Welcome to the bubbly world of Napa Valley sparkling wine! Sparkling wine evokes a sense of luxury and celebration, and Napa Valley offers an array of these bubbly delights.
From well known larger sparkling wine vineyards to boutique wineries, Napa’s sparkling wine scene is as diverse as it is delicious. In this guide, we’ll explore the best sparkling wine Napa Valley and the surrounding area offers.
Best Napa Valley Sparkling Wine
Napa Valley
Napa Valley is nestled in Northern California and is known for its picturesque vineyards and world-class wines.
Its unique microclimates and diverse growing conditions make it an ideal region for producing high-quality sparkling wine.
From Napa Valley’s cooler Carneros region to the warmer upper-valley areas, Napa’s winemakers craft a wide range of sparkling wines that showcase the region. In this guide, we’ll explore the best Napa Valley sparkling wines.
Napa Sparkling Wine - What You Need to Know
Sparkling Wine, Champagne, Cava and Prosecco
Sparkling wine is a broad term encompassing any wine with bubbles. The difference between types of sparkling wines generally focuses on taste, growing location, and the types of grapes used to produce the wine.
California Sparkling Wines: California boasts a vibrant sparkling wine scene, with wineries dotted across the state, particularly in the cooler northern regions. Reflecting the diversity of California’s growing conditions and the various techniques used in production, the taste of these sparkling wines spans a broad spectrum, from dry varieties to sweet options.
The Carneros area is a prestigious grape-growing hotspot and has earned its place in the sparkling wine world. It attracts renowned names like Domaine Chandon, Domaine Carneros, and Mumm, further enhancing the region’s allure.
Champagne is the crème de la crème of sparkling wines that originates exclusively from France’s Champagne region. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier grapes are typically used in the production of wine.
Cava, from Spain’s Catalonia region, is crafted using a blend of native grapes like Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo, along with other varieties like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Prosecco, Italy’s renowned sparkling wine from Veneto, is made primarily from Glera grapes. These wines can range from semi-sparkling to fully sparkling, offering a sweeter, fruitier taste profile.
What to Look for in Napa Sparkling Wines
Style Variations: Napa Valley offers an array of sparkling wines with distinct differences influenced by aging, growing conditions, and craftsmanship. You’ll find something for everyone, from a crisp, dry brut to the fruity bubbles of a Blanc de Blanc or the sweetness of a sec, demi-sec, or cuvée.
Aging and Terroir: Pay attention to the aging process and terroir, as these factors play a crucial role in shaping the flavor profile and complexity of the wines. Wines aged for extended periods often develop greater depth, while terroir imparts unique characteristics influenced by soil composition, climate, and vineyard location.
Pairing Sparkling Wines
Pairing sparkling wines with food can elevate both the meal and the wine. You’ll quickly see how a charcuterie board with cheese, prosciutto, and fruit is a sparkling wine’s best friend, bringing out the complexities of these bubbly wines.
Many will say that sparkling wines do not need to be paired with food, and they are right. However, I enjoy experiencing how one bite of cheese, fruit, or other food item can magically transform an acidic flavor into a sweet delight.
Consider Exploring Beyond the Mainstream
While it’s tempting to only focus on well-known wineries, take notice of the smaller boutique producers and emerging labels. These hidden gems often offer innovative takes on traditional styles and a glimpse of Napa Valley’s sparkling wine scene.
Best Napa Valley Sparkling Wine
Domain Chandon
Domain Chandon is located in Yountville, approximately 9 miles north of Napa.
Domaine Chandon is the first French-owned sparkling wine producer in Napa Valley, delivering sparkling wines of unparalleled quality and sophistication.
Stepping into Chandon is a charming experience, with its elegant architectural lines, rich wood tones, and its wines perfectly showcased front and center.
In addition to an array of sparkling wines, Chandon also offers still wines, including Cabernets, Pinot Noirs, and chardonnays.
Chandon offers tastings starting at around $55. Their bottles start in the mid-$20 range; however, most appear to be in the $40-$65 range. While walk-ins are welcome, I recommend making reservations to secure your spot.
We arrived at Chandon around 3:00 on a Saturday afternoon, and there were no remaining tastings for the day. However, wine was available on their patio, and luckily for us, the server allowed us to sample several of their sparkling wines.
We thought Chandon had some of the best sparkling wine in the area. We only regretted not making reservations so we could enjoy their wine with a pairing.
