Summer in Texas lasts about nine months out of the year. When you’re relaxing by the pool or on the patio in 100-degree weather, only one type of wine will do: The cold type.
Singer-songwriter and musician Norah Jones must’ve been thinking of her Texas roots when she created her wine brand. Her “This Life” collection offers two new bottles perfect for warm-weather chillin’ and grillin’: A sparkling white and a dry rosé. (I received both wines as media samples.)
The wines are made in collaboration with Maison Wessman, a winery in southwest France founded by Icelandic businessman Robert Wessman. (Jones is now a co-owner, according to the winery’s website.)
They produce white, red, rosé, and sweet wines, primarily from vineyard holdings in Bergerac and Limoux. The “This Life” project blends the wine-loving French lifestyle with the artist’s creative spirit–or, as the tagline has it, “A Melody in Every Glass.”
I’ve been an admirer of Norah Jones’s music since 2002, when her debut single “Don’t Know Why” was the break-up song of one teenage summer. Classic country jams from her super-group The Little Willies live permanently on my BBQ-party playlist. And I have a very tenuous local connection to the singer: Some of my friends recall attending high school with Jones (both in downtown Dallas and the North Texas town of Grapevine) before she was famous.
So, as a longtime fan, I very much wanted to like these wines. Fortunately, liking them is easy. Like Jones’s catalog of Grammy-winning records, they bring both technical proficiency and easy-going appeal.
Just for fun, as I pour these two wines, I’m pairing each with a favorite Norah Jones song. Let’s taste ’em!
Norah Jones x Maison Wessman “This Life” Sparkling Wine (Crémant de Limoux) – NV
Crémant de Limoux is made in the same high-quality, traditional method as Champagne–but is often a fraction of the price. Jones and Wessman’s version is based on Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc (with smaller amounts of Pinot Noir and Limoux’s specialty variety, Mauzac).
It pours up a medium daffodil-yellow with vigorous bubbles. A fruity nose of yellow apple, quince, gold pineapple, and grapefruit is followed by light pastry notes of biscuit, vanilla, and almond blossom. Flavors of tart apple, citrus rind, and lemon macaron.
On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and crisp. Overall dry in style–but the finish holds some honeyed sweetness from a touch of sugar and the presence of Chenin Blanc in the blend. A balanced, sun-ripened bubbly that’s ready to pop, pour, and enjoy with friends. 12.5% ABV. Suggested retail: $24.90.
Song pairing: “Sunrise”
“Sunrise, sunrise couldn’t tempt us if it tried,” Norah Jones croons on 2004’s Feels Like Home. So I’m pairing this brunch-ready bottle with that timeless ode to sleeping in late.
Norah Jones x Maison Wessman “This Life” Rosé (Méditerranée IGP) – 2024
“This Life” Rosé is a vibrant pink-orange, with clean aromas of sliced strawberry, tangerine and Tuscan melon. The palate stays true to the nose–direct and fruit-forward, complemented by flavors of blood orange and peppery spice. It has a fully dry profile with fresh fruit flavors and an elegant, lightly saline finish.
The blend is composed of two black grape varieties with deep ties to the South of France: Grenache (40%) and Syrah (60%). It’s bottled under the Méditerranée IGP–a modern appellation that gives winemakers a huge amount of creative freedom and which includes many great-value French rosés. 13.5% ABV. Suggested retail: $19.90.
Song Pairing: “Queen of the Sea”
This Mediterranean rosé tastes great with “Queen of the Sea,” a sly, sauntering kiss-off track from 2024’s Visions. Like the wine, it’s equal parts mellow and tart. And the song has a hint of pedal-steel twang that pairs perfectly with a sweltering Texas summer.
I enjoyed both bottles, but the bubbles were my favorite! The Chardonnay-led sparkling blend pairs easily with all kinds of mild sauces, fish, and poultry.
The wine’s origins in France inspired me to whip up my own version of a country French dinner: Poached chicken and mushrooms in Dijon cream sauce with tender steamed asparagus.
“This Life” wines are available now in Texas at H-E-B. For other distribution info, see This Life Wine (@thislifewine).
Further reading:
Maison Wessman Wines (Producer website)
Wine Spectator: Exclusive: Norah Jones Launches a French Rosé and Sparkling Wine (Artist interview)
Wine Enthusiast: After 10 Grammy Wins, Norah Jones’ Pivot to Wine Is Hitting the Right Notes
WineDivaa: Norah Jones and Maison Wessman release This Life Wines
Review disclosure: I accepted these wines for consideration for a review. I received no compensation for this post, and opinions expressed on The Wine Fairy blog are entirely my own.
About the author: Michelle Gruben is an award-winning wine writer and WSET Level 3 wine pro based in Dallas, Texas. Find out more on the About page, or get in touch here.
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