Mindful Drinking, Modern Bubbles, and What Comes Next for Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine is changing.

It’s no longer reserved for milestones, midnight countdowns, or special occasions only. Today, bubbles are showing up in quieter moments too — weeknight dinners, afternoon tastings, mindful choices, and moments where presence matters just as much as celebration.

That shift is exactly what inspired a recent episode of Between The Bubbles, where I sat down with Lindsay Schatz, Winemaker at Evolve Sparkling House, and Anahita, Pouget, Director of Brand Development and Marketing, to talk about how sparkling wine is evolving — and how Evolve is leaning into that evolution with intention.

This conversation wasn’t just about new product launches. It was about culture, changing consumer behaviour, and what modern drinkers are actually looking for when they reach for bubbles.

A Growing Category, Fueled by Curiosity

“There’s so much more sparkling wine being made out there now,” says Schatz. “In lots of different ways, with lots of different varietals. People are really exploring what the Okanagan can give as far as sparkling wine goes — and it’s exciting to see.”

That excitement is something I hear constantly. Whether I’m hosting guests on The Bubbles Bus or simply parked downtown, people stop to ask about sparkling wine. The first thing they usually say?

“I love bubbles.”

Sparkling wine is no longer niche — it’s approachable, expressive, and increasingly part of everyday life. And that growing curiosity is pushing producers to think differently about how, when, and why bubbles are enjoyed.

Two New Releases, One Clear Intention

Evolve Sparkling House recently introduced two new additions to its portfolio:

• Dealcoholized Sparkles, crafted from Gewürztraminer
  

• Light Sparkles (7%), a traditional blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

At first glance, these might look like trend-driven releases. But the thinking behind them runs much deeper.

“We have so many sparkling wines in our portfolio,” Anahita explains. “And people really do love bubbles. But what we’re seeing now is a new feeling of no exclusions — no one left out.”

Mindful Drinking Without Exclusion

Mindful drinking is often misunderstood as restriction. In reality, it’s about choice.

“It’s not that people don’t want alcohol,” Anahita says. “Sometimes you’re the designated driver.

Sometimes you have responsibilities later. But you still want to enjoy the moment — and it doesn’t even have to be a celebration.”

These wines were created for real-life scenarios:

• Drivers who still want to participate

• Guests who want one more tasting without overdoing it

• Social moments that call for elegance, not excess

And importantly, they were designed to feel like sparkling wine — not a compromise.

“We were very pleased with how we could maintain traditional varieties and still bring the bubble,” Anahita adds. “You still get that feeling — just with more consciousness.”

Innovation, Grounded in Tradition

From a winemaking perspective, creating dealcoholized sparkling wine presented a new challenge — and one Schatz welcomed.

“I don’t want to plateau,” she says. “I like being challenged.”

Rather than treating these wines as something separate, Schatz approached them as sparkling wines from the start — picking grapes at sparkling parameters, fermenting them dry, and working carefully to preserve freshness, acidity, and aroma before gently removing the alcohol.

“I wanted them to fit naturally into the Evolve portfolio,” she explains. “To grow as sparkling wines first.”

The result is something that feels intentional, thoughtful, and aligned with the winery’s broader philosophy — not an afterthought.

From Wine to Experience: The “Lighten Up” Tasting

These ideas don’t stop at the bottle.

At Evolve Sparkling House, they’ve been translated into a new tasting experience called Lighten Up, designed for guests who want flexibility without missing out.

“We didn’t want to think like a winery,” Anahita says. “We wanted to think like a place where people feel comfortable.”

Whether guests are pacing themselves, planning to visit multiple wineries, or simply choosing a lighter option, the goal is the same: enjoyment without pressure.

That focus on comfort, inclusion, and choice has quickly become one of the defining elements of the Evolve experience — and one of the reasons guests consistently rank it as a standout stop in the Okanagan.

Why This Conversation Belongs Between The Bubbles

This episode captures exactly why Between The Bubbles exists.

Sparkling wine isn’t just about what’s in the glass — it’s about people, place, intention, and how wine fits into modern life. These are conversations that need space, nuance, and voices from those shaping what comes next.

And they don’t always fit neatly into a tasting note.

Watch the Full Conversation

To hear Lindsay Schatz and Anahita Pouget dive deeper into:

• The future of sparkling wine

• Mindful drinking and changing occasions

• Innovation inside a traditional framework

• What’s next for Evolve Sparkling House

👉 Watch the full episode of Between The Bubbles on YouTube