Schramsberg Vineyards: A Sparkling Occasion

Many people reserve sparkling wine for special occasions, and others allow it to make any occasion special. However you approach it, there is a great experience waiting for you at Schramsberg Vineyards in Calistoga. 

This property was one of the first wineries in the Napa Valley, second only to Charles Krug. With that, they have developed a rich history of producing fine sparkling wines that have been served at official State functions by every U.S. Presidential administration starting with President Nixon. Schramsberg produces excellent sparkling wines that are crafted with several of the old practices through a history that spans over 50 years. 

Tours are available by appointment only, and they provide great insight into the production and handling of sparkling wines. The experience is informative and intriguing. A big part of the experience is conducted in the cave, which initially was dug by hand. Many visitors are surprised (like I was) to see the stacks and stacks of aging bottles that are gathering dust as they gracefully age – some as long as seven years before release. 

This historic cave serves as a natural storage space for the bottles. Being deep in the mountain, it provides a constant, cool temperature along with high humidity that is needed for long-term storage. Our guide provided a great overview and took the group through the steps of making sparkling wine as we walked through the cave. He highlighted the hands on process that Schramsberg employs to make their distinctive wines even today. 

While the tour of the cave was informative and interesting, the best was yet to come. That, of course, being the tasting! Our group was seated, served, and introduced, one by one, to six different sparkling wines. The wines ranged from Brut (very little residual sugar) to Demi-Sec, which had great creaminess and more residual sugar. One of the highlights of the tasting was the 2009 reserve. It was big, rich and full bodied with great fruit. I enjoyed the opportunity to experience the differences of each wine and enjoyed them all. It was a tour and tasting that was well worth the time. I highly recommend the experience when you get the chance to visit the Napa Valley. 

I use the word sparkling and not Champagne as that name is only used for sparkling wine produced in the Champagne area of France. Sparkling wines in the U.S. simply go by the term “sparkling.” No matter what the term you use, though – it can be a refreshing way to usher in the close of the workday!