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Napa Valley is mostly known for rich cabernet sauvignon and bold red wines instead of sparkling wine. If sparkling wine is what you love, there are many Napa sparkling wine tastings that will give you delicious award winning bubbles and beautiful views. In this blog post, I’ll show you where to find the best sparkling wine in Napa.
The best sparkling wineries in Napa are Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon, Mumm Napa and Schramsberg Vineyards. I have also included some details on Castello di Amorosa as they offer some sweet sparkling wines as part of their tasting menu in a fabulous castle setting.
Often we think about sparkling wines and champagnes for special occasions. No need to wait for special occasions – these Napa sparkling wineries are open almost daily, year round. Keep reading to find out all about the best sparkling wineries in Napa.
The best Sparkling Wineries in Napa Valley
You’ll find sparkling wine in Napa Valley instead of “Champagne” as Champagne gets its name from a unique Champagne region of France. Only sparkling wines made in this region can be called “Champagne”.
Napa Valley has some of the best sparkling wines I have tasted and beautiful views to match.
Best Sparkling Wineries in Napa Valley – Domaine Carneros
I spent a sunny Monday afternoon sipping delicious sparkling wine and admiring the beautiful views at Domaine Carneros. My family came to visit from Ireland and we spent three wonderful days in Napa exploring and wine tasting.
I live quite locally in San Francisco and have passed by the beautiful Domaine Carneros many times. It’s been on my list of Napa sparkling wineries to visit for some time. After having experienced a Domaine Carneros sparkling wine tasting, I can share that it was as fabulous as I thought it would be.
The Chateau is absolutely beautiful, the views are breathtaking and the California sparkling wines are just as good. We sat outside on the outdoor terrace for our Napa sparkling wine tasting and enjoyed the rolling hills and vineyards surrounding us. The Chateau is even more beautiful up close.
The Northern California winery has some of the best sparkling wines that I have tasted. Domaine Carneros was founded by the Champagne Taittinger family. The castle is located in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. It is situated on a grand hill overlooking estate vineyards.
Domaine Carneros is best known as a small grower-producer of méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, estate vineyards, and a beautiful castle. Renowned Wine maker Eileen Crane led and ran Domaine Carneros from the opening right up until 2020.
The Napa Valley historic property has a grand staircase, formal gardens, a beautiful tasting room, expansive outdoor terraces, a marble-floored fireside salon and stunning views of vine-covered hills. The french estate setting is the perfect place to visit for a special occasion or for a fancy wine tasting with friends and family.
Domaine Carneros is one of the few Napa Valley wineries that offers table service. There are various food pairings that you can add to your wine tasting. You can choose from cheese plates, meat plates, smoked salmon, caviar, and vegan cheese plates. The charcuterie plates and small cheese sampler seemed very popular on the day I visited. These can be ordered on the day and do not need to be ordered ahead.
To read more about Domaine Carneros, see my full review here.
Best Sparkling Wineries in Napa Valley – Domaine Chandon
Another one of the best sparkling wineries in Napa is Domaine Chandon. They have a tasting room and also a beautiful garden with ample seating. It feels like you are in a park sipping some of the best sparkling wineries.
This Napa sparkling winery is owned by LVMH (owners of Moet Hennessy). The Company has a rich history and a wide variety of top quality wines.
While Domaine Chandon are primarily known for their California sparkling wines, they also have great wines including red wines such as cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir. I also love some of their limited editions that they bring out seasonally.
I recently tasted their Garden Spritz and it is amazing! I also love their brut rosé. They also have award winning reserve wines. I always bring a few bottles home when I visit. It’s always a nice treat to have some quality wine at home too.
This Napa sparkling winery also offers food pairings including pizza, oysters, cheese boards and caviar. What more could you need to have the best time with friends and family.
I highly recommend popping by Domaine Chandon to ensure some delicious sparkling wines in Napa Valley.
Best Sparkling Wineries in Napa Valley – Mumm Napa
Mumm Napa is another sparkling winery in Napa. The sparkling winery can be found on Silverado Trail in Rutherford. Mumm Napa’s roots can be traced back to GH Mumm, one of the leading international champagne brands in France. Mumm Napa was established in California in the late 1970s.
