She may be known as the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time with 80 million record sales, but these days Kylie Minogue is topping the charts in the wine industry.

Since launching in the UK in partnership with Benchmark Drinks in May 2020, sales of Kylie Minogue Wines have exploded across the globe. It all kicked off with French rosé, inspired by idyllic moments (glass in hand) in the south of France. Since then, the brand has sold more than seven million bottles worldwide, in 31 countries.

Minogue is not the only well-known name to grace wine bottles worldwide. Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker has collaborated with New Zealand-based wine merchants Invivo for her low-alcohol range Sevenly by SJP, Formula 1 racing driver Daniel Ricciardo has partnered with Barossa Valley wine brand St Hugo, and rapper Snoop Dogg's face is splashed across 19 Crimes Snoop Cali Red and Rosé.

Celebrities own many vineyards across the globe, too. Actor Sam Neillowns family-run vineyard and wine brand Two Paddocks in New Zealand's Central Otago, which is respected for its premium pinot noir, singer P!nk (aka Alecia Moore) is hands-on at her vineyard and wine label Two Wolves in Santa Ynez Valley, California, and back when they were still lovestruck, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bought Chateau Miravel in France. Jolie has since sold her stake.

It's potentially big business. Kylie Minogue Wines now has a portfolio of nine wines including rosé collections and prosecco rosé in the UK. Now the Princess of Pop has turned to vineyards in her homeland.

"We had to have Australian wines," Minogue says.

She has just launched a pinot noir and a chardonnay. The fruit was handpicked in some of De Bortoli Wines' best Yarra Valley vineyards and made by the fourth-generation wine family. "It's still quite surreal to me that these wines are grown and made just down the road from where I grew up," Minogue says. "It's local to me. I'm a Melbourne girl."

From the outset, quality was everything. De Bortoli Wines is the official Australian distributor of Kylie Minogue Wines and for both parties, reputations were at stake.

"When they asked if we would be interested in doing this, the feeling was that we would only do it if it was about quality," winemaker Steve Webber says. "That's the most important thing. As long as it's about quality, we were happy to do a collaboration."

Through many a Zoom call, Webber, Kylie and Benchmark Drinks managing director Paul Schaafsma discussed wine styles and characteristics possible through the use of different pinot noir clones. "Big wines just wouldn't suit me," Minogue says. "We want it to make sense."

They opted for perfume, delicacy, elegance and length. "Steve is probably one of the best winemakers in Australia for pinot noir in terms of what he's doing and his style," Schaafsma says. "The elegance, brightness and the contemporary Australian style that Steve has created is exactly what we were looking for in the bottle."

Minogue was on hand at the winery to make the final tasting decisions on the chardonnay, which is still in barrel and due for release in 2023.

"It is exciting for me to be with these legends who have spent a lifetime doing this," she says. "It's like peeking through a door. I do many other things but this just fascinates me.

"I'm not a big wine drinker at all but I love the role it can play in an experience and in your memories. I get a bit dreamy about it. That blend of heart, heritage, art, business, dreams, experiences… A lot goes into wine; hard work, the seasons, heritage, passion. I'm just enthralled and thrilled to be learning about this industry."

Minogue likens winemaking to music. "There are some similarities. You do the work, you make the song, and once the song is released, you let go of it and it becomes something more than you could even imagine – it becomes people's experiences. There's a similarity with wine."

The current Kylie Minogue Wines range available in Australia includes a Collection Côtes de Provence Rosé from France, the Signature Prosecco Rosé from Italy, the Signature Sauvignon Blanc from Gascony, France, and the Signature Rosé Vin de France.

"Is this reinvention? I've always struggled with that word," Minogue says. "It's not reinvention, it's evolution. I'm just curious by nature, I like to be challenged by new adventures, new opportunities. I'm so proud to take the wines out to the world. I'm in it for the long haul."

Celebrity wines – the verdict

Sevenly By SJP Prosecco, multi-region, Australia, $20

At seven per cent alcohol, this lower-alcohol sparkling is actually a great buy. Especially if you find it for as low as $13 (spotted at Liquorland and First Choice Liquor Market this week). It's got the ditzy pizazz of Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw (played by actor Sarah Jessica Parker) and like the hit television series, doesn't take you too deep but is utterly enjoyable all the same. liquorland.com, firstchoiceliquor.com.au

Kylie Minogue The Collection 2020 Côtes de Provence Rosé, France, $39.95

Sometimes, the best responses to wine come from people who know little about it. Cue my mother who called (again) the morning after tasting this to inform me just how great it is. She's right. The pastel apricot hue, apricot and tart rhubarb flavours, savoury undercurrent and dry finish are a crowd-pleasing mix. Chill it down for a winning summer banger. Oh, so French, oh so classy. debortoli.com.au

19 Crimes 2020 Snoop Dogg Cali Rosé, California, USA, $16.99

Frosted glass makes this rosé appear prettier than it actually is (that colour is more onion skin than fairy floss pink). The mix of zinfandel, grenache and pinot noir is, however, pretty on the nose – if you like the aroma of a freshly opened lolly bag. Toffee apple and grape bubble gum flavours engulf each mouthful, too. One for people who like it sweet. It could work well as a frozen slushie. danmurphys.com.au

Kylie Minogue The Collection 2020 Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Vic, $39.95

A lively little number, much like the pop star after which it was named. De Bortoli winemaker Steve Webber and his team of happy helpers chose to use grapes from pinot noir clones that exude aromatics. In a nutshell, it's a hit; think fresh-picked cranberries and Cherry Ripe. The light red is bright in the glass and across the palate. Elegant with a side of fun, like a pair of Kylie's gold hot pants. debortoli.com.au

Ric Red by Daniel Ricciardo, Barossa Valley, SA, $45

After partnering with global racing megastar Daniel Ricciardo, St Hugo released a range of wines called DR3 (Ricciardo races car number three). It's no fleeting fling. St Hugo has been the official wine sponsor of the Australian Formula 1 since 2019. This punchy drop is coined as Ricciardo's "Secret Sauce". In other words, the varietals are anyone's guess. Pair it with pizza. Personally, I prefer the elegant, limited-release DR3 x St Hugo 2020 South Australia Shiraz ($70). sthugo.com