Yes, indeed, that is Emma Watson—star of Harry Potter and other films—in the above photo, but Renais Gin is not just another celebrity throwaway. It’s the pride and joy of the entire Watson family, including her brother Oliver and her father Chris.

While fans all over the world are aware of Emma’s success, few know that her father Chris planted Chardonnay vines in Chablis back in the 1990s and that Emma’s family has been making Burgundy for over thirty years. Fewer are aware that Emma and her brother Oliver spent years in the Chablis vineyards long before she was ever cast as Hermione Granger.

And to be very clear, the focal point of the Watson family’s new Renais Gin is not Harry Potter. It’s Chablis. 

If you’re a lover of both Burgundy and gin (like we are at Mission), you’re going to want to try this gin immediately, mostly because the Watsons used actual pressed Grand Cru Chablis Chardonnay grapes as one of the botanicals in the gin, along with actual Kimmeridgian stones!! Yes, there are actual vineyard rocks used in the production of this gin, so as to effectively capture the essence of real Chablis. 

In addition to Chablis grapes and Chablis limestone, the Watsons add juniper, angelica root, linden flowers, and acacia honey to craft an entirely new expression of gin, and one that appeals directly to lovers of Burgundy, in particular. The aromas are fresh and lively, the texture rounded and supple, the flavors vinous and vibrant. 

Is this the first gin with real terroir and minerality? Perhaps! What’s more important is that it’s absolutely delicious and absolutely not some designer celebrity label. While Emma is a part of the marketing (of course), she’s not the face of the brand. The Watson family’s history of winemaking in Chablis goes back thirty years, which is where the story of Renais gin begins. 

We think it’s the most exciting new gin we’ve tasted in years and one of the most interesting, thought-provoking products we’ve added to our inventory in 2024 thus far.

Renais Gin $52.99