Battaion Cellars

Just heard that they closed down. Big bummer. Hope they find a way to give it another go! Sad news, indeed.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Sad news, Dustin & Chandra have closed their doors to their Backsmith Square tasting room & now have ceased operations altogether.
Dustin, Chandra if you still have my e-​mail & if you have some stock you want to get rid of, I’ll be happy to help out.
So sad, too bad.

My boyfriend and I who are not fond of sparkling wine went wine tasting at blacksmiths square. We we so impressed by Battaion Cellars. One of the owners was actually pouring our flight and she was very informative when it came to sparkling wine. They offered an exciting variety of bubbly. This place really changed my mind about sparkling wine. Their tasting room is a place I plan on sharing with friends.

MMM… some tasty bubbly. My hubby and son took me out to livermore for mothers day weekend. Since last year it has become our tradition. I saw on
that Battaion Cellars was having a little mommys day event. So, having never tasted there before it sounded great.
We arrived to a cute tasting room with the owners themselves pouring. They could not of been more welcoming. We have a baby and they were very accomodating and stuffed him with lots tasty treats. All four tastings were great… a purchase was a must. We agreed that the winning bottle was the 99 reserve Vintage Brut. The Blanc de Noir came in close second.
I see a return visit and purchase in my future!

It’s been dry in Livermore. For several years, not a drop was seen. Well, at least not a drop that we would want.
I have been introducing my wife to the Livermore Valley fine wineries. Until a little over a year ago, she had never been to the area. I told her of the rustic beauty of Fenestra, the horse drawn carriage at Concannon, and the beautiful Champagne cellars of Wente. I told her of the beautiful Wente grounds and the fun concerts. And with her love of Sparkling wines and Champagne she was eager to go there. So one Saturday afternoon after a release party at Murietta’s Well we ventured to Wente, only to find that the past betrayed me, for they no longer made sparkling wines by the Methode Champenoise.
We were saddened and downtrodden. We didn’t know where to turn and no advice was offered. So we went home and opened a bottle from our own cellar. The last of my Wente Sparkling Wine from previous years.
But we did not despair. Our search continued. When we visited the wineries again months later we enquired of any knowledge regarding the makers if Champagne in Livermore. We were often met with puzzled looks and downcast eyes. One hopeful soul directed us to a place nearby. But alas, their sparkling wine was flavored with Almonds. It wasn’t the pure bubbly we were seeking.
We heard a rumor that White Crane might have what we were seeking. But our quest went unfulfilled as we arrived to find them closing. And they were not pouring any bubbly that day. But hope had been given to us, though untested and unfettered as the hopes were. We were free to believe what we wanted in hopes that our dreams of local bubbly would come true.
Then suddenly our eyes were opened to the splendor of local fine sparkling wine — though quite accidentally. Last Thursday at the Pleasanton Wine Stroll (officially «Truffles, Tidbits, and Wine Tasting») we wandered Main street and enjoyed the evening. During the evening we were again offered a sparkling wine with some sort of flavoring, glad that pour buckets were nearby.
But we continued on. And near the end of the evening we looked at the map given to us and noticed that nearby was a local business that might, just might be pouring the elusive elixir. Into Acc’sentials we ventured and bubbly in bottles we did see. With trepidation we held forth our glasses which were promptly filled by a friendly young man. One sip was taken and then another. My wife and I each did a little jig as we realized what we had found. This was not some ordinary and quickly made sparkling wine with almonds or rasberries. This was the real deal.
I quickly asked the man his name. «Dustin Battion, and your» he replied. I gave him my name and proceeded to quiz him about his light golden juice of the gods. He is located in Livermore and he definitely knows proper methods of sparkling wine production. Our hopes were fulfilled, our dreams made reality. And refills were quickly offered.
His bubbly is crisp and refined. And this was just the Brut that he was pouring that night. I am eager to the Blanc de Noir and the Vintage Reserve. And this is not some afterthought, some winemaker that decided to add sparkling wine to the long list of wines. This is what Battaion Cellars is all about. Sparkling wine in the traditional «methode champenoise» style. It’s all they do and they do it right.
Visit them and enjoy the company and the wines. But don’t drink it all, I’ll be right behind you.

Three of their four bubblies were representing yesterday at the Unilocal Elite event at Charles Chocolates. I was unfamiliar with Battaion Cellars before yesterday but a Livermore wine tasting trip has been on our list for awhile now. Now that we have both experienced Battaion’s fine products, we are going to have to make that trip happen.
I started with the Cuvee Rouge. It had a luscious red color and a dry presence but a full mouth flavor. Next I dove into the Blanc de Noirs. It was a bit dryer and delicious in both color and taste. Finally, I finished with a sample of their Brut. A very classic note to end on — so very yummy.
In reflection over the three, I have to say that the Cuvee Rouge was my favorite though. I just loved the color and the fullness of the taste compared to the other two. All three were highly drinkable though and I would be happy to encounter any or all of them again.

Bubbles
+The color pink
+Alcohol = One Happy Donna
+Yelp Elite Event
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All of the above were present yesterday when Battaion (not Battalion!) came out to the Unilocal event at Charles Chocolates and brought along their delicious bubbly! Dustin was so friendly and since they are local, I look forward to placing an order with them in the future!

Unilocal invited this crew to their elite event at Charles Chocolates in Emeryville so that we could have wine pairings.
First of all, bless Unilocal for inviting a LIVERMORE winery to a Unilocal event. (A girl cannot deny her roots). And, because my favorite Unilocaler, Lea B., had already done an article on this winery (she is a reporter for Bay Area News Group), she was practically a double Elite because they knew her.
This is a sparkling wine winery. This is NOT the Asti Spumante that you thought was a big splurge when you were in college (and Kristen S. still likes a glass of that every once in a while… ssh). This is a selection of their own blends of sparkling wine. And they are amazing. I must make it back home just to buy a couple bottles. My favorite was the red. Call them up! They are not in the Livermore supermarkets yet; but they are in the private wine shops in the Tri Valley. Or just make an appointment at the winery and see for yourself. They are great people and I wish the best to them.

I was already familiar with the Battaions and their sparkling wines, but I got a reminder of how delicious each one is at the Unilocal Elite event at Charles Chocolates in Emeryville. Very cool to see Livermore represented!
The owners (who were pouring at the event) are great people. Battaion Cellars is the only all-​sparkling winemaker in Livermore (though other wineries do make a sparkling wine or two). They use Methode Champenoise that makes their wine a high-​quality product.
I think the Cuvee Rouge (a red sparkling wine) may be my favorite, but they were all enjoyable. Check them out if you haven’t already.

Dustin and Chandra Battaoin have a good thing going. The husband and wife team have made some delicious sparkling wines and their enthusiasm pays off.
I had the chance to meet both of them this Saturday at a Unilocal Event, and they’re the type of people you could see hanging out with on the deck of your house.
All the sparkling we tried had complex but delicious notes to them. Out of the Blanc de Noirs, Brut and Cuvee Rouge, the latter was my favorite. At $ 30 a bottle, it’s a steal, too.
I’m looking forward to a trip to their Livermore winery, probably much nicer than our own deck!