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Rebecca Armstrong: Why I'm turning my nose up at vin de Barrymore

Monday 20 February 2012 11:00 GMT
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For a reason that escapes me now, I follow, along with almost five million others, Sean Combs AKA P Diddy, on Twitter. While this week he's been alternating between sad Whitney tweets and shout-outs to his kids, his usual output is inspirational quotes interspersed with fulsome praises of Ciroc, the vodka brand he is ambassador for (sample tweet: "Peach Ciroc is Finally EVERYWHERE !!!! The wait is over!!!!" phew, huh?). While I'm not mad keen to try flavoured, luxury French vodka (from the world-famous vodka houses of France we hear so much about), Combs is a high-rolling playboy who knows his way round a party. His association with the booze brand holds (fire) water.

Not every celebrity shill is quite so comfortable a fit. I've just heard that the Hollywood actress and producer Drew Barrymore is launching her own wine. Barrymore 2011 Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie IGT, a 12% abv, is, I'm led to believe from the information available on the interwebs, a crisp, dry and fruity white, which is made from grapes grown in the Veneto, Friuli and Alto Adige in northern Italy.

I'm a big fan of Drew. She has metaphorically and literally (see the Charlie's Angels movies for evidence) kicked ass throughout her career and she also has very nice hair. I'm also a big fan of wine, Pinot Grigio in particular. But I'm not a fan of buying wine from people who went to rehab for alcoholism at the age of nine. She has apparently said of the wine: "I'm excited about sharing this Pinot Grigio with my friends and family and other wine lovers." It may be an idea not to get a few bottles in for the next family do though, pet. Barrymore's family also has a history of problem drinking. I can't help thinking this isn't the best product Drew could have put out there. Conditioner, yes. Or ass-kicking lessons.

Likewise, I've never got my head around buying perfume that makes you smell like Britney Spears. Her output's impressive, with seven scents in her range (if I had to pick a favourite, it would have to be Circus Fantasy. It conjures up such attractive images, doesn't it? Like sexy clowns. And sexy underfed performing animals. Mmmm!) but I just don't associate Britters with nice-smelling things. Junk food, hair-extension glue, and energy drinks, yes, roses and vanilla, not so much.

Having said that, in the place I read about Drew's wine, there's a throwaway line about actor Dan Aykroyd launching his Crystal Head vodka in the UK. Now here's a nonsensical brand association that I find strangely appealing. Who're you gonna call (for an intoxicating, grain-based beverage)? Ghostbusters.

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