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As Meghan’s new rosé hits the shelves next week, we reveal the secrets of the Californian winery where it was made… which also produces bespoke tipples for celebrities including Barry Manilow and hit Western series ‘Yellowstone’

BBG News

Mild slopes adorned with grapevine-laden vineyards extend for many miles across the green expanse of California’s Napa Valley, and then, as you make a turn on Silverado Trail, you come upon a cavernous opening hollowed out from the hillside.

In the heart of intricate, dimly lit passages, it is where we find Meghan Markle’s soon-to-be-released rosé wine, set to hit the shelves on Tuesday (July 1), as an exclusive scoop by The Mail on Sunday unveils.

The entrance to the cellar takes you to the oak barrels brimming with wine from Fairwinds Estate, a winery in California that crafts exclusive wines for celebrities such as Barry Manilow, the estate of iconic cowboy movie figure John Wayne, and the popular Western TV show ‘Yellowstone.’

Meghan deliberately chose Fairwinds, located approximately 75 miles north of San Francisco and a six-hour drive from her residence in Montecito, as a gesture of solidarity following the near-total destruction of the winery by a catastrophic wildfire in 2020. This disaster resulted in an estimated $15 million in damages.

A source said: ‘She wanted to lean in and help a California business rebuild.’

The rosé wine titled ‘As Ever,’ that Meghan characterized as radiating ‘happiness and playfulness,’ marks her debut in the prosperous realm of celebrity-endorsed beverages. However, it hasn’t been a smooth journey without stirring up some debate.

Some commentators have noted that she decided to release her wine on July 1st, coinciding with what would have been the 64th birthday of Princess Diana.

Prince Harry’s mother was killed by a drunk driver, Henri Paul, when Harry was just 12 years old.

A user posted on Twitter: “Isn’t it in poor taste to introduce a new wine on the anniversary of the day Diana, who was killed by a drunk driver, lost her mother-in-law?

Another said: ‘It feels a little tone deaf.’

Regardless of the critics, if Meghan’s wine is successful it could net her a fortune.

Compared to George Clooney’s CasaAmigos tequila company, which was sold for a mind-blowing $1 billion, Brad Pitt’s Miravel rosé brand is estimated to be worth approximately $200 million.

Meghan, an enthusiast for fine wines and namer of her personal blog ‘The Tig’, inspired by her beloved Tignanello wine from Italy, invested numerous months sampling a multitude of diverse blends produced within Fairwinds’ expansive 25,000 square foot cellar. After thorough consideration, she eventually chose the perfect combination.

The special-made wine is known to be a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grape varieties.

In my experience as a lifestyle enthusiast, I personally engage in a unique wine-tasting ritual whenever I host gatherings. I experiment with various blends among friends, offering feedback to the skilled winemaker about adjustments such as adding more of this or reducing that. This way, each bottle becomes a bespoke creation tailored to my preferences and enjoyment – a truly custom-made wine.

Meghan played a crucial role in all facets of crafting her rosé, even going as far as designing the label using her unique calligraphic handwriting.

On the front of the bottle, a gold-framed label reads: ‘As Ever Rosé Napa Valley 2023’. The back of the bottle explains that the wine boasts soft undertones of stone fruits, subtle minerality, and a lingering aftertaste.

She signs off: ‘As ever, Meghan.’

2023’s harvest is being hailed as exceptional, reminiscent of the most remarkable vintages, due to abundant spring showers and a mild summer that led to an outstanding grape yield.

On our visit on Friday afternoon, Troy Harbison, the cellar master at Fairwinds Estate, shared that it has “reemerged, much like a phoenix,” signifying its resurgence.

Mr. Harbison stated: “Our winery and tasting room were devastated by the 2020 fire and remain unrestored to date. The flames swept down Hope Valley, climbed the hill, and ravaged our grounds. Miraculously, the cellars were the only structures that survived.

On this specific location, we don’t cultivate grapes, but we do own expanses of land spread throughout the Napa Valley region. Furthermore, we source grapes from various vineyards located within Napa Valley as well.

‘For a while we weren’t sure if the winery would survive.

Later, the proprietors conceived a plan to collaborate with celebrities and sports teams to create their exclusive wine range, which proved quite successful.

Currently, our winery caters to TV productions and various sports teams including American football, basketball, hockey, and baseball. This diversification into these markets stemmed from a past event – the fire.

As a connoisseur of fine wines, I must share that while the exact pricing for Meghan’s new rosé remains undisclosed, it’s worth noting that the esteemed Fairwinds Rosé retails at an impressive $36 per bottle.

After Meghan had chosen her preferred wine, it was transferred to barrels and transported a distance of twenty miles along curvy rural roads to the Kunde Family Winery, nestled within the neighboring valley of Sonoma County.

The wine was transferred from its container into enormous steel tanks, each reaching a height of 18 feet and capable of storing about 40,000 gallons. Later, it was piped over the Kunde’s tasting room roof to their bottling facility.

As an over-the-moon enthusiast, I’d like to share a mind-blowing factoid: This marvelous machine churns out an astounding 90 bottles per minute! When it’s really revved up, it can produce an incredible 2,000 cases of exquisite wine every single day! Simply amazing, isn’t it?

The blaze that ravaged Fairwinds consumed its very own bottling facility, leading them to contract with other vineyards for the bottling of their wines instead.

Fairwinds boasts a rich heritage, being the fourth vineyard in Napa to be set up following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.

In September 2020, the Glass Fire generated worldwide attention when firefighters respectfully took down the American flag prior to a nearby winery being engulfed in flames.

Brandon Chaney, also known as ‘The Cowboy Wino’ on Instagram, along with Anthony Zabit, are engaged in a continuous legal dispute with their insurance firm over funds needed to reconstruct their vineyard.

On the Fairwinds website, it is mentioned that during a heartfelt tribute to past events, the firefighters from Engine 559 of the Fremont Fire Department bravely rescued the U.S. flag when the Glass Fire engulfed Fairwinds, showcasing their unwavering devotion to their country.

The following day, these courageous individuals returned the flag to Brandon and Anthony so they could hoist it high above the emerging buildings that would rise from the ashes over the next few years, a sight they could all be proud of.

Meghan and Harry have been strong supporters of firemen.

They recently visited parts of Los Angeles affected by wildfires this year, and they also back the yearly “Rock for Responders” concert led by Kevin Costner in Santa Barbara.

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2025-06-29 00:22

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