Jesse: We came into it very green so Gerard really got us up to speed on everything. From why the limestone in the ground is important and the rain and the moon. He literally talks about things at a level that even seven years in we're like (laughing) what are we talking about?

Produced in partnership with one of our recommended wine families, Gerard Bertrand in Languedoc in France, Hampton Water Rose has sold out almost straight away on each UK import – not just because of its celebrity connection, but because the wine is so light, refreshing and generally delicious. Thank you forever for a New Jersey-Languedoc analogy. What did you enjoy learning most about winemaking with him? Gérard Bertrand commented: “Producing Hampton Water rosé with Jesse and Jon has been an incredible experience. For me, the connection between wine and music is organic. To be able to work alongside such inspirational people, creating a wine that typifies our joint ethos of family, food, friends and great music has been amazing, and we are delighted with this wine that can be enjoyed everywhere.” Gerard Bertrand is a family friend of the Bongiovis, so creating this wine was an incredible experience for him. In its first year, Hampton Water made impressive feats, securing a 90-point rating and becoming Wine Spectator’s top-ranked rose in 2018 – making it the first and only rose on the magazine’s ‘Top 100 list’. Jesse: We’ve definitely got some things on the horizon in the way of expansion that we're excited about. Our major focus is continuing to grow our distribution. We plan to do over a hundred thousand cases this year. We're in about 9,000 accounts nationally and in about 50 countries. Although we've had a lot of great initial success the runway ahead of us is still very long.International varieties are also planted in large numbers here, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jon Bon Jovi states; “Creating this wine with Gérard was just as creative as collaborating with another songwriter, Gérard uses his talents and wine knowledge just like a gifted musician. And working with my son on this has been an amazing experience.” Jesse: My friends and I will go out to the Hamptons at the beginning of June and we always end the trip with a big clam bake. So shellfish, lobsters, oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp is always perfect with some really cold rosé. Rosé is so versatile and it doesn't have that same pressure that comes with what are you doing serving this with that? I think it allows people to be way more creative. An extensive appellation producing a diverse selection of good quality and great values, Languedoc spans the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon all the way to the Rhône Valley. Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains, with a warm Mediterranean climate and frequent risk of drought.Brought up in the Languedoc vineyards, Gérard Bertrand is committed to sharing the characteristics and exceptional diversity of each of the terroirs. For Hampton Water, particular attention was paid to the pressing of the grapes to ensure that only the first and highest-quality juice was retained. The juice was then left to settle to obtain the precise aromatic profile specific to this wine. Approximately 20% was aged in oak, adding subtle complexity. Did you have any initial concerns about Hampton Water being taken seriously and not a vanity project? Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.