Bubbleheads, behold our guide to Sonoma and Napa wineries that specialize in sparkling - and what bubbles you shouldn't miss when you visit.
Korbel, Guerneville
The Korbel Brothers first made wine in 1882 and, since then, their sparklers (aka "California Champagne") have become a standard on dining tables and bars across the country. A historic landmark, Korbel is a must-visit for fans of all types of sparkling. Start with a free tour of their historic winery, which includes bubble-centric memorabilia, barrel rooms, riddling racks, and the world's largest Champagne bottle. End the tour with a tasting of their most popular - and winery exclusive - sparklings. Don't miss the deli, where you can sip bubbles and enjoy gourmet sandwiches under redwood trees. 707-824-7000 13250 River Rd., Guerneville. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: Korbel Natural' ($14.99)
Korbel's Natural' is a great tasting wine at a ridiculously low price point, making it a perfect pick for a house sparkler. Dry and elegant, this chardonnay and pinot noir blend is made exclusively from Russian River grapes. Granny Smith apples, lemon, Asian pear and a touch of brioche, makes this a crowd pleaser - so much so that it has been served at the past nine presidential inaugurations. (Courtesy photo)
Schramsberg, Calistoga
Wine production started at Schramsberg in the 19th century, making it one of the oldest wineries in the state. The Calistoga winery, which is a California Historical Monument, produces cave-aged, eco-friendly sparklers that give French Champagne a run for its money. Their tasting experiences are educational, starting with a tour of the historic property and caves followed by a selection of seated tastings and food pairings. A visit to Schramsberg will provide a memorable experience for any sparkling sipper. by appointment only. 800-877-3623, 1400 Schramsberg Rd, Calistoga. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: 2008 J. Schram ($120)
I recently tasted this wine for the first time and my bubble loving head practically popped off. A true stunner, it's 82% chardonnay and is aged for 7 years, making it ready to be enjoyed now or saved for a special, much later (say 7-10 years) occasion. Elegant and creamy in taste, it has hints of fresh, winter grown Meyer lemon, warm apple cobbler, and a toasty, brioche and honey taste that one expects from the finest Champagne. (Courtesy photo)
Breathless Wines, Healdsburg
Owned by three bubble loving sisters, who have partnered with legendary winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster, Breathless produces fun-loving, refreshing sparklers. Their tasting room, located a few walkable blocks from downtown Healdsburg, offers an unpretentious and retro-inspired tasting experience with Art Deco decor. Enjoy a tasting on their patio, which is surrounded by gardens. Breathless also offers a Sabrage Experience, which teaches you how to slice open a bottle of sparkling with a sword - a necessary skill for any bubblehead. 707-395-7300, 499 Moore Ln., Healdsburg. (Photo by Genesis Botello)
Must try: Breathless Sparkling Rosé ($32)
"Rosé all day" isn't just for summer, it's for the holidays, too. This pink beauty is beautiful in the glass, and on the palate. Primarily made from pinot noir (with a touch of pinot meunier and chardonnay), Breathless Sparkling Rosé is filled with flavors of strawberry and cream and makes for a perfect pairing with fresh oysters and good friends. (Photo by Jeremy Portje)
J Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg
J, named after founder Judy Jordan, has been producing top notch sparkling in the Russian River Valley since 1986. The winery offers six sparkling options, as well as still wines for those who aren't fans of the fizz. Their unpretentious, yet elegant, tasting room just south of Healdsburg offers tasting flights and food pairing options. Make an appointment for their tasting salon, where their executive chef pairs J wines with a five-course meal. It was one of the first of its kind in Sonoma County and is still going strong. 707-431-3636, 11447 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: Cuvée 20 ($38)
Originally created to celebrate the winery's 20th anniversary in 2006, their Cuvée 20 has become a staple of J's offerings. A cool-climate sparkling produced from Russian River Valley chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, it is beautifully balanced with notes of Granny Smith apple and baking spices. It tastes creamy and delicate and offers a nice meeting point for fans of either blanc de blancs and blanc de noirs. Serve it as an aperitif with fresh local goat cheese or wild shrimp cocktail. (Courtesy photo)
JCB by Jean-Charle Boisset, Yountville
