TV’s Vanderpump tickled pink with Houston rosé rollout
Think pink. Never has an old trope had a better fit than its contemporary application to Bravo realitytelevision star Lisa Vanderpump. Not only do her friends call her Pinky, Vanderpump is often seen dressed in many shades of pink, from the palest blush to house-on-fire magenta.
And pink is what brought Vanderpump to Houston recently. The star of “Vanderpump Rules” and cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” teamed with H-E-B for the local launch of the 2017 vintage of Vanderpump Rosé, the third rollout of her signature sipper. H-E-B originally scheduled Vanderpump’s appearance and bottle signing for the company’s new Heights store but changed locations to the bigger store in Katy with more parking.
They needed it. Hundreds of fans lined up — some arriving as early as 4:30 a.m. to claim a spot for the noon signing — to purchase the flamingohued juice and meet the pretty-in-pink Bravolebrity. H-E-B brought in 200 cases of Vanderpump Rosé, which sells for about $19.
Vanderpump is also a restaurateur (Villa Blanca in Beverly Hills and Sur in West Hollywood), so she understands the importance of a good rosé in food pairing. “We thought if we’re going to have our own restaurants we might as well have our own rosé,” Vanderpump said, explaining how her family — including husband Ken Todd and daughter Pandora Vanderpump Sabo, who both made the trip to Houston — got into the wine business.
Vanderpump joked that she’s “more involved in drinking it” than in the production fundamentals of her rosé — but the bright, easy-drinking wine is actually pretty darn good for its price. “It’s a very crisp, dry, classic Provence-style rosé,” said Pandora Sabo, whose husband, Jason Sabo, is also behind the wine. “It has an elegant bouquet, sweet fruit with a very dry finish. And extremely food friendly.”
Importer Palm Bay International describes the initial release as offering aromas of red currant and sweet citrus with flavors of strawberry, tangerine and peach.
While in town, Vanderpump and her entourage stayed at Tilman Fertitta’s Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston and dined at Mastro’s Steakhouse the night before the H-E-B appearance. She raved about the hotel and its pet-friendly policy — yes, Vanderpump had a pooch in tow — especially the in-room doggie dining menu.
“It’s the most gorgeous place on Earth,” Vanderpump said of the Post Oak. “It really was the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed at. They looked after me like I was a queen.”
If not actual royalty, perhaps the queen of pink.