The Sonoma Valley Tasting Pass is a great way to experience family owned wineries and tasting rooms. If sparkling wines are your favorites, we've put together a little list of some of the best places to go to take away some of the guesswork and maximize your tasting experience.
Sonoma Valley’s sparkling wine production has increased in recent years, with a growing number of wineries who make their own bubbly. Sparkling wine—not to be confused with Champagne—is a carbonated wine or rosé (and even sometimes a red) that has gone through secondary fermentation in bottle or tank to create the effervescence that makes it taste so refreshing.
In traditional methods, or méthode traditionnelle, as developed in Champagne, France, winemakers ferment the bottle a second time in bottle, whereas in other methods—like Northern Italy’s famous Prosecco—they go through a closed fermentation in tank to trap the carbon dioxide, a natural byproduct of the fermentation process. But, as you’ll see, the fermentation process also extends beyond grapes to apples, as well…So without further ado, use this list to plot out your sparkling tasting day.
Check out the tasting pass details for more information on pricing and the tasting experiences.
FULCRUM WINES
Fulcrum Wines is a story of balance and finesse. Started in 2005 by David Rossi, he longed to create a style of wines that was fresh, bright, low in alcohol and judiciously oaked—a style more popular in Europe than in California at the time. Decades later, he has refined his style, and using organic and sustainably farmed grapes from some of the greatest vineyards in Anderson Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Carneros and Chalone appellations. Specializing in Pinot Noir, you’ll also find bottlings of Zinfandel, Gewurztraminer and Cabernet Sauvignon in their tastings. But if you love sparkling wines, be sure to try their Grand Reserve Brut Rosé, made with 100% Carneros Pinot Noir in the traditional method—a true local gem!
LA PRENDA WINES
La Prenda is one of Sonoma Valley’s longest continuously operating family vineyards, with the Hill family farming since 1979. Originally selling to some of the finest winemakers in the North Coast, and also managing the vineyards of other winemaking families, they began bottling wines under their own label in 2020 when they hired winemaker Mike Cox of Schug fame. With a strong respect for heritage, sustainable farming, and Sonoma’s diverse terroir, La Prenda dazzles with five different sparkling cuvées—in both white and rosé, which you can enjoy in their tasting room in the heart of downtown Sonoma.
POMME CIDER SHOP & TAP ROOM
Sonoma’s original cider tap room and bottle shop is the stuff of local legend, with partners Rick Tranchina and Jessica Ealy cultivating one of the finest spots for bubbles in Wine Country. With a classic zinc bar with 18 taps and over 100 different ciders from around the world, Pomme’s love of bubbles goes beyond fermented apples—they also have a large selection of pétillant-naturels (natural sparkling wines fermented on native yeasts, also known as “pét-nats”), as well as an extensive collection of grower Champagnes. Their non-alcoholic selections make for a nice treat for the designated driver in your group, too.
