prosecco D.O.C, a sauvignon blanc and Vin De Provence rosé. The brand produces a non-alcoholic rosé and sauvignon blanc, too.
What are the most popular wines according to Kylie? “Kylie Minogue Wine’s top three ranges are the incredible signature rosé (the brand’s first ambassador!), the Prosecco rosé, Prosecco blanc and more recently our amazing zero percent sparkling rosé and sparkling blanc. [It’s] hard to choose just one!”
Prices may vary
Prices may vary
Prices may vary
Gary Barlow
The lead singer of the pop group Take That says his wines have been influenced by his experience of many different food and wine cultures all over the world.
All hailing from South African, the collection encompasses a sauvignon blanc, a sauvignon blush crafted from the green-skinned grape and a four per cent splash of grenache, a rich malbec and a pinot grigio. There’s a shiraz that’s coming soon.
Prices may vary
Prices may vary
Prices may vary
Alex James
The bass player for Blur, Alex James, has added more strings to his guitar after moving to the Cotswolds, in the form of cheese making and wine production. Alongside cider and lager, James’s Britpop produces an English sparkling wine that’s made from a blend of champagne grapes including chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. These are grown on the Jurassic coast and said to produce a wine with floral, peachy notes.
Prices may vary
Elton John
The iconic, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has made a mark in the world of non-alcoholic wine with Elton John zero blanc de blancs. The alcohol-free sparkling wine is made exclusively with chardonnay grapes grown in Northern Italy. These undergo a precisely controlled fermentation with bacteria instead of yeast, which keeps the wine ABV free.
Prices may vary
Gordon Ramsay
A move into the wine industry seems natural for the Michelin-star studded British chef. No lapses in quality, Gordon Ramsay says it was paramount to set the same standards and quality as he expects of his restaurants. The Gordon Ramsay Italian Collection is created in partnership with world-famous winemaker Alberto Antonini. It unites the chef’s passion with the heart and soul of Italian winemaking, in the form of a pinot grigio and intenso rosso.
Prices may vary
Prices may vary
Snoop Dog
While red wine might seem an unusual addition to the hip hop legend’s ventures (gin and juice might be more fitting), Cali by Snoop’s cali red has enjoyed big commercial success. The wine was a collaboration between the rapper and Australian and Californian wine brand 19 Crimes, and it was the company’s first California-made wine. A hooded Snoop Dogg is printed on the front of the bottle while inside, the wine is said to be a full-bodied and juicy red.
Prices may vary
Graham Norton
Graham Norton’s wine range, produced with New Zealand’s Invivo & Co, has enjoyed high acclaim with more 300 awards including gold at the Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters. The portfolio features a New Zealand rosé, Western Cape sauvignon blanc, Italian prosecco, rosé prosecco and Argentinian malbec.
Prices may vary
Prices may vary
Prices may vary
Idris Elba
On the luxury end, Porte Noire is a premium wine and spirit brand co-founded by actor and producer Idris Elba and wine expert David Farber. Created in collaboration with renowned vineyards in France, the range features champagne and a rosé that Elba served at his own wedding.
Prices may vary
Prices may vary
Experts share top supermarket champagnes and sparkling wines to buy