Blanc de Noirs (white from black) is the counterpart to Blanc de Blancs (white from white). Made primarily from the red grape Pinot Noir, this is a complex, medium-bodied, brut sparkling wine. Schramsberg pioneered the Blanc de Noirs style in the United States, producing the first such commercial American sparkler in 1967. The key to producing this Blanc de Noirs is our sourcing of Pinot Noir grapes from a vast and varied selection of cool climate vineyards. Pinot Noir from low-yielding 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 2020 growing season was preceded by a dry, mild winter. Bud break began earlier than normal and crop yields were light, which led to an early harvest start. Cool and moderate summer conditions gave way to heat spells and forest fires through August and September. Our team worked through these challenges to produce a delicious array of sparkling wines.

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 flavors, crisp acidity and minimal tannins is achieved. Barrel and malolactic fermentation of 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.

“The 2020 Blanc de Noirs expresses generous aromas of yellow peach, apricot, lemon zest and glazed orange, layered with elderflower, almond paste, and puff pastry. A bright, tart and lively palate opens with nuances of lemon bar, honey, and custard, and is carried with a dense, juicy center and a long quenching finish.”
– Winemakers Sean Thompson, Jessica Koga, and Hugh Davies