Stephanie Rivin, a former Californian winemaker, never expected she would move to Bordeaux and launch a brand. That changed in 2012 during a family trip where she and her husband fell in love with the region. Already established in California winemaking, the allure of Bordeaux ignited a spark. French Blue became her bridge between two worlds. She started with a rosé with a French flair for American tables.
French Blue Wine wasn’t just a winery; it reflected Stephanie’s love for wine and her daring move to the heart of French wine country.
Stephanie’s Background
It all started when she first worked in the tasting room at a California winery in Anderson Valley and would show up at 6 a.m. to work in the vineyard. Over time, her fascination with the intricacies of winemaking grew. Stephanie did not take the normal path to become a winemaker. It was hand-on learning under the mentorship of other winemakers for four years.
However, after juggling both California and French winemaking for a few years, the demands began to strain her work-life balance. It became evident to Stephanie where she truly wanted to be. Aware of her husband’s shared passion for Bordeaux, she proposed moving there, and he jumped at the opportunity. In 2018, Stephanie, her husband, and their children (she was pregnant with her son) relocated to France. And French Blue came to life to bridge the free spirit of America and the tradition of Bordeaux.
French Blue was created to create approachable and easy-to-drink French wines with American exuberance. They source their grapes from specific vineyards in Bordeaux with a focus on reds, whites, two sparkling and a rosé. Blue named on the label reflects the bright blue sky and blue sea known in France.
A Pivotal Point
A meeting with Whole Foods, which was interested in adding a French Rosé to its Spring line-up, led to led Stephanie’s trip to Provence where she realized that sourcing from that region would be expensive. She decided to pivot to Bordeaux instead. The wine was made in 2015 and released in 2016 and was made primarily of Cabernet Franc.
In 2020, C. Mondavi & Family acquired French Blue Wines marking their first venture into imported wines. “Mondavi shared my vision and helped me understand how to reach more consumers,” she said. “It doesn’t make a difference if you make good wine if your infrastructure, distributors and sales teams have gaps. They helped me close those gaps.”
Over time, French Blue Wine the top brand in distribution for French Bordeaux Wine in the USA. She also talked about her plan to explore new areas outside of Bordeaux and planting two new varietals – Verdelho and Sauternes.
I had a chance to try the French Blue wine line-up and found them to be well-made, approachable and affordable. Think everyday drinking wines.
- 2023 French Blue Bordeaux Rouge – this blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and has notes of raspberry, cherry, strawberry, orange blossom, and watermelon with a nice minerality.
- 2022 French Blue Sauvignon Blanc – a great patio wine with notes of grapefruit, lemon, pear and a touch of herbs.
- 2021 French Blue Bordeaux Rouge – notes of blackberry, red currant, eucalyptus, black pepper, and vanilla. A good Tuesday night pizza wine.
- NV French Blue Crémant de Bordeaux Brut — made using the traditional Méthode Traditionnelle, and has notes of citrus, pear, strawberries, almonds, flowers, and brioche.
- NV French Blue Crémant De Bordeaux Brut Rosé – also made using the Méthode Traditionnelle with notes of raspberries, currants, vanilla, and fresh bread.
Stephanie’s story defies tradition in the world of wine. She left her California winemaking career behind to embark on a new journey in Bordeaux, France. French Blue, her winery, is a culmination of her love for wine and her bold decision to pursue her dreams in the heart of French wine country but to add a Californian twist.