Our latest Beauty Bosses are Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger and Constance Jablonski, Co-Founders of French Bloom—a collection of premium sparkling wines with zero alcohol. Their alcohol-free French sparkling cuvées are made from organic de-alcoholized chardonnay and pinot noir, and are organic, vegan, low calorie, and safe for pregnant women to enjoy.

Frerejean-Taittinger, who worked at the Michelin Guide, and Jablonski, a French model, are longtime friends who discovered a lack of sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks on the market. As a result, they created French Bloom as an alternative to those wanting to celebrate elegantly and differently without being left out at social gatherings.

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Made and bottled in the southwest of France, French Bloom’s cuvées are free of sulfites and conservatives, and the brand has positioned itself as a market leader in the super premium 0.0% alcohol sparkling wine category. It was named the “World’s Best Alcohol-Free Sparking” by a panel of experts in a blind tasting for the renowned 2022 World’s Best Sparkling Awards.

Currently, their offerings include Le Blanc, a blend of de-alcoholized organic French Chardonnay wine, and Le Rosé, French Bloom's signature French Chardonnay wine with a touch of Pinot-Noir. Their beverages are available at iconic venues around the world ranging from The Ritz-Paris to The Beverly Hills Hotel, with its distribution quickly expanding as the brand enters the U.S. market.

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More than just beverages, their sparkling wines are a tribute to fresh beginnings and embody reinvention. From those leading sober lifestyles and expectant mothers to those in search of something new or different, French Bloom offers something for everyone to enjoy.

We chatted with Frerejean-Taittinger and Jablonski, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, favorite beauty and wellness tips, and much more.

When was French Bloom founded?

CJ: After more than two years of research and development, we launched French Bloom in France in October 2021 and quickly positioned ourselves as the market leader of the super premium 0.0% alcohol sparkling wine category—a category that we created as we launched the brand! We then introduced French Bloom to the States in November 2022 right on time for Thanksgiving and the holiday season.

In less than two years, demand has brought French Bloom to 28 countries and this remarkable journey has been recognized with industry accolades including the title of World's Best Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine and numerous gold medals, and Partner of the Michelin Guide, underscoring French Bloom's commitment to exceptional quality and innovation.

What inspired the creation of the brand?

MFT: It all started more than four years ago. During this period, I was managing the international development for the Michelin Guide. At the time I was expecting twins and Constance was at the height of her career as a fashion model, balancing her social life with her well-being. We had become friends from our days in New York where we bonded regularly at our favorite downtown Pilates class.

We both realized that we could not find a non-alcoholic alternative to elegant, celebratory drinks. We were both feeling excluded, left with the choice of water or sometimes a juice, but we could not find a non-alcoholic alternative to elegant, celebratory wines. We founded French Bloom with the ambition not to exclude anyone, and allow everyone to have drink options at the same level and experience of fine wines and champagnes. We let everyone sit at the same table, savor the moment, and celebrate as they wish!

With French Bloom you feel happy, light-hearted, and comfortable in any occasion. You will never feel excluded or solitary. We encourage the emergence of "French conviviality and art de vivre.” French Bloom sparkling wines are not only organic, but also vegan and halal certified, making them the ideal drink of choice for those who prefer to be a part of the celebration without sacrificing their well-being.

What’s the meaning behind the name?

MFT: “French” stands for the story of an encounter that has roots in France, surrounded by vines and French winemaking know-how of the founding families. It is a story of a bi-cultural friendship with origins in the States and France.

CJ: And “Bloom” for enjoying life with the ones we love—we are the best versions of ourselves. We come into full bloom, become radiant and glowing, to flourish in youthful beauty, freshness, and excellence.

Does French Bloom have a hero product/flavor?

MFT: French Bloom benefits from the knowledge of France's centuries of savoir-faire in sparkling wine processes to elaborate a new excellence of French celebration, but without alcohol this time. We spent more than two years on R&D and over 70 iterations to finally release our two organic cuvées Le Blanc and Le Rosé, which provide two unique flavor profiles but with a familiar character and heart between the two.

We start with our unique blend of 100% organic chardonnay from France to respect the integrity of flavors and we remove the alcohol to get it to 0.0%. We then add organic natural ingredients to rebuild that flavor architecture, like organic lemon, to revive the wine and develop character and mouthfeel.

We never add sugar, we don’t have sulfites or conservatives, we work almost as in naturopathy to achieve the final product. The end result is an organic sparkling wine with a natural nose, nothing synthetic, lots of flavor, and a very clean finish!

What’s your favorite flavor/product from the brand?

CJ: In November 2023 we introduced the Baby Bloom Box! It includes half-bottles (375ml) of Le Blanc and Le Rosé in a personalizable box. It is a great gift for any celebrations and holidays—birthdays, Valentine’s Day, baby showers, Dry January or Mother’s Day amongst others. When we developed the set, we felt it was also perfect for first-time consumers who want to try both French Bloom cuvées prior to committing to a full-size bottle. We also offer engraving on the 750ml bottles, which is an exclusive service only available in the States on our site. You can make each bottle uniquely yours.

