It is said that, if life brings you troubles, drink some champagne and see your problem dissolve like its bubbles. champagne, they say, has the power to cheer the sad, inspire the young, revive the old, and make the weary forget their toil. Such is the allure Be Bubbly champagne lounge evokes in Napa Valley, California.
Be Bubbly Napa Valley is a downtown tasting lounge that is using the power of champagne to foster friendship, inclusivity, and community support in “Wine Country“ a place known for cabernet. Be Bubbly Proprietor, Erin Riley, who spent about 20 years in corporate retail management, explains how a career detour and search for something more meaningful influenced her decision to start the lounge. She recalls how unique paths in her life and overcoming adversity lead her to create a joyful, inclusive, bubbly place for all.
I was living in Colorado pursuing my corporate path when an opportunity to move to California and work at the Williams-Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco presented itself. After a year of commuting to the city, I took a dream lifetime opportunity to sail the Atlantic Ocean, exploring the islands being an incredible draw. Along the journey, I had my daughter, which was an incredible blessing and a call to get back to business. I returned to Napa, where I worked for a family-owned large hotel estate property in Yountville, and became the Corporate Sales Director. It was a great time to be in the industry and I loved being part of such a beautiful community. After being a single mother for 6 years, marriage and full-time parenting became my new path during the recession, or so I thought,” she explains.
Speaking on how the Be Bubbly idea came to be, Riley says Be Bubbly Napa Valley was born at the intersection of inspiration and dejectedness.
“Eight years later my marriage ended, I beat a bout of breast cancer and my daughter was launching to college which gave me the freedom of a blank slate. I attempted getting back into the workforce I was familiar with but I had been out of the hotel industry for quite a while and out of the corporate realm even longer, so I realized I would have to start over, again. And if I had to start over somewhere, I'd rather start over for myself. Being in the Wine Country, I took a job as wine buyer for the Napa Wine Train and started developing key relationships in the industry. Meanwhile, I was building my own business plan and searching for positivity, she recounts. There was a moment, at my lowest emotional point as I was trying to name my potential champagne lounge, when an acquaintance said, “It sounds like you just want to be happy, why don’t you call it Be Bubbly?”, and serendipitously the inspiration was born and we opened August 20, 2020.”
Three years later, Be Bubbly has grown to be a haven of joy and a center of diversity & inclusivity in the heart of Napa. She says her bubbles business has also morphed into community action and a generosity campaign.
“Be Bubbly has now become the go-to champagne lounge in Napa, voted Best Downtown Tasting Room & Napa Valley Wine Bar 2023. We offer a focused and dedicated bubbles experience with a splash of fun. In fact, we’re the only dedicated sparkling champagne lounge in Napa Valley. Surviving the pandemic with the support of the Napa Valley community was a blessing and so with gratitude, we launched our Be Generous campaign in 2023. Each quarter we select a local organization, share its message, and amplify its cause. We host tasting events, live performances and sell co-branded t-shirts to raise awareness and donations.”
Riley says Be Bubbly Napa Valley aspires to spread the joy and friendship that champagne brings into new cities, including at airport and hotel locations. She says she dreams of having Be Bubbly Lounges in Houston, Miami, New York and LA, adding that she wants to leverage the love of brunch, high-volume foot traffic, and vibrant nightlife that these cities share into nationwide bubblemania.
Just like wine, Riley believes that Be Bubbly will only get better with time. With her love of community, hosting authentic experiences and promoting diversity through the shared love of all things sparkling, she aims to make her champagne lounge a household name in the US someday. Riley is not resting on her laurels as she continues to pour joy and promote generosity through the power of champagne.
Media Contact
Name: Erin Riley
Email: [email protected]
