Kylie Minogue and Gary Barlow are reaping the rewards of their successful wine brands as sales have soared by millions.
The Princess of Pop, 56, launched Kylie Minogue Wines in 2020, and just a year later Take That star Gary Barlow, 53, joined the market with his own organic wine range.
Over the past 12 months it seems sales have been sparkling, as the firm which produces their wine – Benchmark Drinks Limited – has now revealed both brands have had a massive jump in turnover.
The wine ranges, which are sold mainly in supermarkets, have reportedly raked in a staggering £28.4 million, compared to the previous year which saw sales go up to £25 million.
A drinks industry source revealed: ‘The prosecco has been a massive seller for Kylie. It is a good quality product – just as you’d expect from someone like Kylie – and it is very drinkable.’
‘She wouldn’t have put her name to an inferior product and she’s reaping the rewards of a successful brand.’
Kylie Minogue and Gary Barlow are reaping the rewards of their successful wine brands as sales have reportedly soared to the millions
The Princess of Pop, 56, launched Kylie Minogue Wines in 2020, and just a year later Take That star Gary Barlow, 53, joined the market with his own organic wine range
‘And Gary’s wines from South Africa are the real deal and sell very well indeed.’
In May 2020, Kylie launched a southern French rosé to coincide with her 52nd birthday.
Made from a blend of 80 per cent Carignan and 20 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon from the southern French coast, the salmon pink Vin de France rosé was kept on its lees for three months in stainless steel for added complexity.
In an exclusive interview with The Drinks Business, Kylie revealed that drinking Provence rosé during sweltering nights in Nashville while recording her 14th album, Golden, is what inspired her to want to make her own.
She told the publication: ‘It was exceptionally hot and humid that summer, and it was an exciting time, being in Nashville and writing songs with no distractions.’
‘While dining outdoors one night, my manager Polly and I were drinking Whispering Angel to cool down from the heat, which got me thinking how great it would be to have my own rosé.’
‘I love pale pink rosés and all the associations of the Mediterranean that go with them.’
Keen to be involved in all stages of the production process, Kylie chose the wine’s long-necked, bell-shaped bottle finished with a pearlescent capsule.
The past 12 months it seems sales have been sparkling as the firm which produces their wine – Benchmark Drinks Limited – has revealed both brands have had a massive jump in turnover
She also designed the label featuring her name repeated in relief and her signature in black in the centre.
Kylie exclusively launched the rosé wine in over 450 Tesco stores nationwide on May 28 with an RRP of £9.50 a bottle.
She later launched a lees-aged Sauvignon Blanc from Gascony and a Pays d’Oc Merlot.
In October 2021, Gary entered the wine world as he launched an organic wine range from Spain.
Called Gary Barlow Organic, the range included a red and a white made from grapes grown in certified organic plots in Castilla planted with old, low-yielding, dry-farmed bush vines.
Gary partnered with celebrity wine supremo Paul Schaafsma of Benchmark Drinks on the project, who counts Kylie and Sir Ian Botham’s wine ranges among his success stories.
The range went on sale at 460 Morrisons stores across the UK in October 2021 and was priced at £8 a bottle.
The wine ranges, which are sold mainly in supermarkets, have reportedly raked in a staggering £28.4 million, compared to the previous year which saw sales go up to £25 million
The white is a blend of Verdejo and Viura from the 2020 vintage. Fermented in stainless steel, it spent two months on its lees before bottling. The result is a ‘zesty, refreshing, white with aromas of lime, pear and anise.’
Gary Barlow Organic Red, meanwhile, is a blend of 2020 Tempranillo and Syrah that doesn’t see oak to allow the purity of fruit to shine through. Juicy and fruit-driven, it offers notes of ‘wild berries, rosemary and a hint of chocolate.’
The singer then launched Gary Barlow Organic Sauvignon Blanc and Blush in 2021 and Benchmark Drinks Limited did a celebratory sales post on Instagram.
Posting a snap of Gary proudly holding up a bottle from his wine range, the firm said: ‘We were thrilled to launch Gary Barlow Organic Sauvignon Blanc and Blush last night @harveynichols_manchester and to also celebrate 1 million bottles sales since the launch of the range 18 months ago ✨ @garybarlowwines.’