WINERY Family owned and operated for over fifty years, Schramsberg Vineyards was established in 1965 by Jack and Jamie Davies who set out to make world-class, vintage-dated sparkling wine in the true méthode traditionelle style on the property originally established in 1862 by German immigrants.

WINE Schramsberg first produced a Blanc de Noirs brut sparkling wine in 1967. This “white” sparkling wine produced from “dark” grapes is more complex, creamy and medium-bodied than the Blanc de Blancs style. The key to their success here is the great diversity of cool, maritime climate Pinot Noir vineyard blocks that they work with. Pinot Noir from lowyielding Sonoma and Marin coastal vineyards combine with fruit from Carneros and Anderson Valley sites, to develop a sparkling wine with a breadth of fruitful aroma and flavor. Select Chardonnay lots are then added, to give zest and backbone to the blend.

The character of Schramsberg wines reflects access to the best cool-climate sites in Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino.

The 2021 growing season started with cold temperatures and minimal rain, that gave way to warm weather through the summer months. Hot days and cold nights allowed for steady ripening throughout. A few heat spikes at the end of August encouraged the vines to dig deep in the soils, resulting in highly concentrated fruit with a beautiful balance of generous acidity

Making a white wine from a red grape requires great care—hand-picked fruit, early morning harvest, optimal maturity, and delicate pressing. A balance of bright fruit, crisp acidity and minimal tannins is achieved. Barrel and malolactic fermentation of select wine lots add richness and body. Yeast contact in the bottle harmonizes all the elements together. The youthful fruit character of the wine will develop and soften with additional age in the bottle. With proper storage, this sparkling wine will be delicious for many years, even decades to come.

“This 2021 Blanc de Noirs opens with enticing aromas of bright citrus, pineapple, raspberry, and cherry, which harmonize with hints of toasted nuts and puff pastry. A tart and tangy entry, showcasing Cara Cara orange, nectarine, and peach, intertwines with a touch of almond cookie. A vibrant acidity in this bottling supports a long quenching finish.”

– Winemakers Sean Thompson, Jessica Koga, and Hugh Davies