12 celebrity wines reviewed

Side hustles have infiltrated the bottle shop. Celebrity wine projects bring bold-faced names from sports, music, television and more to retail shelves — and the results are mixed.

Some celebrity wines seem more focused on lining investors’ pockets than impressing palates. Others demonstrate a star’s deep passion for agriculture or oenology. Whether each one delivers depends on how it’s made, and if quality or profitability is its raison d’être. In any business, including wine, those two motivations are not mutually exclusive.

To explore this ever-expanding corner of the wine world, I tasted a range of bottles that were intermittently compelling, forgettable or borderline-undrinkable. Here’s my honest take on 12 celebrity wines.

What to look for when buying celebrity wines

Whenever you’re shopping for wine, look for specific regions and grapes on the labels. If a wine calls itself French rosé, that tells you a lot less than if it says Côtes de Provence, and lists a blend of grenache, cinsault, syrah and mourvèdre. Even if you don’t care about the vineyard location or varietal breakdown, it’s a good sign if the winery considers that information pertinent.

Similarly, higher-quality celebrity wines tend not to plaster the star’s name or likeness all over the label. There are exceptions, but I had better luck with bottles where the wine — not the bold-faced figurehead — seems to be the focus.

There are global precedents for this approach, too. “When you look at the way that people in Burgundy in particular label their wine, you will often see the producer name in smaller font at the bottom,” says Thomas Kakalios, the beverage director at Eat Well Hospitality in Chicago. “It emphasizes the terroir, not one individual.” In some instances, location also tells you which grapes are used and how long the wine was aged before release.

This concept applies to celebrity wines, too, Kakalios says. “If you see a celebrity’s face all over a label, it’s assuming you’re only going to buy this wine because you like that celebrity, not because you know or care about what the wine is inside.”

Twelve celebrity wines: The good, the bad and the meh

This list features wines from companies created by — or with — a celebrity. It doesn’t include long-standing estates that a notable figure invested in, such as Armand de Brignac’s “Ace of Spades,” the 2006 champagne house that Jay-Z bought in 2014; or Champagne Telmont, a 1912 label in which Leonardo DiCaprio became a minority stakeholder in 2022. (Both houses make excellent champagnes, by the way.)

It also prioritizes wines that are easy to find. For instance, you won’t find Two Wolves, Pink’s well-regarded winery in Santa Barbara County, because most of its seasonal releases ship directly to club members. Unless you’re already a member, it can be difficult to get your hands on a bottle. The wines below are arranged by price, and by my take on their overall quality. After all, everyone deserves great wine — regardless of whose name is or isn’t on the bottle.

The good

Three By Wade 2021 California Chenin Blanc (Dwyane Wade)

$22.99; Alcohol by volume: 13.1%

Dwyane Wade is one of several NBA players-turned-wine enthusiasts. In 2014, he started his label, Wade Cellars, with longtime Napa winemaker Jayson Pahlmeyer. In addition to being tasty, this chenin blanc from the entry-level Three By Wade line offers good value for money. Expect juicy melon and honeysuckle aromas and flavors, plus lots of vibrant lemon juice and zest on the long finish. Ripe fruit is typical of wines made in warm climates, which makes sense since the label says it comes from California. Do I wish it had more geographic specificity? Why yes, yes, I do! Still, I’m on board with this bottle, which would be lovely with grilled fish or glazed chicken thighs.

Sun Goddess Pinot Grigio Ramato 2024 (Mary J. Blige)

$22.99; ABV: 12.5%

One of the strongest celebrity wines I tasted, this copper-colored pinot grigio from R&B legend Mary J. Blige has stone fruit, citrus and white tea flavors. The finish is long and zesty. Grapes hail from the Friuli region of northeastern Italy, where there’s a long history of fermenting pinot grigio with skin contact to produce crisp, food-friendly wines. “It’s a deep cut, and for many people will be an unexpected way to enjoy a well-known variety,” says Kakalios. “The point isn’t if you love Mary J. Blige, you’ll love this wine. It’s that it’s good wine.” Serve with cheese and charcuterie boards, Caprese salads or crunchy katsu sandos.

Caduceus Cellars Anubis 2022 (Maynard James Keenan)

$51.99; ABV: 13.5%

If the last time you listened to Tool or Perfect Circle, you thought, “I bet this vocalist has an excellent palate,” your instincts were correct! In 2002, singer Maynard James Keenan founded Caduceus Cellars in a mountainous corner of central Arizona. The small-production, limited-release range impresses critics and helps to generate awareness for the state’s burgeoning wine scene. This Anubis is no exception. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and aglianico grapes farmed in high-elevation plots, it’s structured and full-bodied with black cherry, earthy tobacco and kicky black pepper notes. Serve this special-occasion wine with a holiday roast or herby leg of lamb.

Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Drew Bledsoe)

$54.99; ABV: 14.8%

Former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe and his wife, Maura, have two wineries in Washington State’s Columbia Valley; both are partnerships with winemaker Josh McDaniels, a Walla Walla native. This cabernet sauvignon has elegantly layered blackberry, stony, cedar and green herb characteristics. The tannic finish is fresh, making it bright enough to pair with rich, meaty fare like braised short ribs or Texas-BBQ-style smoked brisket. It’s pricey but well-made, and it embodies the region: Washington cabs tend to be more savory and lighter on their feet than ones from sun-soaked Napa.

