Blaine Ashley is the Founder of New York Champagne Week, which first debuted in November 2013. The week’s ethos is and has always been to promote the champagne category through a variety of creative events, pairing experiences, brand launches, new release reveals, interactive tastings, seminars and more. This effervescent week of events initially served as a vehicle to connect the champagne region and brands to prospective buyers and press. In the past three years, New York Champagne Week has broadened its audience to also appeal to the global champagne enthusiast. 

In October 2018, Ashley launched a fresh, new platform – ‘The FIZZ is Female’ which shines a spotlight on leading ladies in the bubbly wine biz and celebrates sparkling wine made, owned and/or led by female powerhouses from around the world. In 2020, The FIZZ is Female began working with a team of women financial advisors to create 'The FIZZ is Female Financial Empowerment' which brings free financial planning advice to the FIZZ community.

In 2016, Ashley’s focus on all things bubbly awarded her a nod in Wine Enthusiast magazine as a 40 under 40 Tastemaker where she was aptly dubbed ‘The Champagne Queen’. 

Ashley hails from Honolulu, HI and made the segue from fashion to the wine business thirteen years ago, first as a drinks scene and travel editor for both Modern Luxury and Haute Living magazines. Upon moving to New York City in 2010, Ashley created her own monthly column opportunities published in Tasting Panel and Destinations Travel  called ‘Sipped ‘n Scene’ and ‘Jet Set Sip’ respectively. 

When not living up to her nickname “Champagne Blaine” and consuming lots of champagne, Blaine is at the beach whenever possible surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming & dipping her toes in the sand, if she’s lucky with champagne in hand.