Decadence, romance, over the top, surreal - there is no shortage of adjectives to describe the world of JCB, the label created by vintner Jean-Charles Boisset. Of the many sparkling wines offered by JCB, the majority are made in France and are named after a different number that has a significance to Boisset's life. JCB's downtown Yountville tasting salon is like something out of a Salvador Dalí painting, with roses, leopard print, gold and fine art decorating every inch. It's a must-see for any wine enthusiast. Reservations are recommended. (707) 934-8237, 6505 Washington St., Yountville. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: No. 69 ($25)
"Flamboyant, vibrant and sensual" is how JCB describes one of their flagship sparklers, No. 69. Named after the year that creator Jean-Charles Boisset was born (1969), this wine, produced in Burgundy, is an elegant, easy to drink rosé made from 100% pinot noir. The dainty pink color complements a vibrant taste of ginger, raspberry, and strawberry. (Courtesy photo)
Iron Horse Vineyards, Sebastopol
Iron Horse Vineyards in Green Valley was founded in 1976 by the Sterling family. Today, three generations of the family live on the property. Specializing in sparkling wine and pinot noir, Iron Horse's wines have been served at the White House multiple times - even the Queen of England has sipped Iron Horse! The tasting room is located outside, in a rustic barn-style building which is attached to the working winery and overlooks the estate vineyards. By appointment only. (707) 820-1506, 9786 Ross Station Rd, Sebastopol. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: 2013 Russian Cuvee ($45)
I'm a history nerd, so this wine has it all - great taste and a history behind it. Created to be served exclusively at the Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings, which resulted in the Cold War ending, Iron Horse's Russian Cuvee is a lush sparkler with a zesty, yet silky, palate that can complement fried chicken or a fall apple pie with notes of fresh baked French brioche, Gravenstein apple, and baking spices. (Courtesy photo)
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma
Sonoma County's southernmost sparkling wine house, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards is often a visitor's first exposure to sparkling wines produced in Sonoma County. Gloria Ferrer offers casual tastings and by the glass wines on their patio and in their recently renovated tasting room. Guests can select plates of cheese and charcuterie to nibble on while checking out the view. Daily guided tours explain how sparkling wine is made using the traditional Champagne method. 707-933-1917, 23555 Highway 121, Sonoma. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: 2006 Carneros Cuvée ($80)
Gloria Ferrer's iconic Carneros Cuvée is all about fashion and function. The striking bottle makes for a showstopper at any special occasion and the delicious bubbly goodness inside will impress even the pickiest of bubbleheads. Made from the finest estate fruit, this wine is aged for 10 years and is filled with touches of honeydew melon, fresh baked biscuits, lemon curd and a touch of raspberry. Yum. (Courtesy photo)
Amista Vineyards, Healdsburg
Nestled among grenache and syrah vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley, Amista produces Rhône varietal - and a touch of chardonnay - wines with an emphasis on sparkling. The tasting room is housed in a giant barn, which is dog-friendly and full of art and wine barrels. Flights are offered, along with a vineyard tour and tasting which guides guests through 20 acres of estate vineyards and the winery's eco-friendly practices. If you'd rather sit and enjoy your bubbles, opt for the food pairings on the patio next to their estate vineyards. 707-431-9200, 3320 Dry Creek Rd., Healdsburg. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: Sparkling Blanc de Blanc ($45)
By buying this wine, you're not only satisfying your taste buds, but also helping others - $5 of every bottle sold benefits the Sonoma County Resilience Fund, which supports survivors of the recent, devastating fires in Sonoma County. An elegant, golden colored sparkling, it's 100% chardonnay and made with fruit from their estate vineyard, located just behind the tasting room. This sparkler is filled with flavors of lemon curd, apple pie and Kefir lime. (Courtesy photo)
Domaine Carneros, Napa
Hugging the Napa and Sonoma County border, the grand chateau of Domaine Carneros is eye catching to passersby. Founded by the Tattinger family of French Champagne fame, Domaine Carneros produces French-style sparklers from sustainably grown estate vineyards. Take in the vineyard views from a table on the patio with a flight of sparkling, or opt for the romantic - and over the top ($500 per person) - "Sparkling Suite" experience, which includes a tasting on your own private chateau balcony overlooking vineyards. Reservations required. 800-716-BRUT, 1240 Duhig Rd., Napa.
