Issa Rae Is Stirring Up Controversy—When It Comes To Cocktails, At Least
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Issa Rae is a truly a Jane of all trades: she’s an award-winning actress, comedian, writer, and producer. And now a new venture is taking her into uncharted territory. Rae has just launched Viarae, her very own Italian sparkling wine. Meant for “catching up, turning up, or whatever’s up,” Viarae is a versatile and approachable prosecco for every kind of gathering.
We sat down with the official prosecco party expert to talk about her dos and don’ts when it comes to drinking, hosting, and celebrating. Sparkling wine is naturally an essential drink for any of Issa’s parties. Rae was first introduced to prosecco by Melina Matsoukas, who directed several episodes of Insecure over the course of its five seasons. “She took me out to sushi and she ordered a glass of prosecco. I was like, what's that? She was like, watch,” Rae says. “And so then it became my signature drink. So thanks for letting me steal your drink, girl.”
Viarae is crisp and refreshing enough to drink on its own, but also carries its weight as a cocktail mixer. So we presented Issa with a prosecco-themed round of F*ck, Marry, Kill: Mimosa, French 75, and Aperol spritz.
“I would kill a mimosa because I'm not really a juice person, though I appreciate the vitamin C in orange juice,” Rae says. “I would f*ck an Aperol spritz. It's seasonal to me. I appreciate it. And then I would marry a French 75 because it's perfect, it gets you right, and it’s citrusy, which I love.”
Rae takes her passion for prosecco so seriously that she’d want it with her if she were trapped on a desert island. “If I can only have one cocktail, I mean…vodka and prosecco. If there's hope, I might do an espresso martini. I got to stay awake to be like, ‘Save me! Save me!’” she says. “But if there's no hope, then I'm going to do a vodka prosecco all day.”
But one drink you will never find in her cup? A Bloody Mary. “Bloody Marys are disgusting,” she admits. “That's not controversial, right?”
One thing Rae does think is controversial, however, is the classic Irish Goodbye. “If it's my party, I'll kill you. I have hunted people down. You left? It's a violation. But if it's me? Baby, I'm out,” she says. “I think it's rude, but if you need to go and you're not feeling it, you got to go.”
The ideal guest at one of Rae’s parties doesn’t leave without saying goodbye—and doesn’t show up empty-handed either. Bringing a bottle of Viarae is a great gift for any host. But if you want to up the ante, you can follow in the footsteps of one of Rae’s friends, who always arrives at the party with a personal memory.
“I have a friend that’s very thoughtful,” she says. “[She brings] something that will show that she's been listening to you in a conversation, like a framed picture of a great time.”
Want to try Viarae for yourself? Head to their website to find out where you can buy a bottle.
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