Where are your products sold?

CJ: French Bloom is available to purchase on our site, as well as Boisson, ReserveBar.com, Drizly, and MiniBar. You will also find us in all Erewhon stores! You can also discover French Bloom at some of the best restaurants and hotels such as The Carlyle NYC, The Beverly Hills Hotel, the Four Seasons Chicago, Cecconis West Hollywood, The Surf Lodge and internationally renowned venues like Le Ritz Paris, Le Meurice, George V, Annabel's, The Savoy, The Raffles London, The Bvlgari Dubai, and many more!

As of December 2023, French Bloom is on board of all La Compagnie flights operating between New York and its three European destinations—Paris, Milan, and Nice during the summer—offering travelers a refined and refreshing alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages as they journey across the pond.

Future plans for the brand?

MFT: We are closely watching the growing segment of customers looking to reduce their consumption of alcohol whether they are pregnant women, allergic to alcohol, fully sober or simply looking for a night off alcohol without sacrificing their social life! In fact, most of our customers are what we consider ‘flexi-drinkers’ who mix alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, sometimes even in the same evening.

In addition to the geographical and distribution expansions, we will continue to introduce new formats of our two Cuvées. We are also working on a prestige product that we are at the final stage of developing! We are super excited to expand our horizons and to keep the momentum going in such a dynamic and growing sobriety trend of people who are embracing the sober-curious and mindful drinking movements either for one night, temporary or even more permanently.

Who inspires you?

MFT: I greatly admire another Maggie—Margareth Henriquez, CEO of French luxury glassmaker Baccarat, and former President and CEO of Champagne Krug, one of the world's finest and most iconic champagne houses. Maggie is the definition of a trailblazer; she’s the first Latin American to run a French champagne house, and she’s one of just a handful of women who have reached similar positions in the wine and spirits industry. What’s more, she brought Champagne Krug into the 21st century with inspiring leadership, which successfully positioned the Maison as one of the world's best.

CJ: I'm a huge fan of Clara Gaymard, who had so many different lives. She worked in politics, as a business entrepreneur, as an essayist, was the CEO of GE for many years, and later co-founded RAISE, an investment fund. I went to see her film a podcast where she opened up about her career, but what impressed me the most was to learn about her personal life as a mother to nine children.

Secret to success?

MFT: Take the leap! The worst advice I ever heard was, “Launch your business when you’re ready.” I think that the truth of the matter is you’ll never be ready. You only learn by doing, and there’s no escaping that learning curve. With Constance, we kind of pushed each other out there, and after testing 70-something recipes to get the product where is today, we said, “Let’s go, let’s do it.”

Beauty secrets?

CJ: Beauty truly comes from within. Reducing my sugar and alcohol consumption will always be the first steps to beautiful skin. I’m also a huge fan of the famous wim Hoff cold therapy. Taking cold showers every day can have so many benefits—it boosts your immune system and improves your blood circulation as well as reducing stress, depression and more!

Wellness tips? 

CJ: “You are what you eat” is definitely my favorite mantra. Paying attention to what you put inside your body is crucial to feel the best version of yourself. Limit your sugar consumption, avoid junk food or saturated fat and eat a little bit of everything. Nourishing yourself truly also means paying attention to three important pillars:

• Work on finding a career you love, a project that drives you.

• Keep moving, play a sport you love or walk just 30 minutes every day. Standing still for too long is a no-go.

• And don’t sacrifice your social life. We as humans are pack animals. We do need time alone, but only in order to feel better with others—without friends or family we can’t glow.

Best advice?

MFT: The single best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur is to start focusing on empathy. I know, you’re probably thinking, can that be developed? My answer is yes. It’s about moving regularly beyond our own world views to try to understand those held by other people. It’s about acknowledging your own biases, we all have them. And stepping out of your bubble.

Empathy is imperative in the alcohol-free drinks business. I'm speaking regularly with leaders in the hospitality industry, mega event organizers, the travel sector, on why it is no longer acceptable to not have alcohol-free options “at the same level and experience of fine wines and champagnes” for all guests, not just the majority in the room. And for me, that's about empathy.

And I strive regularly to put myself in the shoes of a French Bloom customer in the more than 28 countries we are present in to understand what they are looking for in terms of concept, taste, and the entire experience around the brand. I’m proud that with French Bloom, we are helping create more inclusive and long-lasting celebrations.

CJ: The best advice I’ve received is anything is possible if you work hard for it; practice makes perfect, and it's really a gift to be able to learn new things at different stages of our lives. The only barriers we have are the ones we create for ourselves; be patient, do something that sparks joy in you, and never make yourself indispensable for things you really hate doing.

Favorite way to relax?

CJ: I always recharge in nature. To relax, I go to our countryside house in Le Perche, where we spend the weekend walking in the woods, staying by the fireplace, playing the piano, cooking, and just spending quality time with our loved ones.

For more information, visit French Bloom’s website and follow on Instagram: @french.bloom

[Photos courtesy of French Bloom]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk