Heading to Santa Barbara at the end of Oct. Looking for producers who make a really good sparklers. Extra Brut is my preference.
Thank you in advance.
Done
Cheers
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Racines is really good. Combo effort by elite winemakers from Champagne, Burgundy and California. And somehow reasonably priced.
Racines is very good as well as Sanford. Liquid farm has a couple in Los Olivos.
Larry, that gal did a nice job.
Flying Goat in Lompoc has been making
sparklers for several decades.
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I’d highly recommend Wenzlau in Sta. Rita Hills. Rudophe Peters talked them into making sparkling wine. I’m surprised I’m the only one who’s mentioned them on WB. My friend @Jenise_S, who unlike me has an impeccable palate, also loves them.
A name I have not for quite some time - and I’m not sure what the winery’s current status is. The release available on their website are 2016 and 2017s.
Looking further it looks like Racines Wines perhaps now owns that vineyard and current releases are under the Racines label?
Curious if anyone can confirm this.
Cheers
That’s remarkable. I had no idea that area had so many sparkling wine producers. Thanks for the education.
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There have been a few folks who have exclaimed that the Sta Rita Hills may be one of the best places in CA for the potential for high quality sparkling wine.
That said, there are a LOT of folks jumping into that market at present - and the challenging thing to me is pricing.
Cheers
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My last purchase from them was October 2022, when I bought their 2015 BdB and BdN. They keep them on the lees for 5-6 years, so 2017 on the website might be the current release. I’ll email them and find out their status.
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Good point. I’d think you’d want to be somewhere above a Gloria Ferrer price range (to me, very well priced for the offering) and below Champagne. But then, what’s your market? If it’s just to tourists and the mailing list, that’s probably a little easier to achieve.
Flying Goat makes very good sparklers, I’ve had some. But I don’t recall any that had the concentration and tension of the Wenzlaus, that special thing that bridged the gap between California and France. After Warren shared one with me, I went on the hunt and couldn’t find any available for purchase anywhere.
Norm was the first in the area to do traditional champagne methodoise and was responsible for showing many more the ropes.
That said, a new breed of sparkling producers are taking it to the next level IMHO.
One to search out in our area is Lou Bud, made by Laura Roach, the assistant winemaker at Sanford. Great winemaker and an even better person - and expecting her first child in the next few months.
Cheers!
Have to revive this thread but their 2013 BdB LD and 2016 BdN were gorgeous with crazy QPR.
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There are more and more being produced in our area for sure.
For those of you who have not tried Lou Bud, I would recommend it. They just opened a tasting room on SB proper as well so you can stop in next time you visit the area. Laura is the Asst Winemaker for Sanford and knows her stuff . . .
Cheers
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Kings Carey, a side project from James Sparks (winemaker at Liquid Farm), makes an awesome SB sparkling (traditional method)! The still wine is good, but the sparkling is next level good. Toasty, a little fruity and floral. Perfectly balanced. Tasting room right outside of Solvang. James is also a standup guy—cannot recommend enough.
Kha,
I’m glad you felt the same way! I’m surprised that, as far as I know, only you, @Jenise_S, and I have ever mentioned Wenzlau sparklers here. They’re truly outstanding. I reached out to them through their website to invite them to participate in Berserker Day, but unfortunately, I never received a response.
Cheers,
Warren
Thanks @larry_schaffer and @APCohen for suggestion. I already have Loubud and Kings Carey on my radar for the next trip sometimes in the summer. This time I only have Melville, Koehler and Tercero on my itinerary. I need to drink less bubbles and more Rhône.
@Warren_Taranow they are truely gorgeous bubbles. Lots of potential here even when freshly disgorged. Had them over Christmas and many people surprised it’s not mature grower champagne. Cedric Bouchard and Rodolphe Peters were so right for talking them into making sparkling wine. Wenzlau is on track to become my house bubble unless Cabot’s BdB comes out on top. I think their main focus is selling grapes and making sparklers is their fun side project, hence they were not interested in BD. Going to stock up even more when I’m in the area since their shipping price is out of hand.
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Thanks! Did you ever find more to buy?
Based on this thread I ordered four bottles of 2015 Wenzlau l’Inconnu for $45@ from Grapes The Wine Company yesterday. Looking forward to trying them.
Flatiron, Crush and Celler d’Or all carry 2013-15 vintages, at least as far as shows on WSPro.
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