John Anthony Vineyards

Celebrating a Decade of La Dame Michele Sparkling

La Dame Michele began, as so many enduring wine stories do, at the intersection of heritage and intuition. In 2015, Michele Truchard, wife of John Anthony Truchard, imagined a sparkling program grounded in tradition yet distinctly vibrant. Her inspiration came from a lifelong love of traditional Old World sparkling wines shaped by patience, precision, and the quiet confidence of the méthode traditionnelle. She set out to create something timeless for John Anthony Vineyards—sparkling wines with structure and celebratory grace.

The program’s first expression was La Dame Michele Blanc de Noirs. Crafted in the traditional method, it honored the classical disciplines Michele admired while remaining unmistakably Napa in character: generous yet poised, luminous, and beautifully layered. From the earliest planning sessions to the finished bottle, Michele led every facet of the project from design and winemaking to production and sales.

As the first vintage found its audience, Michele felt the pull of possibility. Sparkling wine, after all, can be more than a single expression, a spectrum shaped by variety, blending philosophy, and the slow alchemy of aging en tirage. The Blanc de Noir was followed by a Blanc de Mélange—an artful blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. With backbone and body, supple fruit, and a fragrant delicacy, it is a wine that ages beautifully over time. The portfolio continued to expand with a Blanc de Blanc, a brighter, more linear expression of the house style, 100% Chardonnay with refined minerality, lift, and a silky effervescence.

 “Sparkling wine teaches you to listen,” Michele describes. “Every step felt like discovering a new language. Building the blend, waiting through tirage, learning how patience shapes texture and nuance. I love the discipline of it, but also the delight. Seeing La Dame grow from one bottle to a portfolio of distinct expressions has been one of my proudest joys.”

A decade later, Michele’s vision has flowered into a collection both cohesive and wonderfully diverse. These are sparkling wines made for collectors who understand that celebration isn’t a moment but a way of living. Today, La Dame Michele has expanded into a line of vintage bottlings, now offering four exquisite ways to celebrate in style:

La Dame Michele Blanc de Blanc: The signature expression of John Anthony Sparkling: refined, Chardonnay-driven, balancing brightness with depth. It makes quiet evenings feel intentional and grand gatherings effortless.

2017 La Dame Michele Single Vineyard Blanc de Blanc: The first single-vineyard edition, aged five years en tirage. Extended lees aging brings layers of toasted brioche, hazelnut, and stone fruit, wrapped in a fine, persistent mousse—serious, resonant, cellar-worthy.

2018 La Dame Michele Blanc de Blanc: Newly released and aged four years en tirage, this single-vineyard edition is radiant and precise. Golden apple, pear skin, lemon curd, and a polished mineral line that carries through to a silky finish.

La Dame Michele Sparkling Rosé: The inaugural sparkling Rosé, newly released—an elegant blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Wild strawberry, rose petal, and a whisper of spice glide into a crisp, romantic close.

Whether you’re opening one to mark a milestone or simply to elevate a Tuesday, La Dame Michele invites you to celebrate with intention, and in unmistakable John Anthony style. We welcome you to join us for a glass of La Dame Michele at our tasting lounge in downtown Napa.

Happy Holidays from Michele and John Anthony Truchard.

Dec 10, 2025 at 12:03 PM Permalink