‘Like our music, this wine is for everyone’ – Queen drummer Roger Taylor launches rosé wine

Roger Taylor has become the latest name to enter the celebrity wine game, with the launch of Queen Côtes de Provence Rosé.

The Queen drummer has taken an active part in the creation of Cuvée Rock n’ Roll 2025, a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Cinsault.

‘We’ve always believed in doing things properly, and that was the starting point here,’ said Taylor.

‘I’ve spent a lot of time around rosé over the years, and I wanted to create something that felt consistent, expressive and genuinely enjoyable in partnership with good friends. It needed to have that sense of joy to it – something that brings people together.’

He added: ‘This isn’t about putting a name on a bottle; it’s about creating something with real integrity.’

The new rosé is a collaborative project with investment from Sony Music, Watermill Wines, Rupert Clevely, former UK MD of Veuve Clicquot, and Provence winery Les Caves du Commandeur.

‘When we met the team at Les Caves du Commandeur, we knew straight away it was the right partnership. They’ve been making wine in Provence since 1913 bringing together 60 growers who live and breathe the craft. Their respect for the land, attention to detail and their integrity, all aligned perfectly with what we wanted to create,’ said Taylor.

The wine was made by head winemaker Valérie Courrèges (above). ​​’We tried to have elegance, structure and freshness. In Provence it’s not always so easy, because it’s very sunny,’ she said.

Courrèges worked directly with the various growers, visiting the vineyards and deciding the dates of picking to ensure good natural acidity and freshness.

‘I think wine is like music. It’s about emotional connection and balance,’ said Courrèges, who also makes her own wines in Cahors.

Taylor was closely involved in creating the blend, as well as the overall vision and style of the wine.

‘I wouldn’t claim to be an expert about wine, but I would claim to be a lifelong lover of it, having consumed quite a lot of it,’ quipped Taylor at the London launch, where he was in conversation with comedian Paul Whitehouse.

Les Caves du Commandeur is a cooperative based in Montfort-sur-Argens, whose members manage 650ha of vineyards there and in nine surrounding communes, including Carcès, Correns, Cotignac, Salernes and Villecroze. Over 90% of their vines are certified organic or High Environmental Value (HVE).

So how does it taste? Cuvée Rock n’ Roll 2025 is a classic pale pink Provence rosé, with red berry and citrus aromas. There’s plenty of juicy strawberry fruit on the creamy palate, which finishes crisp and fresh.

The elegant pyramid bottle is labelled with the Queen logo in pale blue. ‘The bottle is beautiful. I would use it as a water bottle afterwards with a nice glass stopper,’ said Taylor.

He added that there were currently no plans to make other Cuvées and create a Queen wine range.

The wine will retail for £18, with stockists due to be announced on 5 May.

Related articles