Jon Bon Jovi's son Jesse EXCLUSIVE - He talks co-founding a wine company with his rocker dad: 'He knows the right way to tweak something to make it genius'
Jon Bon Jovi is a father of five with wife Dorothea Hurley. And for the past year he has been working with his eldest son Jesse on their wine, Hampton Water rosé.
On Friday the handsome 24-year-old spoke to DailyMail.com exclusively about what it was like to work with the legendary rock star known for such hits as Livin' On A Prayer.
'It’s been an amazing experience working with my dad,' he told DailyMail.com.
Family biz: Jon Bon Jovi is a father of five with wife Dorothea Hurley. And his eldest son Jesse, 23, helped him co-found Hampton Water rosé . On Friday Jesse spoke to DailyMail.com exclusively about what it was like to work with the legendary rock star
When asked what he liked most about having his father as a co-worker, he said it was not easy to nail down.
'It’s hard to say what the best part is, but one of my favorite things is just being able to bounce ideas off of him,' added the former football player.
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Jesse added, 'He has a wealth of knowledge, and he is a great marketer. I love going to him with an idea and getting his feedback.
'He intuitively just knows the right way to slightly tweak something to make it genius. I learn from him every single day.'
Good team: 'It’s been an amazing experience working with my dad,' the 24-year-old told DailyMail.com
Jesse also said his father has a nose for wine.
'This is a great story that will give you an idea of just how good his instinct for wine is,' said the New Jersey native.
'As part of the process for creating Hampton Water, my dad, my business partner, Ali Thomas, and I were each given beakers filled with different grape varieties and droppers to carefully craft our own blends.
An idea man! 'It’s hard to say what the best part is, but one of my favorite things is just being able to bounce ideas off of him,' added the former football player
'When we were all satisfied with our blends, we did a blind taste test, and we all chose my dad’s.
'From there, we further refined the blend into what Hampton Water is today – Wine Spectator’s top-ranked rosé of 2018.'
Jesse and Jon drummed up the idea for Hampton Water Rose together.
'My dad and I were enjoying some rosé on the back porch out east,' he began. 'It was getting late, and he offered me one last glass of “pink juice” before calling it a night.
Big fam: Bon Jovi in 2018 with Dorothea and kids Jesse, Jacob, 17, and Romeo, 15, as well as daughter Stephanie, 26
'I told him, no one calls it “pink juice” anymore, you're out in the Hamptons, it’s Hampton Water.
'He looked at me said that would be a great name for a bottle. Right then and there Hampton Water was born and we’ve been working hard at it ever since.'
And Jesse also commented that he never had ambitions to go into music like his father.
'I am glad I pursued rosé instead of singing, but you are too, ha, trust me – I did not inherit the singing gene,' joked Jesse.
Several years ago: In London in 2013 with his wife and three of his four kids
Jesse also said Hampton Water 'pairs well with just about anything from light “summer” foods to heavier “winter” foods. The structure of Hampton Water really allows it to be enjoyed all year round and lends itself to pair well with just about anything.'
Jon also has son Jacob, 17, and Romeo, 15, as well as daughter Stephanie, 26.
Jon and Jesse - whose last name is Bongiovi - had a fun father-son moment in the South of France in October.
The way he was: Jon is a big time rocker with the band Bon Jovi, which formed in 1983. His band mates over the years have included keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald
The duo was in the Languedoc region of France harvesting grapes for their next vintage of Hampton Water rosé with French winemaker Gerard Bertrand.
Hampton Water rosé was launched between the trio in early 2018.
Jon and Jesse spoke to the top 15 chefs in the Netherlands while in Europe to talk about Hampton Water’s global distribution.
The brand is now in Japan, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, and Germany.
Hampton Water Rose is available for purchase online through Verve Wine, WineonSale & Total Wine.
Jon is also is the founder of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which exists to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair.
Through the funding and creation of programs and partnerships, they support innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
