HEALDSBURG, Calif., Dec. 9, 2014 – Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services, one of the largest custom wine operations in Northern California, has announced the rollout of its five new non-vintage private label sparkling wine blends, which follows on the heels of the company’s major Sonoma County expansion. 

The five blends—Brut, Blanc de Noirs, Blanc de Blancs, Brut Rosé, and Moscato, are sparkling wines crafted in the traditional French method. These non-vintage blends are sourced from select North Coast and Sonoma County grapes. “These are smooth and refreshing sparkling wines made for everyday consumption as well as special occasions,” said Rack & Riddle Executive Director of Winemaking, Penny Gadd-Coster. “The beauty is they pair well with every food, and have an enduring shelf life.”

Rack & Riddle found its niche as one of the few custom crush winemaking facilities in the nation specializing in méthode champenoise sparkling wines. Rack & Riddle’s sparkling blends consistently garner Gold and Best of Class honors in major wine competitions throughout the United States.

“The traditional French sparkling winemaking method is a labor of love involving a second fermentation in the bottle—if you are as dedicated as we are about creating superior sparkling wines, the only way to make it is in this age-old, traditional method,” said Gadd-Coster, who was named  “Winemaker of the Year” in the Napa and Sonoma wine region by the Wine Industry Awards last December. “Our private label sparkling program unlocks the ability for restaurants, retailers or even individuals to create their own branded sparkling wine blend, without the overhead and investment in expensive production equipment and processes.”

Retailers are increasingly choosing to add sparkling wine to their portfolios as more and more consumers buy bubbly. The consumption of sparkling wine is projected to rise 8.52 percent worldwide between 2012 and 2016 due to increased demand in the top four sparkling wine markets: the United States, Germany, France, and Russia, according to the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR) consultancy.

Sparkling wine consumption rose 4.17 percent compared to the 2.72 percent increase seen in still wines from 2007 to 2011.

“Purchasing a private label sparkling wine allows businesses to capitalize on the popularity of sparkling wine while tapping into new brand concepts,” said Rack & Riddle General Manager Mark Garaventa. “Whether it’s a restaurant offering a customizable private label sparkling for wedding clients, a store offering a special blend for customer loyalty members, or a wine bar serving a holiday-themed label—the possibilities for branding are endless.”

Rack & Riddle customer Amy Kemp, co-proprietor of Loma Prieta Winery, wanted a high-quality sparkling wine that would complement the winery’s high-end Pinot Noirs and Pinotages. “After tasting through some of Rack & Riddle’s samples, we decided to privately label a lovely Blanc de Noirs,” said Kemp. “We’re almost sold out of it, and have ordered a new Blanc de Noirs sparkling with a Pinot Meuneir dosage, about which we’re very excited.”

With Rack & Riddle’s expansion in June 2014 to the booming wine country region of Healdsburg, Calif., the new location allows customers’ brand labels to state their business name or wine brand as being produced and bottled in Healdsburg. “The name ‘Healdsburg’ is another powerful marketing tool—it holds a lot of cache as a premium winemaking region in Sonoma County,” said Gadd-Coster. “It’s just another plus when crafting a customized bubbly that will drive the growth of your brand.”

ABOUT RACK & RIDDLE CUSTOM WINE SERVICES:
With a recent expansion to two new locations in Sonoma County, Rack & Riddle is proudly committed to providing pristine facilities where winemakers craft both still and sparkling wines. Rack & Riddle offers complete grape-to-bottle, base-to-bottle, and private label programs, and houses nearly 2 million gallons of stainless steel storage and fermentation vessels. An exceptional winemaking team produces over 1 million cases of wine annually. For more information, please visit www.rackandriddle.com.

For facility tour requests or more information, please contact:

Cynthia Faust

Business Development Manager – Rack & Riddle

707-433-8400                    

cynthia@rackandriddle.com

For interview and photo requests, please contact:

Elizabeth Nixon

Media Relations – Rack & Riddle

707-433-8400                    

elizabeth@rackandriddle.com

For sparkling wine samples, please contact:

Monica Smith

Business Development Associate – Rack & Riddle

707-433-8400    

monica@rackandriddle.com