“Reserve” is Schramsberg’s top Pinot Noir-focused brut sparkling wine. Representing 2% of our annual production, this richly-flavored and full-bodied sparkler is made from only the finest base wine lots produced each year. Over eight years old upon release, this fruitful, yet dry, toasty and creamy bubbly will age gracefully for another 20-30 years.

Though primarily Pinot Noir, small amounts of select Chardonnay lots are added to the blend to lend additional backbone and length to the palate. Distinct barrel and malolactic fermented lots are also layered in to provide viscosity and depth. Each bottle is aged in contact with the yeast in our historic Diamond Mountain hillside caves for over seven years, affording the development of seasoned, roasted and caramelized richness. The yeast is then removed and a finishing dosage, determined through extensive and comprehensive trials, is added to fine-tune the wine’s balance of flavor.

Schramsberg Reserve is well-suited with a main course, such as fruit-stuffed veal, pork tenderloin, roasted duck with mango, cedarplank grilled salmon, and curried chicken salad. This flavorful sparkling wine can also be served as an apéritif with smoked oysters, caviar and such hard cheeses as aged Swiss Sbrinz, Sonoma Vella Jack, or Irish Coolea.

In 2009, rain and mild temperatures created the best scenario possible for our vineyards. There were very few frost incidents, allowing for good fruit set. Though rainfall was little more than two-thirds of normal, much of it came in late spring, delaying irrigation needs.

A warm spell in June helped curtail excessive canopy and kept the vines’ attention on producing delicious fruit. With minimal heat spikes during the growing season, the vines were able to gradually ripen the fruit for picking at the optimal times.

“The 2009 Reserve exhibits lively aromas of candied orange peel, white peach and glazed pineapple that gain complexity with touches of toasted almond, graham cracker and milk chocolate. Flavors of Meyer lemon and apricot are layered with baked pear and hazelnut, leading to a long, rich finish with balanced acidity.” —Winemakers Sean Thompson and Hugh Davies