Steeped in history, Schramsberg Vineyards has been on my Napa Valley Bucket List for a long while now because I believe that they create the best sparkling wine in Napa Valley. On your next trip to Napa Valley, visit Schramsberg Vineyards in Calistoga to walk through the amazing 125-year-old caves to learn about the rich history of the winery, as well as the traditional method of producing sparkling wine.
“Schramsberg’s history dates back to the 19th century when German immigrant Jacob Schram first made his home and started his winery on Diamond Mountain.
Over one hundred years later Jack and Jamie Davies would restore the Schramsberg estate in 1965. They set out to produce sparkling wine – specifically, “America’s most prestigious, select and admired sparkling wine; chosen for special guests, special gifts, pampering one’s self and expressing one’s taste in unique products.” Through the decades, this spirit of innovation earned Schramsberg and the Davies worldwide praise and recognition.
Schramsberg has also played a role in world history. The Blanc de Blancs was used for President Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace” with China’s Premier Zhou Enlai (see timeline). Schramsberg’s sparkling wines have been served at official State functions by every U.S. Presidential administration since,” according to their website.
Ian and I are just starting out on our journey to learn more about wine. Our love of wine started many years back, but if you know anything about wine, then you know that there is a lot to learn. Last year, we visited Montalcino in Tuscany and learned about Brunellos and Rosso di Montalcino’s, but this was our first time visiting Napa Valley (and Sonoma County) and we felt like there was just so much knowledge to soak in.
That is one great thing about the Schramsberg tour – it is extremely educational, which we loved. We learned about the history of the Davies family, the history of the property itself (including the caves), and we also learned about the general sparkling wine process, including aging and bottling. It was extremely interesting and only gave me more affirmation that Schramsberg is the best sparkling wine in Napa Valley! We were in awe during our tour through the caves – it was truly a beautiful sight and you could tell that a lot of love and hard work has gone into not only the property but the wine, as well. It was an outstanding experience!
The wine itself was phenomenal. If you have not tried at least one glass of Schramsberg sparkling wine, you need to grab a bottle as soon as you possibly can. We have had a couple bottles of it in the past at parties, but it was my first experience trying their wines side by side and I fell in love. The flavor is unlike any other sparkling wine that I’ve tried – you can taste the age. Since I have now been to the winery, my next ‘to do’ is to join the wine club!
If you are interested in learning more about the best sparkling wine in Napa Valley and America in general, Schramsberg Vineyards is a must-stop location for you while in California!
We received a complimentary tour and tasting, but all opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Schramsberg Vineyards and Visit Calistoga for having us – we had the time of our lives!