Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 28, 2025 · Entertainment

Meghan Markle's Rosé: A Royal Blend of Support and Controversy

Gently rolling hills lush with grape-heavy vineyards stretch for miles through California's verdant Napa Valley until a turn on Silverado Trail leads you to the yawning chasm of a cave carved into the hillside

EXCLUSIVE: Meghan Markle's Rosé Wine Debut: A Royal Affair in Napa Valley!

Deep within the rolling hills of California's picturesque Napa Valley, a secret wine cellar has been hiding a royal gem - the upcoming rosé wine debut from none other than Meghan Markle herself! The Duchess of Sussex has chosen Fairwinds Estate, a winery that's risen like a phoenix from the ashes after a devastating 2020 wildfire, to launch her new venture.

As the Scholarly Note can exclusively reveal, Meghan's 'As Ever' rosé is the culmination of months of tireless work and meticulous tasting by the duchess herself. She's poured her heart and soul into creating this bespoke wine, which boasts a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes.

It is here, deep in a labyrinth of darkened tunnels, that Meghan Markle 's new rosé wine has been awaiting its debut, The Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal

But there's more to this royal wine than just its taste! The launch date of July 1 has raised eyebrows among some critics, who claim it's insensitive to launch the wine on what would have been Princess Diana's 64th birthday. Yes, you read that right - Prince Harry's mother was tragically killed by a drunk driver in 1997.

One Twitter user lamented, "Is it really appropriate to launch a wine on what would have been her mother-in-law's birthday when Diana was killed by a drunk driver?" Another questioned, "Doesn't this feel a little tone-deaf?"

However, insiders claim Meghan's decision to support Fairwinds Estate is purely altruistic. After the winery suffered $15 million worth of damage in the 2020 wildfire, Meghan wanted to lend a helping hand. And with her wine being launched on what would have been Princess Diana's birthday, some might see this as a subtle nod to Harry's mother.

The 'As Ever' rosé - which Meghan described as being 'infused with joy and whimsy' - is the duchess's first foray into the lucrative world of celebrity alcohol branding but has not been without controversy

But let's get back to the wine! The 'As Ever' rosé is described as "infused with joy and whimsy," and its label features Meghan's own calligraphy handwriting. Each bottle will be individually signed by the duchess herself, making it a truly unique collector's item for royal fans and wine enthusiasts alike.

And did you know that Fairwinds Estate has an impressive portfolio of celebrity clients? They've created bespoke wines for the likes of Barry Manilow, John Wayne's estate, and even the hit TV show 'Yellowstone'! So, if Meghan's wine is a hit, she could be looking at a fortune - just like Brad Pitt's Miravel rosé brand, which is valued at around $200 million!

A Wine-Lover's Paradise

Brad Pitt's Miravel rosé brand is valued at around $200 million while George Clooney (above) sold his CasaAmigos tequila company for a staggering $1 billion

For those who have followed Meghan's journey, it comes as no surprise that the duchess has taken a keen interest in wine. Her original blog, 'The Tig,' was named after her favorite Italian Tignanello wine, and she's been known to share her love of wine with friends over dinner parties.

Fairwinds Estate itself has an impressive history, dating back to 1933 when it became the fourth Napa vineyard to be established after Prohibition ended. The winery was devastated by the Glass Fire in September 2020, but the owners, Brandon Chaney and Anthony Zabit, fought a legal battle against their insurance company to rebuild.

A Phoenix Rises

Critics have pointed out that Meghan has chosen to launch her wine on July 1, on what would have been Princess Diana's 64th birthday - Prince Harry's mother was killed by a drunk driver, Henri Paul, when Harry was just 12 years old

Today, Fairwinds Estate is thriving once again, thanks to its innovative approach to winemaking. The winery has even created bespoke wines for TV shows and sports teams, which has helped them rise from the ashes like a phoenix!

And with Meghan Markle's rosé wine debut on the horizon, it looks like this Napa Valley gem is set to take center stage once again!

Meghan spent months tasting dozens of different blends created in Fairwinds' cellar, before settling on the final mix - the bespoke wine is understood to contain a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot grapes

The cellar entrance leads to the wine-filled oak caskets of Fairwinds Estate, a California winery that creates bespoke wines for celebrities including Barry Manilow , the estate of cowboy movie legend John Wayne and the hit Western television series 'Yellowstone'

Meghan specifically picked Fairwinds - 75 miles north of San Francisco and a six-hour drive from her home in Montecito - to show her support after the winery was almost totally destroyed in a devastating 2020 wildfire which caused $15 million worth of damage

The gold-rimmed label on the front of the bottle says: 'As Ever Rosé Napa Valley 2023'

The back describes the wine as having 'soft notes of stone fruit, gentle mineralogy and a lasting finish

Fairwinds Estate has risen 'phoenix-like from the ashes,' cellar master Troy Harbison told the MoS when we visited on Friday afternoon

The wine was put into barrels and shipped 20 miles across winding country roads to the Kunde Family Winery in the neighbouring valley of Sonoma County

It is not known what price Meghan will charge for her new rosé but Fairwinds sells its rosé for $36 a bottle