Kelly Robb
Kelly is a Champagne and sparkling wine enthusiast. Her introduction to Champagne came when she spent a semester abroad in Paris. It was Paris that opened her eyes to food, wine and culture. “They know how to live!” One of her first memories of Champagne was raising a glass to celebrate the arrival of her study abroad group in the “city of light”.
Kelly weaves sparkling wine into her business, Purple Cork, a virtual wine tasting platform she founded during the pandemic. The wine world was going virtual and Kelly decided to check out a virtual tasting. She found it boring without the opportunity to interact with other participants, especially her dad who was across the country. She decided she could do something different. At first she did virtual tastings on nights and weekends when she wasn’t doing her day job. The business quickly took off and Kelly quit her job in San Francisco and moved to Sonoma County. One of her earliest partners was Charles Heidsick Champagne followed by Amista Vineyards, an estate sparkling house in Healdsburg. There is no one more excited than Kelly when she gets to share a bottle of bubbles with a new group.
What sparkling wines are you loving right now?
Charles Heidsieck "200 Years of Liberty" bottling. Charles is always a standout among non-vintage Bruts and I love this gorgeous bottle in honor of the house's 200th anniversary. I currently have flowers in an empty bottle!
I love any Champagne from Eric Rodez, which I sometimes call "baby Krug" given the decadent style. I was fortunate to taste one of his 2004 vintages in Reims and I'm still thinking about it! In addition to working with the family vineyards, Eric also worked at Krug for several years. I'm also on a total Rosé Champagne kick, exploring lots of styles from big houses to grower producers.
Your [Amista Vineyards] Blanc de Blancs, Vicky is always a standard in my fridge and Ashley's [Herzberg] winemaking style continues to get even more refined and elegant every year. Crisp and delicious!
What does sparkling wine symbolize for you?
Excitement! Popping, pouring and sipping sparkling wine is, for me, exhilarating, even more so when enjoyed with friends and family. There's always the excitement and discovery with what's in the glass, especially if it's from a producer or vintage I'm less familiar with. Sparkling wine is so often saved for special occasions and I'd encourage us all to make it a more regular habit, always in moderation of course. Winston Churchill said it best: "I could not live without Champagne. In victory I deserve it. In defeat I need it." Right on, Winston.