Interest in sparkling wine is booming…
…and the time is right to come together.
The Launch of Sparkling Discoveries
Are you ready to be part of a sparkling wine community? Interest in sparkling wine is booming, and the time is right to come together. I am thrilled to announce the launch of Sparkling Discoveries, a new sparkling wine community for producers, enthusiasts, and leaders in the world of bubbles.
We went live on Global Champagne Day, October 28, with the goal of creating a place where sparkling wine lovers everywhere can connect, learn, and celebrate. Like most projects in my life, Sparkling Discoveries began as a seed of an idea that blossomed with the help of friends and colleagues.
Learning the Stories of the People Behind Sparkling Wine
My fascination with sparkling wine goes beyond the bubbles—I love discovering the stories of the people who dedicate their lives to it. Sparkling Discoveries started as a way to share these stories. At first, I imagined focusing only on winemakers and owners in Sonoma County. But as conversations unfolded, it became clear that sparkling wine stories come from every corner of the world.
A Sparkling Wine Boom
The sparkling wine community today is more vibrant than ever. From California to New York, Oregon to Michigan, France to beyond, there are producers, thought leaders, and passionate enthusiasts shaping the future of sparkling. Sparkling Discoveries exists to capture and share their journeys, insights, and inspirations.
Building a Sparkling Wine Community
We wanted Sparkling Discoveries to be more than just another wine blog. It’s designed as a true sparkling wine community—brand-neutral and inclusive. The site features Sparkling 101, a growing resource for sparkling wine basics, from how Champagne differs from other sparkling wines, to production methods, to styles like brut, rosé, and extra brut. Soon, we’ll expand into food pairings, events, and more.
Another exciting feature is the open nominations for people making an impact on sparkling wine. Winemakers, marketers, social media influencers, hospitality professionals, and winery owners are all eligible to be recognized for their contributions.
Sparkling Conversations
At the heart of Sparkling Discoveries are Sparkling Conversations—in-depth profiles of makers, thought leaders, and advocates. These stories shine a light on the passion behind the bubbles:
Joy Sterling, Owner and CEO , Iron Horse Vineyards
Joy talks about what living in Paris as a teenager taught her about life and how it ultimately led her back to joining the family sparkling wine business. She revealed her inspirations – from the creation of unique bottlings of sparkling wine, to her favorite food pairings to the way she leads her team.
Bruce Lundquist, Co-founder of Rack & Riddle
Bruce describes the long and winding road to founding a sparkling custom wine services business and recounts the lessons he learned in his career and what he hopes his six kids learned from his experience.
Penny Gadd-Coster, Winemaker, Rack & Riddle and Breathless Wines
Penny relates how she eventually became a sparkling winemaker following two surprising previous careers, her unique approach to sparkling winemaking, her favorite pairings and the best and worst moments in her sparkling career.
Ashley Herzberg, Winemaker, Amista Vineyards
Our own Amista Vineyards Winemaker Ashley reveals her goals for making sparkling wines, how she hopes people will feel when they pop the cork and her fascination with grower Champagnes, including the ones she has in her fridge right now.
Kathleen Inman, Owner and Winemaker of Inman Family Wines
Kathleen talks about how two continents, two degrees, two careers and a series of positive omens led her to sparkling wine.
Eileen Crane, Retired CEO and Winemaker, Domaine Carneros
Eileen describes her determination to make sparkling wine that started with her first taste of Champagne at a family Sunday supper and her happiest moments – the best pairings with sparkling wine, open book management and the most rewarding time in her career.
Join the Sparkling Wine Community
Sparkling Discoveries is about connection—bringing together winemakers, professionals, and sparkling enthusiasts to share knowledge, celebrate stories, and build a stronger sparkling wine community.
Here’s how you can get involved:
- Visit the Sparkling Discoveries website
- Subscribe to our news
- Nominate someone who is making an impact on sparkling wine
- Contact us with your questions, feedback and ideas
And next time you’re in Healdsburg, come Taste With Us and explore the sparkling wines of Amista Vineyards.
The journey of sparkling wine is rich and diverse, and Sparkling Discoveries is just the beginning. If you love bubbles as much as I do, I invite you to join us in building this global sparkling wine community.
