If you’ve been waiting for new Real Housewines, you’re in luck. Actress-entrepreneur Lisa Rinna—best-known for starring on Days of Our Lives, Melrose Place and Bravo TV’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills—is launching two with her new label, Rinna Wines. (Rinna joins fellow Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump, who started her wine label in 2015.)
“I’ve always wanted to do a spirit, a wine, alcohol,” Rinna told Wine Spectator. “Entering that category is really exciting to me, because everybody can share in it and everybody can have it.”
After debuting in select markets this fall, Rinna Wines is going national in early 2023 with two sparklers: a brut ($25) made from 85 percent Chardonnay and 15 percent Ugni Blanc, and a brut rosé ($25) made from 60 percent Grenache, 20 percent Syrah and 20 percent Cinsault; about 1,600 cases of each have been made. For these bubblies, Rinna is collaborating with the team at Prestige Beverage Group, whose portfolio also includes Indoggo gin from hip-hop legend and beverage tycoon Snoop Dogg.
Rinna was inspired to create her own wines following a trip to France’s Provence region with a few of the Beverly Hills Housewives, as featured on the TV series. “We went to a wine tasting at a really beautiful winery,” Rinna said. “We had so much fun and it was one of the most iconic scenes I think we’ve ever filmed in the eight years that I’ve been on the show.”
Set to make her own wine, Rinna connected with Prestige and—working alongside her husband, L.A. Law and Mad Men star Harry Hamlin—was soon planning every aspect of the brand. “We did everything with Prestige,” she explained, noting that the original plan was to make a still rosé before pivoting to bubbly. “It would only be something that I love; that’s very much how I created my Rinna Beauty [makeup brand]. If I’m not gonna wear it all the time, I’m not doing it, and if I’m not gonna drink it all the time, I’m not doing it.” Both wines were made in southern France’s Aix-en-Provence region.
With plans to release more wines in the future, Rinna noted how excited she was to share her Provence experiences through these sparklers, especially with an even broader base than she’s had with her makeup line. “It’s about sharing life, joy, celebration and fun,” she said. “If I could bottle my essence and my love of life and dance, I would say that that’s what we did.”
As Bravo TV fans likely know, Rinna’s wine has already been featured on Real Housewives, in a tasting at her and Hamlin’s home; Rinna predicts that you’ll be seeing them again, so stay tuned!
Andy Cohen Partners with Fresca Mixed Cocktails
Emmy-winning Real Housewives producer Andy Cohen is bringing a duo of drinks to the Bravo TV extended beverage universe. In November, the citrus mixer experts at Fresca Mixed (a Coca-Cola company) announced they’re partnering with Cohen—a longtime fan of the original, alcohol-free Fresca soft drink—to spread the word on their canned vodka spritz and tequila paloma cocktails ($10 for a 4-pack of 12-ounce cans). The drinks launched in September, in collaboration with industry giant Constellation Brands. (Learn more about the canned beverage category.)
“It’s about time someone finally made my favorite cocktail in a ready-to-drink version! I’ve loved mixing Fresca with spirits for years,” said Cohen in a statement. “As Fresca’s No. 1 fan, it only made sense that I play a part in maintaining the brand’s spirit, so I’m thrilled to be on the Fresca Mixed team to keep things fresh and frisky.” Indeed, Cohen has reportedly anointed himself the brand’s “VP of Frisky.”
But it wasn’t quite serendipity that got Cohen and Fresca Mixed mixing. Part of a robust marketing campaign, Fresca Mixed’s team recruited the Watch What Happens Live host via a direct message posted to a moving billboard and New York City’s streetside LinkNYC communication kiosks: “Hey, Andy Cohen, give us a call. It’s important.”
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