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I am always a little bit (okay, more than a little bit) wary when a celebrity launches a wine brand. For some, it’s likely a decision that is made because they’ve done everything else, why not wine. For others, it’s a good business decision or one driven by passion for the product.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the launch party for Champy, a sparkling wine produced in collaboration between Boston’s own Jenny Johnson and Sonoma County winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster. Jenny is known for being a bubbly TV personality and producer but also a very smart and savvy businesswoman, and since I love Sonoma wine, I was really intrigued by the launch.
The event was held at the newly opened Yvonne’s, formerly Locke-Ober, in Downtown Crossing. The space is absolutely gorgeous, and I, coming from a casual work-at-home day, was incredibly underdressed. Yvonne’s is definitely a reason to dress up, noted.
The private party was in an area off of the bar, and guests received glasses of Champy as we arrived. It took just one sip for me to love this wine. It is delicious! It’s well-balanced, with a nice acidity, notes of granny smith apple and lemon, and lots of bubbles. Like me, Jenny is a lover of bubbly not just for special occasions, and this wine would definitely be a fun one to pop open on an average night to add something a little something special.
The wine is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, with fruit sourced from Sonoma, Mendocino, and Napa counties, and I loved that in it I could taste California wine country, which always feels a little bit like home to me.
There’s a lovely, celebratory spirit behind the brand with the tag line: Be present. Be spontaneous. Be Champy.
With the temperatures dipping way too low for my tastes, Champy is a great bubbly to add a little sunshine to your day and help you to remember to celebrate the everyday.
Champy will be available in Fall/Winter 2015 and will retail for $24.99.
Our latest brunch was a real feast, with Irish bacon and blood pudding, a delicious egg strata, scones, fruit, veggies, and this sparkling wine from Jura. This Buronfosse Crémant du Jura was new to me and the perfect brunch bubbly. Vibrant, bright, and festive, it offers notes of raspberry and toasted almond pastry, a tiny bit of sweetness on the finish, but not too much at all. Get togethers where everyone brings a bottle often result in some delicious wine discoveries!