Mumm Napa
Mumm Winery is located approximately 20 miles north of Napa, about 10 minutes past Chandon. Together, they make a perfect afternoon of sparkling wine tasting.
Combining French tradition with California flair, Mumm Napa produces delicious sparkling wines, including rosés and cuvées.
Tastings start at $50 and are offered indoors or on the patio; both look out over their beautiful vineyard. Mumm offers several bottles of sparkling wine in the mid-$20 range; however, most tend to fall in the $40-$60 range.
I would have loved to have enjoyed their sparkling wine with a cheese plate. Unfortunately, our last-minute reservation did not allow for that level of tasting.
Schramsberg Vineyard
Schramsberg Vineyards is beyond Chandon and Mumm as you continue on the Silverado Trail. If you are looking for the trifecta of sparkling wine tasting, these are the perfect three for a day full of sparkling wine.
If you’re staying in Napa, I recommend starting with Schramsberg, then heading back to Mumm, and then Chandon.
Schrambsberg is the only vineyard listed that we weren’t able to visit. Schrambsberg is known for its handcrafted méthodet champenoise technique, which is similar to how champagne is made. They offer nine distinctive wines, including Blanc de Blancs and Brut Rosé.
Tastings begin at $55, with bottles starting around $28. Reservations are required, so book your spot in advance.
Domaine Carneros
Domaine Carneros is a 10–15-minute drive from downtown Napa and about the same distance from Sonoma. It is known for its elegant chateau and sparkling wines crafted in the traditional méthode champenoise. They offer sparkling wines ranging from Brut Rose, Brut Cuvee, Blanc de Blancs, and a selection of Pinot Noirs.
Although we enjoyed their wines, Carneros did not offer the ambiance of some of the other vineyards we visited. However, their tastings begin in the $40 range, less expensive than most other tastings. Pairings start at an additional $25+. Reservations are required, so make sure and sign up in advance.
Our Favorite Sparkling Wine
Unexpectedly both of our favorite wineries were located in Sonoma County.
J Vineyards
J Vineyards is in the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley in Healdsburg, approximately a one-hour drive from Napa or 45 minutes from Sonoma. You’ll find J Vineyards & Winery, a true gem of California winemaking. They focus on creating traditional methods of sparkling wines and an array of delicious varietals.
We enjoyed our tasting in their Legacy Lounge and added a cheese pairing, and we were not disappointed. We found both the legacy sparkling flight and the legacy varietal flight to be exceptional. Their sophisticated cheese plate, combined with accents of fruit, perfectly accentuated the flavors of their wines.
With tastings starting around $35 and pairings costing an additional cost, they offer tastings at various price points. We found most bottles were in the $40+ range. Reservations are required for tasting.
If we lived in California, we would not have thought twice about joining their membership. In fact, this was one of two wineries that we brought wine home from.
J Vineyards should not be missed and is worth the drive from Napa. We drove back to Napa, passing Mumm and Chandon, which could make for another lovely combination for a day of wine tasting.
La Prenda
We visited the La Prenda tasting room while exploring the Sonoma Plaza, and it was the unexpected love of our trip. Our server at Mumm mentioned La Prenda was her favorite wine in Sonoma, so we stopped in at her recommendation and were equally impressed.
We were lucky to be the only group when we stopped by and had the opportunity to learn about their farm-to-table approach to their delicious small-batch wines.
Their 95476 Brut Rosé was the only sparkling wine out of five wineries I thought did not need to be paired. We enjoyed their still wines equally and happily brought some bottles home.
Itinerary Thoughts!
We found two tastings daily, was perfect particularly if you aren’t pairing them with food. However, some tasting rooms open at 10:00, where you could try a tasting and small pairing, followed by a lunch tasting around 12:30 and then a late afternoon tasting if you are limited on time and want to get experience multiple wineries.
Cheers!
You can’t go wrong exploring the Napa sparkling wineries. Whether sipping a classic Blanc de Blancs or indulging in a vibrant rosé, Napa’s sparkling wines will impress even the most discerning palates. So raise your glass and toast to the magic of Napa Valley’s sparkling wine scene – cheers!
Trudy Tip: If you want to explore any of these wines at home, many of the wineries mentioned have at least one selection of their wine at larger U.S. supermarkets or stores that sell wine.
Thanks For Reading This Post!
Let me know in the comment section below if you’ve tried any of these wineries in the Napa and Sonoma regions. Let us know if you have other sparkling favorites to add to this list.
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