9 California Bubblies Perfect for Valentine’s Day & Beyond
Editor’s note: We are big fans of bubbles. We’ve previously shared our picks for affordable international bubbly, sustainable Champagnes, and a dive into Brut Nature Champagne.
California is known around the world for its vibrantly fruity and rich whites, rose and red wines, but not as much for its elegant sparkling wines. In Champagne, France, the global benchmark for sparkling wine, the weather couldn’t be any different, with classic Champagne grapes chardonnay, pinot noir and to a lesser extent pinot meunier struggling to get ripe at all. The weather in northern France is very cold, unlike most of California, so grapes that would fully ripen here have barely a chance to show any fruit at all, leaving grapes that are extremely high in acid with only enough grape sugar to convert into a rather low range of alcohol. The resilient Champenoise, with struggle part of their DNA, have made lemonade out of their lemons, figuring out over time how to convert their extremely acidic base wine into some of the most luxurious, decadent and expensive wines on the planet. Once reserved for high society, Champagne has gone so mainstream it is mentioned in many rap songs.
Can any other region in the world lay claim to such special sparkling wine, with its lingering effervescence, and tiny bubbles, a result of long aging in the bottle on its side in the cool crayeres – chalk caves – of Champagne, developing the trademark yeasty flavors of brioche, almond croissant, and marzipan?
Climate Matters
In warmer climates the ability to fully ripen grapes is a handicap when it comes to producing high quality sparkling wine. California’s top producers therefore have learned to plant in cooler areas – primarily along the coast or at higher elevations – and to pick the grapes when they are barely ripe, allowing the production, in line with Champagne, of highly acidic base wine. Chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier are the most common, though a handful of wineries add pinot blanc to the mix. One of our featured wines is made with 100% syrah, a tasty anomaly.
Once the grapes are converted into base wines, the conversion to Champagne, with a second fermentation in bottle followed by long aging is the same. Methode Traditionnelle, formerly known as Methode Champenoise, is the formal name for this strictly regulated process. When you see it on the label it is an indication of a higher quality sparkling wine than say a Prosecco for example. Here are our recommended picks for Valentine’s Day!
nv Piper Sonoma Brut Sonoma County $21.99 13.5% abv
This hand-harvested chardonnay-based blend, with a touch of pinot noir and pinot blanc is light, crisp and dry with a lingering sparkle and notes of lemon, clementine, yellow apple and buttermilk biscuit. Recommended pairings are crab cakes, sauteed shrimp or sushi.
nv Angels & Cowboys Brut California $24.99 12% abv
This 56% pinot noir 44% chardonnay blend, sourced from vineyards in Mendocino, Sonoma and Solano counties, is flavorful and dry with fine, lingering effervescence and notes of yellow apple, bosc pear, ginger ale and toasted almond. Offer it with a platter of Brie cheese, nuts, water crackers and sliced pears.
nv Mirabelle Brut Rose California $28.99 12.8% abv
This hand-picked blend of 52% pinot noir 48% chardonnay from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino is vibrant, tangy and dry with a lingering effervescence and notes of candied citrus, apricot, dried pineapple and pound cake. Schramsberg produces this multi-vintage wine, and recommend pairing it with Caprese Salad, Poke tuna, fried chicken, BBQ port ribs or Hawaiian Pizza.
2019 Schramsberg Brut Rose North Coast $48 12.9 % abv
This blend of hand-picked pinot noir and chardonnay grown along California’s cool northern coastline is medium-bodied, elegant and dry with a fine, lingering effervescence and notes of lemon curd, raspberry tart, nectarine and orange blossom brioche. They recommend it pizza, roast chicken, or a platter of cheeses, charcuterie, nuts and fresh fruit.
2018 Priest Ranch Brut Rose Napa Valley $60 12% abv
The Priest Ranch hillside vineyards are high and cool, well above Napa’s hot valley floor. The hillside vineyards range from 800 ft. to1,600 ft. and are planted exclusively to Syrah. The resulting wine is elegant and dry with a fine, persistent effervescence and notes of raspberry, cherry, fig and cinnamon toast. Recommended pairings include caviar and crème Fraiche, or spicy dishes.
This 71% Pinot Noir/29% chardonnay blend, grown in California’s coolest appellation – Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA, is full and ripe with a long-lasting effervescence and notes of pomegranate. raspberry, cherry and ginger wafer. The winery recommends this with steak, or with any special holiday feast.
2019 Domaine Carneros Brut Rose Carneros $46 12% abv
This 58% Pinot Noir/42% chardonnay blend is elegant and subtle with fine, lasting bubbles and notes of grilled nectarine, strawberry tart, shortbread and amaretti cookies. Vegan. Recommended pairings are pork belly, stuffed mushroom or strawberry shortcake.
This 5-year aged 59% pinot noir 41% chardonnay blend is rich and characterful with an incredibly fine, integrated and lingering effervescence and notes of hibiscus tea, peach cobbler and vanilla iced Churro. Vegan. Recommended pairings are dark chocolate or peach pie.
2016 Domaine Carneros Le Reve Rose Carneros $145 12% abv
This 55% Pinot Noir 45% chardonnay blend from selected blocks on the estate is rich and decadent with very fine, very long lasting and fine effervescence and notes of pomegranate, peach tart, spiced gingerbread and candied violet. Vegan.
Recommended pairings are rich cheeses, orange glazed duck or cheesecake.
This rare and decadent gift pack, a trio of exquisite Rose wines, is as impressive as it gets with one bottle each of 2019 Brut Rosé, 2017 Late Disgorged Rosé, and 2016 Le Reve Rosé presented in a gorgeous rose gold box. 100 available, winery direct, $270