Mumm Napa follows traditional method and winemaking techniques of its French heritage to create exquisite, award winning Napa sparkling wines. Mumm Napa is well known for its sparkling wine production and great wines. This is another perfect wine country outing to enjoy some sparkling wine. Mumm Napa offers tastings of their delicious sparkling wines on their outdoor patio, on their oak terrace or tucked away in a private spot for a private tasting.
Smaller food pairings are offered by Mumm Napa. If you choose to enjoy the oak terrace tasting, you’ll enjoy a tasting of limited-production reserve wines and seasonal cheese selections. Mumm Napa is definitely another one of the best sparkling wineries in Napa. Whether you are looking for a quality sparkling rosé, views of Napa Valley or a luxurious place to catch up with friends, Mumm Napa will be a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.
If you are in the Rutherford area, I also loved visiting Beaulieu Vineyards which is another Rutherford winery. This winery serves red wine tastings only.
See all the options for sparkling wine tastings at Mumm Napa here.
Best Sparkling Wineries in Napa Valley – Castello di Amorosa
If you are a regular reader, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of castles and large country houses. One of my favorite wineries in Napa is Castello di Amorosa.
While it is not specifically a sparkling winery, the tasting menu offers some dessert wine that have bubbles. One of my all time favorite wines is La Fantasia, which is a sweet, sparkling Italian style frizzante (soft sparkling) wine. It is naturally sweet and lower in alcohol, with bright aromas of summer strawberry, pomegranate, and wild berries. There are also other sparkling options to choose from on the extensive tasting menu. Definitely one of the best sparkling wines in Napa in my opinion!
Castello di Amorosa was built by Dario Sattui, the great grandson of pioneering Bay Area vintner Vittorio Sattui. After earning an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley in 1969, Dario traveled around Europe and lived out of an old VW van.
In 1972, he returned to the U.S. and he reopened V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena in 1975. The winery turned a profit in the first year of operation.
Today, Castello di Amorosa is considered an architectural masterpiece with all the elements of an authentic medieval castle: a moat, drawbridge, five towers, high defensive ramparts, courtyards and loggias, a chapel, secret passage ways, stables, high walls, an armory, and even a torture chamber. There are 107 rooms in total with no two rooms alike.
Castello di Amorosa is one of the most beautiful wineries in Napa Valley. It is an amazing and unique experience. The castle is a beautiful place with incredible views and premium wine tasting. Planning your visit to Castello di Amorosa well in advance is recommended. The Napa Castle is popular for tourists and locals alike and books up fast. I have visited Castello di Amorosa multiple times and it has been exciting each and every time.
A Castello di Amorosa reservation is required to visit Castello di Amorosa. All of the entrance fees or general admission include 5 wine tastings. There are various options available from seated tastings to standing tastings to private tastings. Each one is special in their own way. I have enjoyed both seated and standing tastings over the years and loved both. It’s one of the best wineries if you enjoy a variety of wines as there are a lot to choose from during your tasting.
To read all about this castle winery in Napa, read my full review here.
Best Sparkling Wineries in Napa Valley – Schramsberg Vineyards
Another Napa Sparkling winery that is renowned for its sparkling wine is Schramsberg Vineyards.
Schramsberg’s founders, Jack and Jamie Davies were determined to seek out a simpler, more meaningful life. In 1965, after a yearlong search, they discovered a run-down winery on the mountainside above St. Helena. The 19th century Victorian mansion presided over the tangled remains of once stately gardens and underground cellars. The historic Schramsberg property had been abandoned for years, but the Davies family were looking for a challenge. On that day they decided Schramsberg would be brought back to life.
The Davies had an ambition to make wine, but not just any wine. They were setting out to produce a world-class sparkling winel. Later that year, the 1965 Blanc de Blancs came to be, and would be the first commercial use of Chardonnay in American sparkling wine.
There are different tasting options at Schramsberg vineyards including a sparkling wine tasting, a sparkling and red tasting and a custom tasting of 6 wines. You can also do a cave tour as part of your tasting to see the historic caves.
Schramsberg Vineyards is another great Napa sparkling winery to visit.
See more on the Vineyard here.
If you happen to be in the St. Helena area, I highly recommend visiting Beringer vineyard. It’s a beautiful house with delicious red and white wines on offer.
Hope you enjoyed my round up of the best sparkling wineries in Napa Valley. Don’t forget to subscribe so you can hear more about my top picks for Napa.
