Jesse Bongiovi On Hampton Water, National Rosé Day, Umami Burger & Maintaining Success
Hampton Water is the award-winning rosé created by legendary musician Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi. The wine also happens to be Wine Spectator’s top-ranked rosé of 2018.
But, prior to finding success as an entrepreneur, Jesse Bongiovi played college football at the sports mecca known as Notre Dame. Bongiovi was also an all-conference midfielder in lacrosse during his high school days, leaving little doubt as to his athletic prowess as a multi-sport letterman.
In honor of the U.S-based National Rosé Day — coming up on June 8th — I had the pleasure of doing Q&A with Jesse Bongiovi about Hampton Water, his recent collaboration with Umami Burger and more. Info on Bongiovi’s various projects and collaborations can be found by following him (@Jesse_Bongiovi) and/or Hampton Water (@HamptonWater) on Twitter and Instagram.
June 8th is National Rosé Day. How will you be celebrating that holiday?
Jesse Bongiovi: The only way — drinking Hampton Water in the Hamptons.
When did you first get into wine?
Jesse Bongiovi: My family has always been big rosé drinkers, so rosé was my first introduction into the world of wine. I enjoy drinking other types of wine, but Hampton Water is my favorite.
How long was the Hampton Water brand in the works for before being released?
Jesse Bongiovi: A solid year and a half. The summer after my junior year of college is when it all began. My dad and I were enjoying some rosé on the back porch out east. It was getting late, and he offered me one last glass of “pink juice” before calling it a night. I told him, no one calls it “pink juice” anymore, you’re out in the Hamptons, it’s Hampton Water. He looked at me and said that would be a great name for a bottle. Right then and there Hampton Water was born. I’ve been working on it ever since.
Hampton Water aside, I know you recently collaborated with Umami Burger. Was that your first ever food-related collaboration or project?
Jesse Bongiovi: We are very excited about our partnership with Umami Burger for their Artist Series collaboration. We worked with the great team over at Umami Burger to create “The Hampton Burger,” which is currently available at Umami Burger locations nationwide through July 14th. The burger is delicious and goes perfectly with a nice glass of Hampton Water. What makes this partnership extra special for us is that a portion of the proceeds from each burger sold go to the JBJ Soul Foundation, which is very near and dear to our hearts.
My business partner and I actually started a dinner series, The Pink Bottle Boys Dinner Series, to showcase that Hampton Water is a wine meant to be enjoyed year-round. For the series, we partner with top local chefs to curate a seasonally-inspired Hampton Water pairing menu and invite an intimate group to join us. We’ve paired Hampton Water with everything from Pasta alla Amatricina (prepared by Chef Michele Casadei Massari, Piccolo Café in New York City) to Cavatelli with crab and a Hampton Water Nduja Beurre Blanc (prepared by Chef Victor Amarilla, Le Turtle in New York City) to Crispy Orange Beef (prepared by Chef Kim Canteenwalla Honey Salt in Las Vegas).
What was the last concert you attended for fun?
Jesse Bongiovi: I went to Disclosure at Brooklyn Mirage on May 18th. It was epic.
Finally, Jesse, any last words for the kids?
Jesse Bongiovi: Success isn’t owned, it’s leased, and rent is due every day.
About the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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