The News
Rue de Rêve, a female-founded apéritif brand based in the San Francisco Bay Area, launched three all-natural apéritifs—Rosé, Blanc, and Rouge—for National Apéritif Day on April 20, 2026. The products are made with small-production, organic California wines, grape spirits, fruit, and botanicals. Each is designed to be enjoyed over ice and can be used in cocktails or spritzes.
When a Bay‑area brand drops three new apéritifs on National Apéritif Day, bars and buyers immediately ask how the launch will fit into their cocktail calendars and shelf plans. Rue de Rêve is answering that question with a trio of Sonoma‑County‑based expressions—Rosé, Blanc and Rouge—each finished at Griffo Distillery in Petaluma on April 26, 2026.
All three are 750 ml bottles built from organic Sonoma‑County grapes, finished in a zero‑waste facility. The Rosé is a Provençal‑style wine infused with strawberry, mint and rose hip; the Blanc blends tangerine and elderflower into an unoaked Russian River Valley Chardonnay; the Rouge mixes orange, cardamom and gentian root with carbonic Zinfandel to deliver 18 % ABV. Each expression comes in a 15–18 % ABV band that is typical for wine‑based apéritifs.
Rue de Rêve prices each bottle at $42, placing the line squarely in the premium tier and matching high‑end imports while still offering a higher‑proof, botanically driven alternative to classic spritzers. The 45‑state shipping capability—outpacing the IWSR average of 28 states for small craft producers—provides an attractive reach for distributors and retailers alike.
The brand’s “Dream Street Spritz” recipe, which blends soda with sparkling wine, is available online and can be made with any of the three expressions. That recipe positions Rue de Rêve as a versatile back‑bar ingredient that can be served chilled over ice or in low‑ABV cocktails.
Distributor take‑away
- Allocate the 45‑state reach to high‑margin markets where organic, zero‑waste products resonate.
- Pair Rouge with botanical gin or vodka on menus to create a 15–18 % ABV mix that appeals to light‑to‑mid‑price cocktail shoppers.
- Use the Dream Street Spritz as a marketing hook for both retail and on‑premise channels, highlighting the brand’s organic credentials.
The launch signals that California craft apéritifs can compete in the premium segment with strong distribution and clear product positioning.
Original Press Release
Three all-natural California apéritifs, one beautiful ritual for celebration
San Francisco Bay Area, Calif. (April 2026) - National Apéritif Day is a celebration of one of the great European traditions - taking time to pause at the end of the day and enjoy a pre-dinner drink meant to open up the appetite. Rue de Rêve, the Bay Area female-founded apéritif brand, was created to honor this cherished ritual and serve it up with a California flair. Founded by two longtime friends with a shared love of travel, drink, and design, Rue de Rêve is dedicated to inspiring a new American apéritif culture.
The portfolio of three expressions - Rosé, Blanc and Rouge - is made with small-production, organic California wines, grape spirits, fruit, and botanicals. Each is designed to be enjoyed over ice, nuanced and satisfying on its own. All three also make a compelling spritz with a splash of soda or a combination of soda and sparkling wine, and there are endless ways to enjoy Rue de Rêve in cocktails.
Rue de Rêve Rosé brings bright strawberry, fresh mint and a hint of rose hip, made with Provençal-style Rosé wine from the Northern California Coast. Light, aromatic and a beautiful way to awaken the palate.
Rue de Rêve Rosé brings bright strawberry, fresh mint and a hint of rose hip, made with Provençal-style Rosé wine from the Northern California Coast. Light, aromatic and a beautiful way to awaken the palate.
Rue de Rêve Blanc leads with ripe tangerine and delicate elderflower, crafted from unoaked Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Vibrant and floral, it is a natural and more refined alternative to the Hugo Spritz.
Rue de Rêve Blanc leads with ripe tangerine and delicate elderflower, crafted from unoaked Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Vibrant and floral, it is a natural and more refined alternative to the Hugo Spritz.
Rue de Rêve Rouge is the boldest expression: orange, cardamom and gentian root layered over Beaujolais-style Zinfandel. Bittersweet and complex, it is a natural stand-in for Aperol or Campari, with a depth of flavor that those brands don't offer.
Rue de Rêve Rouge is the boldest expression: orange, cardamom and gentian root layered over Beaujolais-style Zinfandel. Bittersweet and complex, it is a natural stand-in for Aperol or Campari, with a depth of flavor that those brands don't offer.
"National Apéritif Day feels personal to us. Rue de Rêve was born from a shared love of the apéritif ritual, that time when the day softens and anything feels possible. We wanted to make a drink worthy of that moment, with all-natural ingredients and organic wine. We raise a glass to everyone who takes the time to pause and dream each day," share Jennifer Kimpe and Jeanne-Marie Hebert, Co-Founders of Rue de Rêve.
In celebration of National Apéritif Day, Rue de Rêve has created three alternatives to popular spritzes like Aperol and the Hugo Spritz. The Dream Street Spritz can be made with the Rosé, Blanc and Rouge varietals, all with very distinct flavor profiles. Spritz to your liking by simply adding soda or a combination of soda and sparkling wine or prosecco. Dream Street Spritz recipes for all three expressions are available online.
In 2025, Rue de Rêve received numerous prestigious awards from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Sunset International Wine Competition and the L.A. Spirits Awards - including “Best Apéritif.” There is no better occasion than National Apéritif Day to discover why.
Rue de Rêve apéritifs are available in select stores and restaurants in California or for purchase online with shipment to 45 states. Follow @ruedereveaperitifs for updates on availability, events, and inspiration on how to enjoy the apéritif experience.
Sources consulted (web research):
- Rue De R Ve Rouge 133067
- Rue De Reve Aperitifs To Dream On
- Piedmont Profile Jeanne Marie Heberts Aperitif Venture Started With A…
- Ruedereveaperitifs site
- Rpt Focus Aperitif Anyone Spirits Firms Chase Cocktail For Growth Idu…
Source: BevNET