By Erin Clements
Jessica Biel’s latest project is a family affair.
The actress recently launched Prophet & Poet, a new wine label she cofounded with her brother and sister-in-law Justin and Rose Biel, winemaker Jesse Katz, and Chris and Ariel Jackson, the owners of Jackson Family Wines.
The venture grew out of Jessica’s wedding gift for her brother in 2018 when Justin and Rose tied the knot in Mexico — a custom wine made by family friend Katz, who came up with personalized present.
“He called me and asked me, ‘Hey, would you like to create a special blend for Justin’s wedding?’” Biel recalls to PEOPLE. “And it was such an inspired and cool idea.”
In fact, Katz had also made a special vino for Biel’s own nuptials when she wed husband Justin Timberlake in 2012.
“I mean, it’s just such a personal and amazing kind of a thing to give to someone for their wedding because you’re sharing that wine during the actual event, you’re putting it in your cellar,” Biel says. “The story, the memories of that day, it’s holding onto it. And every time you open up a bottle, or share a bottle with friends and family down throughout the years, it kind of brings that moment alive again.”
She hopes that the wine will provide “a full sensory experience,” noting that the packaging even features poetry written by her brother and Rose. The inaugural 2021 vintages include five varieties: Black Crown Cabernet Sauvignon, Mountain Sage Proprietary Red, Mourning Cloak Proprietary Red, Ghost Cat Chardonnay and King Bird Chardonnay.
The Better Sister star says wine has always held a special place in her family.
“I think about my wedding when I drink Jesse’s wine, and my brother’s wedding, the times we’ve opened up different bottles to celebrate holidays, or births, or anniversaries,” she says. “Those are the wines that I’m inclined to go towards when I’m opening something, or looking to open something that’s special, or to commemorate a special occasion.”
Biel adds that she never expected to be part of a wine company, but the experience has been a meaningful one.
“I think it’s exciting because it’s an authentic story that’s really just from a holistic experience that we’ve all had together,” she says. “This is a passion project between my brother, my sister-in-law, myself, and our very good friends. So this is just really something that started from the ground up, and it just happened very organically. So to be able to provide beautiful wine for other people’s stories, to commemorate other people’s holidays, or special occasions, I guess that’s the part that feels exciting because it’s meant a lot to us, that hopefully it’ll mean a lot to other people.”
The actress says when choosing a wine, she usually looks for a label she recognizes and knows will be consistent.
“I like a big, bold red,” she adds. “I like a Super Tuscan. I love wines from Italy. I love wines from France. Of course, from Napa. I like a big buttery Chardonnay. I like that kind of thing. I like a crisp white.”
And when it comes to meal pairings, she loves a pasta dish or “comfort food,” calling a burger and fries with a glass of red “an amazing combination.”
Biel says her favorite person to drink wine with is her husband — and Timberlake offered input on the new product.
“He was taste-testing with us back when we were creating this wine for my brother and his wife,” she recalls. “And yes, was definitely a part of the deliberation around which blend did we prefer, or what do we think, how did it taste in the barrel?”
Date nights for the couple have become earlier these days.
“Honestly, I like date days a lot,” she says. “I like going to the golf course. I like playing nine holes or 18 holes, and doing that during the day, it’s really fun to do that. I mean, we’re definitely like a ‘order food and stay home and watch a movie’ kind of vibe. We love doing that kind of thing. Going to play a game of padel or pickleball, getting outside, doing something active in the beautiful weather.”
The summer has already brought some travel highlights for the couple and their two children, Silas, 10, and Phineas, 4.
“I’m kind of buzzing around on tour with Justin while he’s finishing up some of his festival dates in Europe,” she says. “So we spent some amazing time outside of Copenhagen. That was a really incredible place. I’ve been before, but I hadn’t brought my kids.”
“And just a perfect time of the year to be in that part of the world where it’s light for so long, and then it’s only dark for a few hours, which is weird to sleep in and with kids, but you just have so much daylight in the day, you feel like you can just accomplish so many things,” she adds. “I really enjoyed Scandinavia in the summer.”