Schramsberg Vineyards and Cellars

Whenever the subject of American sparkling wine is broached, there is the inevitable comparison with French Champagne. Well, as they would say in Brooklyn, “it ain’t gonna happen.” French Champagnes, all of them, are finely crafted, beautiful wines, that are an entity unto themselves and have no equal anywhere in the world. American sparkling wines are just that, American wine. As much as there is a vast difference between an American cabernet sauvignon and one from France, so is there an equally vast difference between Champagne and American sparkling wines. Neither is better than the other, each style of wine is unique and to be very honest, no real comparison is justified.
One of the leaders in the American sparkling wine industry is Schramsberg Vineyards and Cellars. Schramsberg could be considered the dean of American sparkling wine as they have been around since 1965 and that in itself speaks volumes for their quality. They are, to put it quite simply, among the finest wines, of any type, produced in California.

Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut ($23). Mirabelle is the signature wine that Schramsberg Vineyards has built its reputation on. Made in the traditional manner from pinot noir and chardonnay grapes, this wine makes no attempt to emulate any other sparkling wine style. It is crisp, with a toast-like aroma and hints of cherry, citrus and oak in the flavor. Please do not reserve this or any other sparkling wine for special occasions. It is a wine that can and should be served with food. One of our favorite meals is assorted cheeses, fresh fruit, sourdough bread, olive oil for dipping the bread and Schramsberg Mirabelle.

Schramsberg Mirabelle Rosé Brut ($27). This is not just the Mirabelle Brut with a bit of red wine added for color as is the case with many sparkling rosé wines. This wine is crafted from chardonnay and pinot noir grapes that were blended after fermentation and then fermented a second time, in the bottle, to produce the effervescence that is the hallmark of a sparkling wine. A beautiful light strawberry color greets the eyes and the rich aroma of black cherries and raisins invites the first sip. This wine has a medium body, which supports the fruit flavors of berries and peaches. There is also a very positive and excellent bread-like flavor that weaves in and out of the fruit.

Schramsberg 2007 Blanc de Blancs ($36). Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc (white from white) is produced from chardonnay grapes and displays the flavors and aromas associated with that grape variety, while retaining all of the finesse and elegance capable of a fine sparkling wine. The rich flavors of green apple, pear, pineapple and lemon, mingle with ripe melon, roasted almonds, oak and the tell-tale yeasty, bread-like sensation that marks a fine sparkling wine. Like any Chardonnay wine, it can accompany sea food dishes, poultry and vegetable dishes. A truly delightful wine.

Schramsberg 2007 Blanc de Noir ($38). Schramsberg Blanc de Noir (white from red), is a white wine made from pinot noir grapes. This is a wine that is big in every dimension. It has a full aroma and flavor accenting cherry, spice, roasted almonds and caramel. We must admit to being very partial to this wine. We often serve it at meals or when we are entertaining guests, because of its nature and structure it can accompany an extremely broad spectrum of foods.

Schramsberg 2007 Brut Rosé ($41). No question, no doubt, the Schramsberg Brut Rosé can always be found in our home. To say it is our favorite would be a bit extreme but this wine is right up there with the ones we like the best. This is a dry, full flavored sparkling wine with a beautiful salmon-pink color that can accompany just about everything on a dinner table. The wine displays the aroma of black cherries mingled with raspberries and strawberries, which also carry over to the flavor. This is a wine that if you love sparkling wines, you must try.