Aleza Freeman
Sometimes you tell the day by the bottle that you drink. In the case of a recent event in Las Vegas, the bottle was Hampton Water.
Award-winning music icon Jon Bon Jovi wined and dined on the Las Vegas Strip last month for a celebration of the new top-rated Rosé he created along with his son Jesse Bongiovi and acclaimed French winemaker Gérard Bertrand.
“Rosé is fun, approachable, and easy to enjoy,” says Hampton Water co-founder Bongiovi. “Rosé is more inviting than reds and whites. With reds and whites, there seems to be this underlying notion that you need to have a vast knowledge of the wine world to partake in it, and that can be intimidating.”
For the Vegas visit, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada hosted three exclusive events for the brand starting with a private dinner at the world’s first Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, located at Caesars Palace. Las Vegas is one of the top markets for Hampton Water, and the events were the perfect way to properly welcome Hampton Water to the Strip.
Bon Jovi, Bongiovi, and Hampton Water co-founder Ali Thomas were all in attendance at the Hell’s Kitchen dinner, which included a surprise visit by colorful Caesar’s showgirls and Julius Caesar (of course).
“The event at Hell’s Kitchen was great,” says Bongiovi. “The place is beautiful, and the food and wine pairings were great. By far the highlight of the event was having Caesar come in and welcome us back to Vegas. The speech was hilarious, and the costume was perfectly Las Vegas.”
Hampton Water is currently featured on the cocktail menu at Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, which is the celebrity chef’s newest Las Vegas restaurant, inspired by the hit TV series of the same name.
The wine also makes its mark in Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis’ famous frosé cocktail, served at the chef’s fast-casual Pronto by GIADA inside Caesars Palace.
Be sure to keep a lookout for Hampton Water at other Las Vegas hot spots, too.
During Bon Jovi’s visit, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits hosted a meet and greet at the elegant Rosina cocktail bar inside the Palazzo Las Vegas. The intimate lounge is a timeless retreat with a menu of tried and true classics as well as original masterpieces.
“The event at Rosina was special because it felt like a very natural way to showcase the wine,” notes Bongiovi. “People were able to appreciate that it’s a high-end product, seeing the bottle and tasting the Hampton Water while enjoying it in a fun, laid-back environment.”
The evening concluded with a private dinner at Bouchon inside The Venetian Las Vegas. The restaurant from acclaimed Chef Thomas Keller offers a modern take on French cuisine.
“Bouchon was beautiful,” says Bongiovi. “It’s one of the nicest restaurants in Vegas in my opinion. It was a much more formal setting and we were able to show people that Hampton Water isn’t just pretty—it’s a 90-point wine. The highlight was showcasing the diversity of Hampton Water and how the taste enhances with different pairings.”
Founded in 1968, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Nevada is the state’s leading beverage distribution company with operations in Las Vegas and Reno. Bon Jovi and Bongiovi were introduced to some of the higher-ups at Southern Glazer through a friend, giving them the opportunity to pitch them Hampton Water.
“We presented the idea, the label, and provided a sound business plan highlighting our growth strategy,” he says. “They fell in love with the project, and we took it from there. Having Southern Glazer’s truly believe in our idea was special.”
Hampton Water has been recognized as one of the top 5 Rosés in the world since its launch in January 2018. The wine is described as a fresh and lively Rosé, with distinctive minerality, featuring Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre, grape varieties characteristic of the French Mediterranean region.
Hampton Water is made of a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes grown in the French Mediterranean, then aged for 30 to 45 days. Next, 20 percent is aged in French oak for 20 to 30 days, which gives the Rosè its unique taste.
“The packaging also sets it apart,” says Bongiovi. “The punt of the bottle was made to look like a strawberry, which is one of the strongest tasting notes. The bottle is made with a glass stop opposed to a cork so that it is easy to bring and enjoy anywhere whether it be the beach, the pool, or a picnic. The label was designed to be an invitation to everyone picking up a bottle. It starts ‘Dearest friend.’ It’s something I wrote to welcome people to the bottle and to share in the experience that is Hampton Water.”
The goal with Hampton Water was to create a wine emblematic of a bon-vivant lifestyle. The idea emerged during time spent by Bon Jovi and his son in the Hamptons.
Bongiovi has loved working with his dad on the product.
“It’s been such an amazing experience getting to work with my dad,” he said. “He’s taught me countless lessons throughout my life, of course, but especially throughout the process of launching Hampton Water. When we decided to really do this, he told me to take my time, to be patient, and launch Hampton Water properly because once something is out in public, there’s no taking it back. I apply that to all aspects of my life now especially when there’s an important decision to be made. Once it’s out, it’s out. It’s best to take your time to make sure it’s done exactly the way you want it because there’s no turning back.”