Must try: 2012 Estate Brut Cuveé ($35)
Aged three years, Domaine Carneros’ Estate Brut Cuveé is a winery exclusive. A delicate, feminine wine, it’s filled with aromas of lilac and stone fruit, paired with a creamy, brioche finish that has a lovely acid. This sparkler is primed for sharing with friends and family during holidays, served as an aperitif with fresh cheeses or paired with Dungeness crab. Age worthy - buy one to drink now and cellar the second bottle for at least 5-7 years.
Domaine Chandon, Yountville
Famed Champagne producer Moet & Chandon dipped their French hands into the American winemaking market with the founding of Chandon in 1973. Their visitor center in Yountville offers walk-in tastings of their current releases. After a taste at the bar, wander their scenic, lush gardens filled with eco-friendly native plants. This is also one of the few sparkling houses where you can buy a bottle to enjoy on property. 888-242-6366, 1 California Dr., Yountville. (Photo: @jakethewino)
Must try: Sweet Star ($24)
Sparkling enthusiasts who enjoy a touch of sweet in their bubbles will adore Sweet Star, the sweeter cousin to the brut lineup at Chandon. Even this diehard dry sparkling lover enjoyed it. Sweet Star launches with a touch of stonefruit and citrus on the nose and flavors of guava, pear and orange blossom on the tongue. After initial tasting, I also tried it mixed with a touch of fresh squeezed strawberry juice - it went down a little too fast. (Courtesy photo)
Mumm Napa, Rutherford
Mumm Napa is another sparkling wine house founded by a French wine giant: GH Mumm, a Champagne producer. Founded in the late 1970s, Mumm produces Napa Valley-sourced sparklers inspired by their French heritage. Table-side tastings are offered in their modern tasting room or on the patio, which overlooks the vineyards of surrounding Rutherford. You can also opt for a one-hour tour, which features a history of the winery, a peek into the operations, and a visit to their world-class photography art gallery that showcases original works by Ansel Adams. 707-967-7700, 8445 Silverado Trail, Rutherford. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: Brut Rosé ($24)
A consistently high scoring sparkler, Mumm's Brut Rosé is an eye-catching salmon color that is a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay made from grapes throughout Napa. A Burgundian style sparkling wine, it has bright aromas of Bing cherries, raspberry and blood orange, paired with a creamy texture that pairs great with spicy Indian food. (Courtesy photo)
Venturing outside Sonoma and Napa for some sparkling? Head to Roederer Estate in Philo. If you love French Champagne then you will love this winery, which is the American cousin of Champagne Louis Roederer. The Anderson Valley tasting room offers relaxed tastings surrounded by hummingbird-friendly gardens and rolling vineyard views. During the tasting, a mere $10 a person, you'll taste through their recent releases, including a magnum, which proves everything tastes better, bigger. (707) 895-2288, 4501 Highway 128, Philo. (Courtesy photo)
Must try: L'Ermitage 2011 ($47.99)
The "Tête de Cuvée" (a "noble blend") from Roederer, L'Ermitage is made with the best of the 2011 vintage grapes and is a must on the gift list for any French Champagne lover. Aged just over five years, this wine has a lovely aroma of Asian pear, pie crust and toasted almonds, coupled with a rich, clean mouthfeel characterized by a taste of delicate brioche, fresh citrus and a touch of spice. A special occasion sparkler, indeed. (Courtesy photo)
Bubbleheads rejoice! The holidays are here and the sparkling wine is flowing. Sparkling wine houses in Sonoma and Napa counties have put up decadent holiday decor and have plenty of special sparklers, many winery-exclusive, to taste. Click through the gallery above for our guide to the best wineries that specialize in sparkling wine – and what bubbles you shouldn’t miss when you visit.
