California Sparkling Wine / Champagne

Sparkling wine evokes celebration and luxury, but due to its versatility, it is increasingly being embraced by Americans as a wine for everyday occasions. More than 300 California wineries make sparkling wine in styles ranging from bone dry to sweet.

The traditional winegrape varieties in California sparkling wine production include Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, although the state’s vintners use many other varieties as well.

Several U.S. producers label their sparkling wines as “champagne.” The U.S. government allows the use of the term on U.S. brands established on or before March 2006, as long as the geographic origin accompanies the champagne term on the label. American brands created after this date are not allowed to use the term.

Sparkling wine ranges in style from very dry (natural), dry (brut) and slightly sweet (extra dry) to sweet (sec and demi-sec). Many sparkling wines are also identified as blanc de blancs,” “blanc de noirs” or rosé sparkling wines.