The 'real reason' Meghan Markle has decided to start selling wine

Meghan Markle will no doubt be all smiles after the successful launch of her As Ever wine, which sold out in less than an hour on Tuesday. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, launched her Napa Valley rose wine on July 1, which was being sold for £22 a bottle.

The wine was described as featuring "soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality, and a lasting finish". It was sold on the As Ever website in batches of three, six and twelve. While Meghan is believed to be fond of wine herself, having acknowledged this in her Netflix show "With Love, Meghan" and having named her now closed lifestyle blog after an Italian wine, a celebrity publicist believes that Meghan has begun to sell alcohol as part of her lifestyle brand for one key reason.

Speaking to The Daily Mail, Sarah Schmidt, celebrity publicist and president at PR firm Interdependence, said that the duchess wants a seat "at every table", which is why she has added wine to her product collection of spreads, preserves, teas and crepe mixes.

She said: "With this move, Meghan is signaling that As Ever isn't just a pantry brand, it's a lifestyle ecosystem.

"She wants a seat at every table: your morning routine, your dinner party, your slow Sunday night.

"Wine brings people together, and that's the heartbeat of this brand."

She continued: "'With the rosé, Meghan is claiming space in the culture of hosting, connection, and shared experience."

The wine, which launched on Tuesday afternoon, is the first alcoholic beverage to be sold by Meghan's As Ever brand.

The brand has been described as the Duchess of Sussex's "love language" that, according to the website, is "inspired by her (Meghan's) long-lasting love of cooking, entertaining, and hostessing with ease".

It is not known when the duchess, who quit her senior royal role alongside husband Prince Harry in 2020, will restock the wine on her website.