Wine Of The Week: Schramsberg Sparkling Wines
Celebrate the good life with this standout sparkling wine from Napa Valley.
If you visit any winery of note in Napa, one of the first sips on offer is often a welcome glass of Schramsberg bubbles – light, elegant, exceptionally beautiful sparkling wines made right in the Napa Valley.
Founded by Jacob Schram in 1862 but now upheld by the Davies family, the Calistoga winery makes pristine iterations of sparkling wines with a uniquely Californian footprint. It’s not Champagne or Cava or prosecco, it’s simply Schramsberg.
Today, Schramsberg offers three entry-points to their particular brand of sparkling. There’s Mirabelle, offering all the excitement and ebullience of Schramsberg bubbles but at a pop-it-anytime price point. Schramsbergs’ namesake line sits at $70, and it’s elegant, complex, textured and luxurious.
For even more discerning occasions, J. Schram–a nod to the Schramsberg founder– is more restrained with its selection, allowing the base wine to age longer for richer texture and tight, elegant bubbles; grand cru by way of California. Start with the Schramsberg, but I advise moving up and down the three sub-brands as you please.
Kate Dingwall is a WSET-trained sommelier and spirits writer. Her work has appeared in Wine Enthusiast, Eater, Forbes.com, and Food & Wine, and she pours wine at one of Canada’s top restaurants.
