“The rolling hills of Napa Valley drenched in vibrant shades of green and mustard spill across the vast openness, dotted with happy little trees along the winding roads to Schramsberg vineyards. Colorful flowers line enchanting streams and ponds, while the rows and rows of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines seem endless.

The sight is utterly breathtaking, like the living, thriving splendor of a Bob Ross scenescape.

It’s no wonder the sparkling wine produced on Schramsberg’s 66 properties across the Northern Californian coast is equally enthralling. The beauty of the land the vineyards occupy is noticeable in every glass of Blanc de Blancs—Schramsberg’s signature bubbly—and the quality of the juice is likely what led Schramsburg to become America’s oldest and most prominent sparkling wine producers ever.

For more than 50 years, the Davies family have operated the California vineyards, producing world-class sparkling wine modeled after the vintage Champagne method practiced France, which calls for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes specifically—although France additionally respects Pinot Meunier and other heritage grapes in its champagne classifications.

The initial vineyard, located on the mountainside above St. Helena, was originally cultivated by winemaker and German settler Jacob Schram in 1862… keep reading