Meghan Markle’s £22 rosé, which sold out quickly, was tested against seven other celebrity-released wines but didn’t secure the top spot.
On July 1, the Duchess of Sussex launched her first-ever wine under the brand As Ever, amid much excitement.
The rosé, a custom blend sourced from California’s Napa Valley, was described by the brand as having “soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish”.
The wine was available in sets of three, six, and twelve bottles, each priced at $30, with total costs of $90, $159, and $300, respectively.
Despite being only available for purchase in the US, it sold out within 45 minutes.
Jane Herz and Emily Lefroy of The Mail, who initially criticized the wine as “bland and almost watery,” decided to give the Duchess a fair shot by testing all eight wines, ranking them based on taste, price, and overall appearance.
The wines under review included those from Brad Pitt, Kylie Minogue, John Legend, Cameron Diaz, and Snoop Dogg among others.
Meghan’s wine didn’t clinch the top spot, but it also didn’t sink to the bottom.
Positioned fourth, the Mail’s team had mixed feelings about Meghan’s wine, with some appreciating its smooth taste and pleasant finish, while others deemed it “ordinary, leaving a bitter and acidic aftertaste”.
They delivered a less-than-flattering verdict, stating: “The perfect way to describe this rosé is that it tastes like something you would be served at a work happy hour.
“The wine didn’t taste like you bought it at a fancy vineyard, where it’s supposed to be made.
“Instead, it tasted affordable and ordinary. It’s not good, but it’s not terrible.”
John Legend’s LVE rosé, priced at £19, was dubbed the worst wine on the list, described as tasting “sharp, sour and highly acidic” and more akin to “rubbing alcohol than a nice, crisp rosé”.
The reviewers quipped: “We’d rather drink three bottles of Meghan’s than drink one glass of Legend’s.”
However, three spots above Meghan’s rank, another celebrity wine took the crown – Cameron Diaz’s Avaline rosé, priced at £18.
It received high praise for its crispy, very light, zesty and super smooth” taste, with the group adding that it was “absolutely amazing” and very “easy to sip on”.
They concluded: “It would be fantastic over ice on a hot July evening. 10/10, Cameron Diaz!”
Here’s how the celebrity rosés stack up:
8. John Legend – LVE, $25
7. Bethenny Frankel – Forever Young rosé, $22.99
6. Snoop Dog – 19 Crimes, $15
5. Kylie Minogue – Côtes de Provence rosé, $19.99
4. Meghan Markle – As Ever rosé, $30
3. Brad Pitt – Miraval, $25
2. Bon Jovi – Hampton Water, $25
1. Cameron Diaz – Avaline rosé, $24