During our recent visit to Napa, we had the privilege of touring the renowned Schramsberg Vineyard and indulging in a tasting session of five of their exceptional sparkling wines down in the caves. Schramsberg holds a distinguished position among the leading sparkling wine producers in California. Our tour guide provided an informative overview of sparkling wine, including the grape varieties used, the intricate fermentation process, bottling techniques, aging, and proper storage methods.
My ratings and notes for the 5 sparkling wines we tasted are as follows:
2020 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs
-Tasting notes: Green apple, pear, brioche, citrus, stone fruit, and pineapple
-Characteristics: Very small bubbles, long, crisp, dry finish
-My rating: 3.9 / 89
2020 Querencia Brut Rose
-Tasting notes: Strawberry, cranberry, rhubarb, raspberry, toasted brioche
-Characteristics: Light pink, a lot of tiny bubbles, clean, crisp and balanced
-My Rating: 4.2 / 92
2020 Blanc de Noirs
-Tasting Notes: Brioche, apple, pear, watermelon, citrus, honey and a hint of tropical notes
-Characteristics: Soft, round, smooth with beautiful bubbles
-My rating: 4.0 / 90
2014 J. Schram Noirs
-Tasting Notes: Baked apple and pear, toasted brioche, vanilla and apricot
-Characteristics: Tiny bubbles, round, smooth, with a lovely finish
-My Rating: 4.3 / 93
2015 J. Schram Blancs
-Tasting Notes: Baked apple, pear, toasted brioche, citrus, hat and nutty
– Characteristics: Tiny bubbles, bright and crisp with a long lingering smooth and balanced finish
-My Rating: 4.3 / 93
Next time you are in Napa, I recommend visiting Schramsberg Vineyard for their cave tasting tour
