Want a Quaffable Connection to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie? Here’s Your Opportunity

As if
Brad Pitt and
Angelina Jolie aren’t busy enough being global superstars, humanitarians, and parents to a very large
and often nomadic family, they have recently also become winemakers. It’s no surprise
that when the wine was first introduced it almost immediately sold out, but it is
possible now to find it in the DC area. It’s called Château Miraval Côtes de Provence
rosé, 2012 vintage, named after their home and 150-acre vineyard in France, Château Miraval. Pitt
is a famous fan of rosé wines.

The wholesaler for the DC region is Bacchus Importers of Baltimore. We checked in
with
Todd Schneider, director of sales, who said the 200 cases they were allotted went out the door as
fast as they came in. He has only “a few” still in stock. “You knew [sales] were going
to be good,” he said, “but I didn’t quite anticipate the feeding frenzy that happened
with a rosé at that price point. I was pleasantly surprised.”

One of the local retailers who received a shipment, and still has some cases, is Calvert
Woodley Wines and Spirits on Connecticut Avenue. They charge $23.99 for a bottle and
$264 for a case. “There were a lot of advance orders,” says the store’s wine manager,

Tom McKnew. He feels Pitt and Jolie are following good practices in how they are producing the
wine. “They’ve got a good winemaking team behind them, the Perrin family, who make
Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Considering it’s about half the price of the highest-end
rosé, it’s a good value.”

But how does it taste? McKnew said it is “typical” to the Provence region. “I think
it’s a lovely rosé. I didn’t notice as much minerality as I’ve had with other Provence
rosés, but it’s soft and round and still pretty good.”

Schneider is also enthusiastic. “It’s great,” he said. “Of course, I love rosés. It’s
a wonderful bottle of wine.” Wine Spectator gives it a rating of 90 points, which
is considerable.

The restaurants that received cases of the wine, according to Schneider, are Rasika
and Rasika West End, Charlie Palmer Steak, Bistro Bis, Marcel’s, Oyamel, Restaurant
Nora, and the Four Seasons Hotel—where, it’s worth noting, Brad and Angie stay when in DC. In addition to Calvert Woodley, local retailers
who have Miraval in stock, he says, include MacArthur Beverages, Pearsons Wine & Spirits,
Bell’s, Whole Foods Market in Georgetown and Tenley, Cairo Wine & Liquor, Rodman’s,
Cork & Fork in Bethesda, and the Chevy Chase Wine and Spirits.

At the very least, if you like it, maybe drink a toast to Brad and Angie—because,
you know, living in France and making a lot of money as movie stars, they need the
positive reinforcement.

Carol Ross Joynt