Even here in the casual atmosphere of wine country, there’s often a slight formality associated with tasting bubbly wines. The sampling experience is, at times, held in a grand salon with formal seating and a rather structured approach to service. Most of the winemaking terminology used to describe sparkling wine production is primarily done in the French language – all of which can be daunting for newcomers to learn about méthode champenoise, a sparkling wine process which uses a natural secondary fermentation in the bottle to achieve the rounded and delicate bubbles in the wine. At Breathless Sparkling Wines in Healdsburg, your foray into the effervescent is never intimidating or ceremonious. The three founding sisters of Sharon Cohn, Rebecca Faust, Cynthia Faust, and award-winning veteran winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster (dubbed sister number four) created the winery in loving memory of the sisters’ late mother, Martha Jane. She imparted the notion to her girls that every breath we take is a precious gift and ought to be enjoyed to the fullest. And so, Breathless Sparkling Wines was born.
Founded on a concept of relaxed elegance, friendly and knowledgeable hosts, eco-friendly stewardship, and creating special moments out of the ordinary, the environment at Breathless Sparkling Wines encourages visitors to share good wine with family and friends and drink in life’s breathless moments – to savor the simple joys. A reminder that even life’s smallest moments can leave you breathless.
Sipping al fresco
Located one block from Healdsburg Plaza off Moore Lane, the stylish tasting room is where industrial meets glam. Built out of shipping containers, the interior design is reminiscent of the flamboyant Art Deco period of the 1920s. Mixed metals, white marble accents, Parisian blue walls, and glistening chandeliers inside the space set the vibe for a celebratory moment awaiting you. Their outdoor tiered terrace feels secluded and one with nature, allowing you to sip at a leisurely pace under the protection of shade umbrellas and redwood trees whilst overlooking a beautiful drought-resistant garden.
Explore and Experience
The collection of organic wines, which also includes still wines, has grown to 16 different bottlings. Focusing on the finest selection of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes sourced from Carneros, Russian River, Dry Creek Valley and the North Coast regions, their lineup of varietals continues to expand with the popularity and quality of their wines. From single vineyard Pinot Meunier sparkling, to an incredible Late Disgorged bottling, and a coveted Ratafia dessert wine, the choices of which cork to pop and enjoy are extensive. And every tasting experienced is accompanied by the sister’s favorite pairing for sparkling wine: potato chips.
Behind the Scenes VIP Tour: An educational 40-minute tour of the production facility will take you through the méthode champenoise process. See the original riddling rack, the new gyropallets – huge robotic machines, and the disgorging line – followed by a tasting of their current releases.
Available Thursday and Friday, 12:00 and 2:00 only.
$68 per person. Allow 40 minutes.
Caviar Picnic: Treat yourself to this decadent experience with handcrafted, small-batch farmed California White Sturgeon Caviar from Tsar Nicoulai, organic locally sourced crème fraîche and savory gourmet potato chips.
Serves up to four people. $55 per plate.
Sabrage Experience: This unique tasting experience gives you one-on-one instructions from their experienced Sabrage Guide who will teach you the proper technique of opening a bottle of sparkling using impact from a Champagne saber. This newly opened bottle, by your own hand and sword, is yours to enjoy on the property with your guests. $75 per reservation. For an additional fee of $139, a French saber is yours to take home for future bottle saberings. Allow 90 minutes.
Bubbly and Bonbons: Add to your sparkling experience with local, crafted-by-hand chocolate bonbons from heralded chocolatier, Chef Nieto at Fleur Sauvage. Their custom-made flavors change with the seasons for a decadent offering year-round. $14 for 4 pieces of chocolate.