McCollum Family Vineyard Heritage Pinot Noir 2024 (C.J. McCollum)

$55; ABV: 13.6%

Cherry and pomegranate notes leap out of glasses of this structured pinot noir from Atlanta Hawks point guard C.J. McCollum’s Oregon estate. In 2021, McCollum and his wife, Elise, purchased 318 acres in Yamhill-Carlton, an esteemed corner of the Willamette Valley. Winemaker Gina Hennen previously worked at Adelsheim, another pinot-centric Oregonian operation. That expertise pays off. This bottle delivers stylistic and regional typicity, which is winespeak for something that expresses what it is and where it’s from. It would make a great dinner party date, especially if roasted mushrooms or anything duck-related is on the menu. While $55 isn’t cheap, it’s a well-made wine and not entirely out of step with others from the region.

Pursued by Bear Baby Bear Syrah 2022 (Kyle MacLachlan)

$67; ABV: 14.6%

This knockout syrah from actor Kyle MacLachlan’s Walla Walla winery has plum, blueberry, and pepper aromas, plus chocolate-covered cherry flavors. The velvety tannins hint at the 30 months the wine ages in new and used oak before release. Named for a Shakespearean stage direction, Pursued by Bear wines are made by Daniel Wampfler, a Walla Walla winemaker who co-owns the nearby Abeja estate, which produces similarly refined bottles. Sixty-plus dollars is nothing to sniff at, of course. But, if you have the cash to spend on a luxe, silky syrah, Baby Bear may have you professing your love from the nearest balcony.

The bad

19 Crimes Cali Red (Snoop Dogg)

$11; ABV: 14.1%

The term “fruit bomb” can be a dismissive or complimentary way to describe ripe, juicy wines. Unfortunately, this red blend from rapper, producer and enterprising multi-hyphenate Snoop Dogg falls into the former category. The vanilla-accented berry flavors taste canned, and the palate is unbalanced and tinny. I appreciate the accessible price point, but if you’re eager for something fruit-forward that won’t break the bank, I’d recommend seeking out a Portuguese red blend or Californian valdiguié. Or pour some gin and juice, and call it a day.

Dreaming Tree Crush (red wine; Dave Matthews)

$12.97; ABV: 14%

With apologies to all the Daveheads out there, this red blend from Dave Matthews’ Dreaming Tree label is tough to swallow. Aggressively cinnamon-scented, it tastes primarily like maple syrup, and its fruit, acidity, and alcohol levels are out of balance. The finish is short and cloying, without enough bite to offset the overripe fruit. Labels don’t list which grapes are used or where in California they’re grown, only that the blend “is hand-selected from some of our favorite varieties.” To paraphrase some of Matthews’s lyrics, this does seem like a typical situation with too many choices. Regardless, I can’t recommend spending your hard-earned money on this bottle.

Maison No. 9 Rosé (Post Malone)

$14.49; ABV: 12.5%

During the last few decades, the caliber of rosés made in and imported to the United States have dramatically improved. That’s one reason I don’t recommend this ballet-pink bottling from recording artist Post Malone: There are just so many better iterations of the style. (Try Côté Mas Rosé Aurore! Or, for a few more dollars, my personal fave, Château Peyrassol.) The grapes for Maison No. 9 hail from IGP Mediteranée, an expansive region in southeastern France. Unfortunately, the wine tastes artificial. Rather than the wild strawberry and just-squeezed lemon qualities you typically find in Provençal rosé, I found gummy candy flavors and an almost plastic aftertaste that had me going in circles.

Bellissima Prosecco DOC Brut NV (Christie Brinkley)

$19.99; ABV: 11.5%

Extremely frothy at first, this prosecco from supermodel Christie Brinkley quite literally falls flat. The large bubbles dissipate within minutes — a sign of lower-quality sparkling winemaking — and the flavors are muted. Glera, the grape used to make prosecco, is characterized by prominent green apple notes. Sadly, all I could discern here was a faint citrusy twinge on the finish.

The meh

Avaline White Blend NV (Cameron Diaz)

$19.99; ABV: 12%

In 2020, when actress Cameron Diaz and entrepreneur Katherine Power created the organic and vegan label Avaline, the brand faced industry backlash for marketing its wines as “clean.” The controversial attempt at a health halo didn’t derail the brand’s success; currently, Avaline ships to 45 states. This isn’t the most memorable white wine you’ll ever drink, but it’s not the worst one, either. Light-bodied and dry, it has lemon flavors and a short finish. Labels don’t list the vintage or grape varieties, which, for me, doesn’t instill confidence. That said, it’s approachable and refreshing.

Hampton Water Rosé 2025 (Jon Bon Jovi)

$21.97; ABV: 13 percent

Haters may find it easy to mock this rosé from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France that recording artist Jon Bon Jovi and his son, Jesse Bongiovi, created with French winemaker Gérard Bertrand. After all, the company name is simultaneously cringe and confusing, as neither the wine nor its founders are from New York’s Hamptons. (For what it’s worth, la famiglia Bongiovi has reportedly enjoyed vacationing in East Hampton over the years.) However, the rosé itself is pretty solid! It might not be the most memorable wine you’ll ever taste, but it’s crisp, lightly floral, and easy-drinking. If I were handed a glass at a party, I would finish it without a second thought.