In 2011, New Zealand wine brand Invivo began supplying The Graham Norton Show with their Sauvignon Blanc for use on screen and backstage in their green room. So when you see Graham Norton, George Clooney or Emma Stone sipping on a wine on the show, it has been flown over from New Zealand to rub shoulders with the good and the great.

GRAHAM’S SLICE OF NEW ZEALAND

In 2014, Invivo co-founder Tim Lightbourne and co-founder and winemaker Rob Cameron decided to step things up and approached Graham Norton about co-creating his own range of wines. Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc launched with just 14,000 bottles, and has since grown to a full range, with around 2 million bottles stocked in all corners of the world. The brand has won numerous awards and wine medals, and was described by Marie Claire as “The most successful wine collaboration ever.”

HANDS ON

Unlike many celebrity brands, Rob Cameron says that Graham is heavily involved in the creation of each vintage of wines. “Celebrities aren’t usually involved in the actual production of the wine, but Graham is,” says Rob. “He’s properly involved with the process, he’s at the blending table. He’s got a great palate.

GRAHAM GOES SOLO

Inspired by this, the Invivo team has created a hilarious tongue-in-cheek video for the release of the 2017 vintage of Graham Norton’s Own wines, which includes a Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Shiraz and soon to be released Prosecco. In the film, which you can watch below, Tim and Rob fly from New Zealand to London for the annual blending, but are slammed by jetlag and fall asleep. Graham turns up for the blending and decides to go solo, creating the wines himself. “In all seriousness, since we worked with Graham on his first vintage Sauvignon Blanc in 2014, our winemaking trio has become like no other – this is because Graham is so hands-on with the process, very enthusiastic and is getting better and better every year!”

Watch the hilarious video, then check out the tasting notes for the first three wines to be released from Graham Norton’s Own wines 2017 vintage, below…

GRAHAM NORTON'S OWN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2017

5 stars & 93 Points, Wine Orbit

We say: Made from Marlborough sauvignon blanc grapes, this wine has ripe fruit flavours shot through with a bright kiwifruit tanginess.

Graham says: “That’s it! My perfect blend…and it’s lovely…tropical fruit, a bit of zing…cheers to that!”

GRAHAM NORTON’S OWN “PINK BY DESIGN” ROSÉ 2017

4.5 stars & 91 points Wine Orbit

We say: Created from a blend of Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay grapes, this is a perfectly balanced rosé that’s not too dry and not too sweet, with hints of strawberry and juicy fruits.

Graham says: “My Rosé brings all the boys to the yard.”

GRAHAM NORTON’S OWN SHIRAZ 2015

Gold medal, Sydney International Wine Competition

We say: Using South Australian grapes, this is an in-your-face Australian Shiraz that you’ll want to curl up with.

Graham says: “A bold, juicy wine full of character…just like its winemaker. Me!”