Where celebration meets intention: the story behind a new kind of sparkle.
With the sun shining through the windows of Gastrovino La Liguria the conversation around sparkling wine took a quietly revolutionary turn. Hosted by Wine & Spirits, the masterclass was led by Maggie Frerejean‑Taittinger, co-founder of French Bloom. And offered a thoughtful look into a category that is rapidly gaining momentum: alcohol-free sparkling wine crafted with the same ambition and precision as fine wine.
It was less about abstinence and more about intention. A shift in how we celebrate.
The story of French Bloom begins in 2019. Pregnant with twins at the time, Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger found herself missing something at the table. A self-confessed champagne lover, she realized that when the glasses were raised for a toast, the alcohol-free alternatives rarely matched the elegance or complexity of the wines being celebrated.
Together with her friend, model and entrepreneur Constance Jablonski, she decided to change that. Jablonski, juggling an international modelling career, was navigating a lifestyle filled with travel, social engagements and the growing desire for balance. Both women shared the same observation: the world of non-alcoholic drinks lacked options that felt festive, refined and worthy of meaningful moments.
French Bloom was born from that realization: an alcohol-free sparkling wine designed for the modern flexi-drinker: someone who alternates between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks depending on mood, health or occasion, without compromising on taste or ritual.
Despite its contemporary mission, French Bloom is firmly anchored in tradition. The project is technically guided by Rodolphe Frerejean‑Taittinger, Maggie’s husband and CEO of Champagne Frerejean Frères in Avize. His background in Champagne and Cognac brings a rigorous winemaking approach to the category.
Base wines are crafted from organic Chardonnay and delicately dealcoholised at low temperatures, preserving structure, balance and aromatic complexity. The cuvées contain no added sugar, are certified vegan and remain strictly 0.0% alcohol.
The result is not a substitute for sparkling wine but a new interpretation of it.
French Bloom has taken a pioneering step further by becoming the first maison entirely dedicated to producing alcohol-free sparkling wines from its own winery and vineyards.
In the foothills of Limoux, in the Languedoc, the maison has acquired 25 hectares of vineyards, some more than 60 years old. Planted primarily with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the vineyards lie in the Haute Vallée at altitudes between 250 and 500 metres.
Limoux is no ordinary region. Long before Champagne’s rise, the monks of Abbey of Saint‑Hilaire recorded the production of sparkling wine here as early as 1531. Limestone soils, Mediterranean sunshine and cooling mountain air create ideal conditions for grapes that retain freshness, tension and aromatic precision; essential characteristics when crafting high-quality alcohol-free sparkling wines.
The masterclass offered a tasting of the four cuvées that define the maison. Below our findings from the tasting table.
Le Blanc
Made from 100% Chardonnay, Le Blanc opens with aromas of pear and citrus. On the palate it reveals layers of white flowers, green apples and hints of honey and melon, carried by a soft, delicate mousse. The balance between freshness and gentle richness gives the wine a surprisingly gastronomic profile.
In 2025, Le Blanc was awarded World’s Best Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine at the World Sparkling Awards.
Le Rosé
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Le Rosé brings a more expressive character to the glass. Aromas of rhubarb, white peach and red berries mingle with floral notes reminiscent of rose petals. The mousse is lively and the acidity vibrant, giving the wine a refreshing lift and a sense of brightness.
It too received the title of World’s Best Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine at the 2025 World Sparkling Awards.
Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs
The Extra Brut is perhaps the most technical expression of the maison style, crafted from organic Chardonnay. Revealing notes of dried apricot, white flowers and subtle earthy tones. The finish is clean and persistent, making it particularly suited to plant-based cuisine; an example of how alcohol-free wines can integrate seamlessly into gastronomic contexts.
La Cuvée Vintage 2022
The most contemplative wine of the tasting was La Cuvée Vintage, a Blanc de Blancs crafted entirely from Chardonnay. The newest release, La Cuvée Vintage 2023, reflects the maison’s ambition to push the boundaries of alcohol-free sparkling wine with the same precision and terroir expression expected of fine wine.
