Meghan Sussex’s debut wine has done more than just sell out. It has forced critics, many of them hostile, to confront a surprising truth. Her 2023 As Ever Napa Valley Rosé, launched on July 1, emerged as the winner in a blind taste test conducted by the New York Post, outperforming offerings from Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, and Sarah Jessica Parker. What was meant to be a comparison of celebrity wines turned into a quiet validation of Meghan’s brand. The wine’s success, both commercial and critical, signals something deeper: Meghan’s work is standing on its own, no matter who tries to discredit it.

Experts Chose As Ever As The Best In Blind Taste Test

The New York Post pitted Meghan Sussex’s rosé against top celebrity wines, including Miraval by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Avaline by Cameron Diaz, and Hampton Water by Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi. In a blind tasting led by wine professionals and sommeliers, As Ever rose to the top. The panel praised its fresh flavor, tropical notes, and elevated balance, describing it as a bottle worthy of being served at Buckingham Palace, if you can believe it.

Meghan’s wine was the only one to receive multiple positive votes in the blind test, with comments that it had “a touch of cherry red fruit,” and “pairs beautifully with Mediterranean food.” The expert reactions were based on taste, not unconscious bias. No branding. No politics. Just the wine. And Meghan’s came out on top.

The most surprising part of the New York Post feature was not just that As Ever won, but how they handled the result. For a tabloid that has built its brand on ridiculing Meghan Sussex, the piece read like a reluctant surrender. Despite the outlet’s usual tone, the write-up included unfiltered praise from the judges. One taster even said, “This one gets a star.” Another joked that they might have to rethink their go-to summer bottle. It’s not that the publication suddenly changed its stance on Meghan. It’s that they couldn’t dismiss what the experts said. When taste and performance override bias, the result is impossible to spin.

Related | Meghan Sussex As Ever Rosé Restock Breaks Sales Records and Wins Praise

Positive Media Reviews Reflect Strong First Impressions

Several mainstream publications responded positively to Meghan Sussex’s As Ever rosé, with reviews focusing on its craftsmanship and seasonal appeal. InStyle published a standout review from a journalist who tested the wine with their husband, describing it as “lively, dry, light, and refreshing.” The reviewer emphasized its suitability for summer gatherings and noted its small-batch elegance. The tone suggested genuine admiration, with a nod to Meghan’s former wine blog The Tig, which once celebrated Tignanello.

Wine Spectator also offered a favorable take, characterizing the wine as a Provence-style blend made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah. It praised the 14.5% ABV as bold but balanced and described the wine as ideal for poolside sipping, applauding its collaboration with the reputable Fairwinds Estate.

  • Side-by-side headlines from InStyle and Wine Spectator featuring reviews of Meghan Markle’s As Ever Rosé wine, highlighting its refreshing taste and successful debut.
    Meghan’s As Ever rosé is getting serious love from top outlets. When the wine is good, even the press can’t fake it.

Negative Reviews Came From Predictable Sources

Not every review praised Meghan Sussex’s rosé, but the loudest detractors came from media outlets with a consistent record of hostility toward her. The Daily Mail dismissed the wine as bland and watery. Jan Moir, whose columns focus more on royal gossip than wine, sneered at the alcohol content and likened the aftertaste to blue cheese. Notably, there’s no record of Moir reviewing other alcoholic beverages with the same scrutiny. Even when she referenced King Charles’s Highgrove sparkling rosé, she avoided critiquing its flavor or alcohol content.

Chef Jameson Stocks went further, calling the $30 price tag “a robbery”, a remark that says more about his budget than the wine’s value. As Ever is a small-batch Napa Valley rosé, not a supermarket blend. These criticisms didn’t align with expert evaluations or consumer responses. The divergence wasn’t about taste; it was about narrative. For critics bent on undermining Meghan, the wine’s quality was secondary. But even they couldn’t bury the fact that it won a blind tasting. Some tried. The wine still won.

Final Thoughts On As Ever Napa Valley Rosé

The success of Meghan Sussex’s As Ever rosé stands as a rare moment of consensus in an environment built on division. It sold out in under an hour, won a blind taste test, and earned praise from experts, even in outlets that have spent years attacking Meghan’s every move. That alone says more than any brand strategy ever could. The wine’s quality did the talking, and the reviews proved that no amount of media bias can silence what actually works.

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