Pale copper color; strawberry, cherry, raspberry, hint of cream on the nose and palate.
Brut; racy acidity (3.16 pH); very fine bubbles. Blend of 56% pinot noir, 44% chardonnay. Méthode champenoise with two months secondary aging in the bottle. Produced for BuDhaGirl by Rack & Riddle, a quality custom-crush maker in Northern California (they have locations in Lodi, Geyserville, and Healdsburg). 12.5% ABV
BuDhaGirl [that’s how they spell it] is a fashion brand best known for their all-weather bangles. The bangles are lightweight, noise-free, and TSA friendly (making them ideal for airplane travel). The bangles are made from durable, waterproof materials with aim to allow a carefree lifestyle that also is tranquil and inspired. OK. The wine is intended to be supportive of the brand image, and it succeeds. The bottles are striking, the wine well made by a winery that specializes in creating “shiners”—wines designed so non-wine making companies can put their label on the bottle. Nothing wrong with that. Many supermarket brands are done that way.
BuDhaGirl pitches their wines as part of the “Ritual of Celebration”—a trademarked name. You are invited to connect the mundane with the sacred and to engage all five senses to fully immerse yourself in the moment. You are supposed to pause to reflect on why you are celebrating and savor the experience by opening a bottle of BuDhaGirl sparkling wine. The back label provides a place to record who you shared the bottle with, the date, and the occasion.
Do that if you wish, but you also can enjoy this as a competently made sparkling wine. Brut, not sweet, excellent acidity, good fruit. Not a “girly, sweet wine”—although that stereotype now is so far back in the past younger readers will not understand the reference. It appears this may only be sold through BuDhaGirl as direct-to-consumer effort. Expect to see that trend continue.
BuDhaGirl Sparkling Rosé NV is brand play by a fashion costume jewelry operation—bangle bracelets—that is a pleasant surprise as a very acceptable wine. Made by Rack & Riddle, a respected maker of private label shiners, you can drink this in the brand spirit of a celebration experience, or you can just enjoy it as a good bottle of bubbly. Excellent acidity, tasty fruit, copper-blush color, and distinctive bottle set it up to work well as an aperitif. Pair with rich seafare—tuna, salmon, cod, mackerel; shellfish; duck, chicken, turkey; pork; spicy barbecue; citrusy salads; vegetarian fare; charcuterie board with prosciutto, salty nuts. Cheese—goat cheeses; triple cream cheese; feta, mozzarella, baby swiss, burrata, halloumi, humbolt fog, goat gouda. $35