31 Mar Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Breathless Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine
It is the final day of Women’s History Month in which we commemorate and encourage the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. So, over a game of scrabble with my mom, I opened up a bottle of sparkling wine to toast all the women and of course, it was a sparkling wine made by women! The Breathless Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine is the Please The Palate wine of the week!
Breathless is a boutique family winery in Healdsburg in Sonoma County. Founded in 2012, it is a project between three sisters, Sharon Cohn, Rebecca Faust, and Cynthia Faust. They refer to themselves as sister 1, 2, and 3, and each brings something to the business. Sister 1, Sharon, is the “glitz, glamour and panache” behind the bubbles of Breathless, handling all of the Sales and Marketing. Sister 2, Rebecca, brings the savvy with over 20 years of experience in the wine industry, including co-founder of Rack & Riddle. Sister 3, Cynthia, is the brand ambassador for Breathless.
While not an actual blood relative, winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster is the honorary fourth sister. Penny is a renowned winemaker with 35 years of experience in sparkling winemaking and was recently named “Winemaker of the Year” by the North Bay Business Journal.
Breathless was created to celebrate the passion for life that their mother Martha Jane passed down to them. The woman pictured on the Breathless label pays tribute to the woman who taught them that “each breath we take is a gift”. Her legacy reminds us to trust in the power of simple happiness and to savor the little things in life, like sharing a glass of bubbles with a cherished friend.
The Breathless Blanc de Noirs is a blend of 93% Pinot Noir and 7% Pinot Meunier. It is made in the traditional method of method champenoise and aged for 32 months. It is a light salmon color with notes of cherries, berries, and citrus with a hint of brioche. It is medium bodied with fine bubbles and a fresh, yet lingering finish. The Breathless Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine retails for $32.
As I sipped this one, I celebrate all of the accomplishments of women and savored the fact that there are so many wonderful wines to explore that are made by women.