When you already are renowned as one of the foremost sparkling winemakers in the country, how do you celebrate the launch of a new sparkling wine? If you’re Eileen Crane - president and winemaker of Domaine Carneros - you introduce your wine in style, embarking on an Epicurean tour throughout Hollywood’s most popular hotspots to allow your guests to taste your new sparkling creation, Brut Rosè, Cuvèe de la Pompadour, as it’s paired with delectable menu items from some of the cities top chefs.

 
Select media, including Alain Gayot of Gayot.com, the good-life information portal, Natalie Bovis Nelsen, aka the Liquid Muse, Karen Loftus, the US west coast assitant editor, Adam Leemon aka Adam the Wine Guy took part. 

The first stop along this tour was the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where special media guests got a feel for all the different menu items that mix wonderfully with this enticing drink, choosing from the wild mushroom risotto, iced kusshi oyster, chilled maine lobster salad or the smoked “balik” salmon with crispy potato blinis and osetra caviar.

In addition, Natalie, the Liquid Muse, revealed a new cocktail recipe, the “Bouquet of Rose”, using rose water, nectar, as well as Brut Rosè garnished with a sprig of fresh lavender to keep in line with the sexy mood that the wine is sure to create.

From there, we were chauffeured in style - in a white stretch limo - to the new One Sunset restaurant. One Sunset provided a perfect setting. Combining the restaurant and lounge in one cozy setting, it made for a relaxed and social atmosphere. We were served a variety of delicious items ala "contemporary share plates". Some of the tasty delights included Erica’s cheeseburgers, with carmalized onions, wild mushrooms and saga blue and gruyere, buffalo chicken skewyers and pizzettes…classic favorites with a gourmet twist. The atmosphere and wait staff were exceptional. There the group enjoyed Eileen’s high-end creation and a new favorite sparkling wine of mine, Le Reve-Blanc de Blancs, as well as her Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir.

For the finale, we were whisked to Sunset Towers, where we were able to enjoy more glasses of Brut Rosè, while feasting on vanilla bean panna cotta, rosemary shortbread, almond croissant bread pudding with brandy butter, crème fraiche cheesecake with seasonal fruit, or various artisan cheeses, walnut bread and marcona almonds.
After a final stop at Sunset Towers, we were driven back to the Polo Lounge, fully satisfied from an elegant evening savoring such a fine, exquisite wine.
Brut Rosè Cuvèe de la Pompadour has previously been available only at Eileen’s winery, Domaine Carneros, though the interest and demand for this seductive, sparkling pink wine has given the winemakers reason to debut the product in all major markets across the U.S. this fall.
About Eileen Crane:
With a master’s degree in nutrition, Eileen spent two years teaching nutrition at the University of Connecticut before making the life altering decision of turning her true passion into a profession- as a winemaker.
Heading west, Eileen enrolled and graduated from the U.C Davis Enology and Viticulture program before being hired by Domaine Chandon.
After later working as a wine maker and vice president of Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves, she gained invaluable experience and insight that helped her with the next important step in her winemaking journey.
Claude Taittinger entrusted her with the important position of President/Winemaker of Domaine Carneros, a company that produces world-class sparkling wines in the French tradition.

Her outstanding work and accomplishments as a winemaker has made Eileen one of the 75 Most Influential Women in Business according to the San Francisco Business Times. 

For more information, visit http://www.domaine.com/.