Hampton Water Celebrates 7th Anniversary With New Release
Courtesy of Hampton Water Wine Co.
It is hard to believe it's been 7 years since Hampton Water first hit the scene! The rosé came out of nowhere, taking over every pool on Long Island and with a summer soundtrack behind it sure to include your favorite Bon Jovi songs. Created by father-son duo, music icon Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi, in collaboration with award-winning winemaker Gérard Bertrand, Hampton Water, is a rosé wine that combines the best of the Hamptons with the sophistication of France.
Courtesy of Hampton Water Wine Co.
To celebrate, the brand is releasing the new 2023 vintage, just in time for pool season! The blend is 60% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah, in true Southern French fashion. The Mourvèdre is aged in new French oak barrels for 30-60 days. This short time in barrels removes a portion of the high acidity one typically finds when drinking a traditional blend of the indigenous grapes in Rosé from the south of France. It pairs effortlessly with a wide range of cuisines or simply enjoyed on its own by the pool in the Hamptons or elsewhere.
I had the chance to catch up with Jesse Bongiovi and Gérard Bertrand leading up to Hampton Water's 7th Anniversary:
Courtesy of Hampton Water Wine Co.
MK: Congratulations on the 7th Anniversary of Hampton Water! Where do you see the brand in 10 years?
JB: I believe the rosé category is experiencing a significant growth phase, particularly in regions beyond the coasts. While our success in coastal areas has been remarkable, the broader market is now embracing rosé with increasing enthusiasm. We are proud of our current standing and believe our unique positioning has contributed to our success thus far. We believe we have the potential to become the number one selling rosé in the US within the next 10 years. We’re already at #3!
MK: Do you see a link between the Hamptons lifestyle & the South of France where the wines are grown and produced?
JB: The only thing really separating us is an ocean. The lifestyles are very similar. When we first spent time with Gérard, we realized that, much like the Hamptons, the south of France cherishes friends, family, food, and the sea. You can sit on the beach, enjoy a chilled glass of wine, and take those often missed moments to just enjoy yourself, and the same can be said about the Hamptons. This is why the brand makes sense - it’s taking the best of both worlds and putting it in a bottle for everyone to enjoy.
MK: Tell us why this isn't just another Celebrity Wine Brand.
JB: First and foremost, this is a family business. We knew going into it that we needed to have a quality product because the name can only take you so far. When we first launched many people thought that was all we would be, a fun name. However, seven years down the road, we've evolved into one of the most award-winning wine brands. I believe this is one of the many things that sets us apart from the rest.
MK: As we near summer in the Northern Hemisphere and peak rosé season, what are your favorite environments to enjoy a glass (or bottle) of Hampton Water?
JB: Anywhere that there is sunshine, good music, and good company is the Hampton Water life. When we launched the brand, we wanted to create a product that could be enjoyed anywhere by everyone.
MK: Do you have a music recommendation for people to blast while opening a bottle of Hampton Water?
JB: Truthfully, there are no wrong answers here - I leave it up to the person enjoying the rosé!
Photo by Ulrich Lebeuf
MK: How was the opportunity for your involvement in Hampton Water first presented to you?
GB: The genesis of our collaboration traces back to a mutual friend. Jon and his son, Jesse, approached me with a unique project: crafting a rosé wine inspired by the Hamptons, a place where they lived and cherished sipping on rosé, that they used to refer to as "pink juice" in those days.
They made a visit to our vineyard, where they were captivated by the terroir and the exceptional quality of our wines. A strong connection quickly developed. Together with Jon and Jesse, I aspired to create a rosé that was not just harmonious but possessed a distinct character, akin to a finely tuned song that resonates in the hearts of those who enjoy it. Given the brand's success in the US market and in Europe, I believe we have achieved our goal admirably.
MK: You and your team(s) produce many well-established rosés, including the most expensive rosé in the world: Clos de Temple. How do you approach Hampton Water to craft a unique expression of the land, while also keeping your rosé brands distinct and special?
GB: We have different approaches to craft our wines depending on their terroir and the message that we want to convey through the wine. They each have their place and cater to different consumption occasions.
Hampton Water captures the art of living and conviviality common to the Hamptons and the South of France. Hampton Water is meant to be an accessible rosé, that everyone could enjoy between friends and with the family.
Clos du Temple is crafted with an extreme level of precision and attention to detail. It is designed to be a grand cru rosé with an exceptional aging potential, a wine of celebration that can exalt extraordinary dinners and special celebrations. It finds its place on the finest gastronomic tables around the world.
MK: What makes the territory you have access to at your Domains so well suited to make some of the best rosés on earth?
GB: Our wine region gathers all the best conditions for crafting the best rosé wines in the world. Its exceptionally sunny climate and diverse soils provide an ideal setting for rosé wine production. With over 300 days of sunshine per year, our vineyards enjoy privileged exposure, promoting optimal grape ripening. We also have the fortune of benefiting from remarkable geographical diversity, from sun-kissed hills to coastal plains and mountain foothills. These microclimates offer us an infinite palette of nuances and characters to explore in our rosé wines.
Lastly, it is the perfect terroir for cultivating grape varieties that are particularly suited for rosé winemaking, such as Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah. These emblematic varieties contribute to the distinctive signature of our rosé wines, combining freshness, fruitiness, and elegance.
Visit hamptonwaterwine.com to pickup the new 2023 vintage of Hampton Water Wine Co. Rosé!
