Virgin Hotels Hosts Bella Twins’ Exclusive Friday Night Wine Tasting

^{WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella bring their Bonita Bonita Wine brand to Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, expanding their story out of the wrestling ring to the casino restaurant scene.}

LAS VEGAS -- In a crowded restaurant market on the strip and throughout the city, Las Vegas casinos are always looking for ways to make their restaurants stand out and bring in extra traffic. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas leaned into that approach on Friday by hosting WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Garcia, aka the Bella Twins, for an exclusive wine tasting inside Lucia Mexican Grill.

The event gave fans a chance to meet the sisters, sample two new Bonita Bonita wine samples, and celebrate their launch as Lucia’s official house wine. But it also drew crowds into the Virgin property, and into a restaurant that’s now part of the Garcias’ brand story. 

While guests get to experience these events, it also encourages them to explore the rest of the casino or other activities there.

Bella Twins Pour Star Power into Virgin's Mexican Cuisine

The Garcias loved Virgin’s desert-inspired aesthetic and Lucia’s Mexican menu made it the perfect fit in the hotel and casino. Brie Garcia explained that she and her sister are both Mexican and wanted to feature their wine inside a restaurant with that type of cuisine — but also offer an option beyond the typical margarita. The sisters' wines match well with the restaurant’s popular dishes like ceviche and seafood. 

“We felt like it fit the desert vibe of the hotel really well," Nikki said. "We wanted to make something you can sip poolside or with dinner."

For Virgin, landing a celebrity-branded wine is one more way to compete in a city where nearly every major casino already boasts a high-end Mexican restaurant. Offering an event like this is a strategy that makes sense — it brings new guests through the door and routes them directly across the gaming floor. And free parking and perks like the 21+ Kassi Beach Club pool only help to sweeten the deal.

For Nikki and Brie Garcia, having Bonita Bonita as the house wine at Lucia cements their brand in Las Vegas while connecting with fans in a setting that matches their style. For Virgin, it’s a chance to bring crowds into its property with an event that blends celebrity appeal and dining — a mix that casinos are increasingly catering towards to bring in a younger, lifestyle-focused demographic.

From Hard Rock to Hidden Gem?

Virgin Hotels is located just a few minutes from the Las Vegas strip and could be considered a hidden gem. Since rebranding from the Hard Rock in 2021, I think one of its’ biggest highlights has been the mix of upscale dining and coastal inspired restaurants on property, like Kassi Beach House and Beach Club for nightlife and brunch, Nobu for world-class Japanese cuisine, and now Lucia with its exclusive Bonita Bonita partnership. 

Built on the bones of the old Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the property sits about a mile east of the Strip. When it first launched, the casino was operated by Mohegan Gaming, making it one of the few tribally operated casinos in Las Vegas. But in 2024, Virgin took back control, debuting their own Cherry Rewards program to better compete with Strip loyalty clubs and local casino rewards systems.

Not everything has been smooth with the Virgin, though. In late 2024, Virgin made headlines for a 69-day workers’ strike, the longest strike at a Las Vegas casino since 1998. However, the strike ended successfully with a 10% raise for employees, achieving their goal of receiving wages more in line with Strip standards. 

Virgin’s Dining Uplifts Casino Experience 

Virgin’s approach is different from the edgy vibe of the old Hard Rock. Instead, the property markets itself as a chic, quieter retreat minutes from the strip with upscale restaurants, a boutique gaming floor, and sweet perks like complimentary parking and valet. Those factors make it an ideal middle option among Strip giants and locals’ casinos, which focus on lower food prices, easier comps, and more fair gaming conditions. 

For Virgin, bringing the Garcia twins and their wine brand into their story is another step in redefining what its property is after the Hard Rock chapter came to a close in 2020. Strong dining partnerships not only work well on their own but can also help to attract a demographic that may not come solely for the gaming.

In a crowded market, events like this aren’t just about celebrating the tasty food or sipping wine from the glass. They’re about creating experiences that keep guests lingering on the casino floor — and hopefully playing a game or two while they’re at it.