Sourced from organic Chardonnay grown on old vines in the Hauts de Vallée of Limoux, the vintage captures a growing season defined by a dry summer balanced by timely spring rains and cool temperatures. These conditions preserved remarkable acidity and aromatic purity; essential elements when crafting sparkling wines destined for delicate dealcoholisation.
Aged for eight months in new Burgundy barrels and produced without dosage, the wine reveals impressive depth and refinement. Bright grapefruit notes intertwine with stewed orchard fruit, while a fine mineral backbone carries subtle hints of toasted brioche and hazelnut. The palate remains fresh, elegant and sculpted, offering a layered expression of the vintage and demonstrating how alcohol-free sparkling wine can still convey nuance, structure and a sense of place.
Earlier impressions in the glass hinted at dried apricot, honey, plum and gentle notes of coffee and mocha, aromas that give the wine a slightly oxidative complexity reminiscent of aged sparkling wines.
Released only recently, La Cuvée Vintage marks an important step in the evolution of French Bloom, a cuvée that signals how far the category has come, and how far it may still go.
The ambition behind French Bloom is clear: to elevate alcohol-free sparkling wines to the level of fine wine craftsmanship.
As Maggie explained during the masterclass, the goal is not simply to remove alcohol, but to rethink how base wines are created so they retain balance, structure and pleasure after dealcoholisation.
The category is still young, but its evolution is rapid. With its own vineyards in Limoux and a growing portfolio of cuvées, French Bloom positions itself at the forefront of that movement.
Judging by the growing curiosity among sommeliers, wine professionals and consumers alike, the category is only just beginning to bloom.
This article is written by our own Kirsten Andringa. We would like to thank French Bloom, and Maggie Frerejean‑Taittinger in particular, as well as their importer and distributor Wine & Spirits, for the invitation and wonderful afternoon. If you are interested in the wines, you can reach out to them directly, or find the wines at select partners such as Gastrovino.
Sassotondo offers a distinctive perspective on Maremma wine, where volcanic soils around Pitigliano shape elegant, terroir-driven expressions of Ciliegiolo rather than the region’s more familiar international styles. This family-run Tuscan winery highlights organic viticulture and indigenous grapes, revealing a refined and authentic side of southern Tuscany that continues to gain international attention.
In South Africa’s Cape, a quiet shift is redefining fine dining, as wine moves from a supporting role to a leading force in shaping the gastronomic experience. Through the contrasting approaches of Creation and La Colombe, this evolution reveals how wine pairing is no longer reactive, but a deliberate framework for structure, narrative and sensory engagement.
Gut Hermannsberg in Germany’s Nahe region stands as a benchmark for premium Riesling, combining historic VDP.Grosse Lage vineyards with a bold philosophy of delayed wine releases to enhance terroir expression. Discover how this leading German winery balances tradition, innovation, and patience to produce some of the most refined dry Rieslings on the market.
Explore how South African wine producers Warwick and Spier navigate heritage, innovation and brand positioning in the evolving Cape wine landscape. This in-depth analysis reveals how Stellenbosch estates balance tradition, inclusivity and modern wine marketing to stay relevant with new generations of global wine drinkers.
ORA Taverna & Bar in Breda offers a modern Greek dining experience built around shared plates and one of the Netherlands’ most diverse Greek wine lists. This new hotspot combines Mediterranean hospitality, seasonal dishes, and a carefully curated wine selection that moves from coastal freshness to inland depth.
Discover Tenuta Monteti, a leading Toscana IGT estate on the Tuscan coast, where precision viticulture and coastal influence shape structured, age-worthy wines. Through parcel selection, sustainable practices, and expert winemaking, Monteti delivers a refined expression of Maremma terroir defined by balance, freshness, and complexity.
Join our insiders’ list and get exclusive early access to new articles, expert tips, and fresh reviews delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now and be the first to discover!
Subscribe for curated content, podcast alerts and honest wine reviews.