When Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt bought the Chateau Miraval estate in Provence, this was not just another celebrity branding attempt.
The power couple uses the chateau, which dates back to the 14th century, as their summer home and operates the vineyards on their estate. To make their wines, they teamed up with the Perrin family, one of the most famous winemakers in France.
In fact, unlike some other "celebrity" wines, you wouldn't know Brangelina was involved unless you looked for it. The front of the clear, round bottle is blank except for a simple crest. Turn it around and you'll see the "Jolie-Pitt & Perrin" names.
Even though Angie and Brad might want the wine to speak for itself, celebrity sells. The first 6,000 bottle production of the rose sold out in only five hours.
Now, a new shipment has reached south Florida and is available at Whole Foods Markets throughout the state. A spokesperson for the company said the shipment reached the stores on Friday, and each one has a supply.
We went to the WFM in Coral Gables yesterday and found an entire display of the rose wine. When we asked about it, one of the employees had no idea this was a "celebrity" product in high demand. We're guessing it has something to do with the National Enquirer not being sold at Whole Foods' checkout counters.
We bought two bottles (one to drink now, one to save for a rainy day). The wine, a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah grapes, is a beautiful salmon pink in the glass. There are distinct berry notes, with a touch of acidity. It's a great wine to take on a beach picnic. Just keep it cold because when ours started to warm in the sun, the wine started getting heavy.
So, is the wine worth it? Yes. At $24.99 a bottle, the price point is good enough for the curious to try, and the bottle is so gorgeous, it makes for a wonderful gift at a pool party.
Besides, we figure if we drink enough Miraval, everyone in the room will look like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt -- and that's a very, very good thing.
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