What is most notable about this press release are the words they instructed the writer to use and the words they did not want in the article: "separated" no divorce, "then-partner" no ex- , no disputes, no wrangling. While not giving the whole truth, it avoids repeating the lies or what they euphemistically call the false narrative. That is pretty much what they do in their interviews. Vague and cryptic but not a lie -- they leave that to the lawyers propping up the false narrative.
By Peter Mikelbank Published on September 28, 2023 01:27PM EDT
Champagne, the French say, is a measure of grapes, soil, time and love. In Brad Pitt's case, you can add a touch of rosé.
Having successfully launched Fleur de Miraval (the only maison in France dedicated exclusively to rosé champagne) three years ago, the actor and his partners are releasing a surprising new bottle this fall: Petite Fleur (translating to "little flower").
It carries a pink shade and fresh notes of spring flowers, which have become the house signature.
Equally familiar to the house's previous releases, Petite Fleur is a limited brut blending Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Cote de Blancs chalk-rich soil, specifically the fields around Mesnil-sur-Oger, France and Pinot Noir from the neighboring village of Vertus.
However, Petite Fleur differs in several ways from its highly praised big sister, Fleur de Miraval. It varies in the way it is made, and is intended to reflect a more classic champagne. It's also planned to be a more "accessible" wine in both price and appeal.
Twenty thousand bottles will be available worldwide in October with an expected price tag under $100 per bottle. (In comparison to other champagnes of its type, that's a relatively petite price.)
"Brad is very hands on," a source tells PEOPLE. "He has built a successful wine business with the rosé for a decade and now, 500 miles away, he's building a champagne house — a real champagne house, not just his name on a bottle."
"He has a vision," adds the source, "and loves seeing it evolve and sharing it."
In 2012, Pitt and then-partner Angelina Jolie successfully teamed up with France's Perrin family to
expand winemaking operations at Chateau Miraval in Provence. Pitt's champagne business, launched in
2020, evolved after he and Jolie
separated.
Creation of the house and it's first "exclusively rosé" bottling involved a multi-year long project partnering Pitt, the Perrins and Champagne's highly respected Péters family.
"Champagne for me," he told PEOPLE in 2020, "conjures up feelings of celebration, quality, prestige, and luxury. But rosé Champagne is still relatively unknown. Backed by our success with Miraval in Provence, I wanted us to try to create the defining brand of rosé Champagne, focusing all our efforts on just this one color."
Working quietly with sixth generation grower and producer Rodolphe Péters , they chose to go the hard route employing the saignée technique. Favored by finer rosé makers, this process involves "bleeding" away a portion of pressed red wine before it becomes too deep in color. After numerous blending trials and tastings, as well as a three-year long fermentation process, the trio were satisfied with a 75% Chardonnnay, 25% Pinot noir blend achieving a "petal pink" colored champagne unlike any other.
The Petite Fleur packaging retains Pitt's selected color scheme — a pink label on a black glass bottle embossed with three Ps signifying Pitt, Perrin and Péters.
The name itself, one of Pitt's partners suggests, is meant to include a subtle homage to Sidney Bechet, the American jazz legend. Like Pitt, Bechet found a second home in France.
Petite's release further expands Pitt's wine and spirits portfolio. Production continues of Chateau Miraval's prized rosé and white vintages. The Gardener's Gin — the actor's dry-London-style Gin —has just become available in the US.
Sources tell PEOPLE there are other projects (including one very enticing collaboration) under consideration as well.
Brad Pitt with the Perrin family. From left: Charles, Cesar, Cecile, Marc, Thomas, Pierre and Mathieu. SERGE CHAPUIS
Edelweiss Bike Travel
Movie buffs may recognize this acclaimed actor who flew in from Hollywood last week to ride the Dolomites. Five nights in a stunning 5-star hotel, one thousand kilometers on a new and fully loaded GS, a private tour guide, and a mechanic in a support car... living the good live can be so, uhm, good!
Brad (center) with tour guide Tom (left) and mechanic Lucian (right)
The Forestis hotel high above Bressanone/Brixen. Out gateway to the Dolomites.
He loves those mighty rock towers, the lush, green valleys, and the twisty roads that connect them.
Here, next to Lake Fedaia
Riding Passo Falzarego, one of the best roads in the Dolomites.
Cappuccino and apple strudel - our daily ritual.
A true motorcyclist doesn't shy back from a little rain!
Brad Pitt Stars in De'Longhi Campaign. LACHLAN BAILEY / DE'LONGHI
The entire family grid -- the x axis with the star and the kids' initials and the y with the tank resting on it -- was removed for this photo. At least two of his bracelets were also removed in the process. Did De'Longhi find the tattoos too distracting? Brad would have had to consent to the edit. He has the two bees -- ring and tattoo -- prominently visible.
Whatever the reason for the edit in the previous photo, it was not absolute. The top of the vertical line and the initials are peeping through in the above photo with all of his bracelets intact.
They like Lachlan Bailey. He also took her photos for Guerlain and her Instagram photo is part of that shoot.
lachlanbailey.com
Bailey's photo from the earlier De'Longhi campaign
His forearm was clean because of the angle, no editing necessary
