Finding Zen In A Bottle With This New Sparkling Wine

Thanks to BUDHAGIRL Sparkling for sending me free bottles of wine to try in exchange for an unbiased review

It's Wine Wednesday and in honor of Women's History Month, we continue to feature women in wine. These are women who are making their mark in the industry in a variety of ways. In addition, their wines are available in Southwest Florida. Today we are finding zen in a bottle with this new sparkling wine from BuDhaGirl, in Healdsburg, California.

The wine label is founded by luxury retail expert Jessica Jesse. Also in the fashion business, Jesse has been a seeker of mindfulness and finding zen. She loved the bangles that Buddhist monks give out in Thailand and began creating her own. Stacks of different color bangles are the signature item in her BuDhaGirl brand. They are made from polyvinyl carbonate, are hand-filled with gold or silver leaf and come in a gorgeous silk pouch. The bangles are made by women in rural Thailand.

Her BuDhaGirl brand believes life’s everyday routines can be transformed into meaningful rituals. “Rituals are simply small, contemplative ceremonies that help us be both present and intentional in our attitudes and actions each day,” Jesse says. Popping the cork on a bottle of sparkling wine is one way to do just that. That is, in both of our opinions.

There are three different BUDHAGIRL Sparkling Wines; Brut, Demi-Sec and Rosé. First, if you like you wines on the sweeter side, then the demi-sec is perfect for you. It is full of luscious peach flavors. A wine brand where pink is the focus color almost has to have a rosé in their lineup and this one does not disappoint. You could literally drink rosé all day if this was in your glass. It is full of fresh strawberry and raspberry flavors.

Finally, the brut made from chardonnay ($44) and pinot noir (56%). It's my favorite, fresh and lively. There are signature flavors of green apples along with some red berry. All of the wines are made in the same method as Champagne. Finally, each bottle is $35. I love the packaging. It makes a great gift and looks festive on a brunch table.

Finding zen is different for everyone. Watching the tiny bubbles in this sparkling wine sure helped do it for me. Cheers to Wine Wednesday.

Women in wine volume 2 for Women’s History Month is a new feature for Wine Wednesday during the month of March. March is Women's History Month and women are indeed making history in the world of wine. Women such as Bibiana Gonzalez Rave, founder and winemaker of Alma de Cattleya Wines.

I was introduced to Bibiana Gonzalez Rave many years ago and almost always have her wines in my home stash. She grew up in Columbia which is not a thriving wine country. However, as a teenager her parents introduced her to the art of  wine with dinner when going out. It sparked a curiosity that eventually lead her to grab a backpack and head France. She learned how to make wine in the prestigious region of Bordeaux. In 2004 she went to California to experience a wine harvest and a few years later moved to Sonoma.

Cattelaya is the national flower of Columbia, a nod to her roots. It's a beautiful, orchid that adorns her labels. She has two tiers of wine,  Alma de Cattelaya is a little more affordable. In a typical year, she produces six different wines. I love the rose of pinot noir. It has great strawberry notes and nice body.

Her sauvignon blanc sees a little oak which helps round out bitterness and add some texture. Lemongrass and melon are two of the flavors that stand out. For Chardonnay lovers, Bibiana makes a couple of them. I'm not a huge fan of this grape but every one that I've tried of hers is outstanding, well balanced. The pinot noir is also outstanding, with layers of flavors and lots of red fruit.

The wines are low production and  range in price from $22 to $48. You can find them in Florida or direct from the winery. In addition to Catteleya, Bibiana makes a sauvignon blanc with her well-known wine making husband, Jeff Pisoni. It's called Shared Notes and if you can find it, it's fantastic.

Julie Glenn and I interviewed Bibiana a couple of years ago for our Grape Minds Wine podcast. To hear more about her story and wines, click here. In the meantime, look for Bibiana's wines. Cheers to women in wine volume 2 for Women’s History Month.