The Sparkling Women of Sonoma

Saluting Women Owners and Winemakers of Today…

…and the pioneering Champagne women who paved the way.

You might be surprised to learn that Sonoma wine country is home to a dozen wineries with a special focus on sparkling wines, each crafting a collection of bubblies and offering dedicated sparkling wine tastings. Amista is proud to be among them!

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we're raising a glass to the remarkable women behind six of these sparkling houses—either as owners or winemakers. These talented women are shaping the future of sparkling wine in Sonoma, just as pioneering women did in Champagne centuries ago.

Amista Vineyards, Vicky Farrow, Owner

 

Amista Vineyards, Ashley Herzberg, Winemaker

 

Breathless Sparkling Wines, Sharon Cohn, Rebecca Faust & Cynthia Faust, Owners

 

Breathless Sparkling Wines, Penny Gadd-Coster, Winemaker

 

Cast Wines, Ashley Herzberg, Winemaker

 

Iron Horse Vineyards – Joy Sterling, Owner

 

J Vineyards & Winery – Nicole Hitchcock, Winemaker

 

Korbel Champagne Cellars – Erica Mandl, Winemaker

It’s inspiring to see these accomplished women leading the charge in Sonoma’s sparkling wine scene. Their passion, craftsmanship, and dedication remind me of the pioneering women who transformed Champagne and left an indelible mark on the world of sparkling wine.

Trailblazing Women of Champagne

Madame Clicquot (Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin). At just 27, she took over Veuve Clicquot after her husband's passing. She revolutionized Champagne by inventing the riddling table, creating the first vintage Champagne, and pioneering the first rosé by blending white and red wines.

Louise Pommery. In 1858 she took over Pommery following the death of her husband. She created Pommery Nature in 1874, introducing the world to brut Champagne, breaking the tradition of sweet Champagnes and transforming the style into the crisp, dry expression we love today.

Lily Bollinger. Following the death of her husband in 1941, she assumed the reins of Champagne Bollinger, leading the house for 30 years. She developed the “recently disgorged” method, allowing Champagne to age longer on the lees for a richer, more complex flavor.

If you’re as fascinated by these trailblazers as I am, I suggest the biography The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It by Tilar Mazzeo.

Stories of the Champagne Widows

I am also enjoying the pleasure of collaborating on Sparkling Discoveries with novelist Rebecca Rosenberg, who has written a captivating historical fiction series on all three Champagne widows, bringing these extraordinary women to life. 

 

• Champagne Widows: First Woman of Champagne, Veuve Clicquot
• Madame Pommery: Creator of Brut Champagne
• Look out for the third book in the series, featuring Lily Bollinger, coming later this year!

Here’s to the women—past and present—who make the world of sparkling wine shine!