Sparkling Wines of Sonoma County

Not every winery in Sonoma County crafts sparkling wines, but there are some fantastic bubbles being produced by widely-known venues and local gems. Pop in for effervescent sips of sensational sparkling varietals from brut rosés to blanc de blanc at these five Sonoma County favorites.

J Vineyards & Winery
11447 Old Redwood Hwy
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(888) 594-6326
TripAdvisor: 4.5 stars; 187 reviews
Tasting Price: Starting at $20

Specializing in sparking wines since the winery first opened in 1986, J Vineyards and Winery offers a fantastic selection of cuvee and brut rosé. The sparkling wines are made from their chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier grapes and the Russian River Valley terroir adds character and depth to their wines. The winery offers tastings where you can sample the wines in the Bubble Room, on their terrace, or in the Legacy Reserve Lounge.

Insider Tip: Make sure to try the flavorful and elegant J Brut Rosé and the refreshing J Cuvée 20 Brut for a taste of two of their best sparkling wines.

Korbel Champagne Cellars
13250 River Rd
Guerneville, CA 95446
(707) 824-7000
TripAdvisor: 4.5 stars; 421 reviews
Tasting Price: Complimentary for a public tour and tasting and $20 a person for a private tour and tasting.

One of the best-known and best-selling champagne labels in the country, Korbel has been producing fantastic California sparkling wines since the 1890’s. In the 1960’s, owner Adolf Heck defined California champagne by adding more fruit and less yeast than European sparkling wines, but continued using the Korbel family méthode champenoise tradition, which calls for a secondary fermentation in the wine bottle.

Today Korbel manufactures a variety of sparkling wines from a dry natural champagne to a sweet rosé. They continue their long tradition of making great California champagne while always innovating. The winery is open for tastings and tours, and with a delicatessen and market serving food, it’s the perfect spot to spend an afternoon.

Insider Tip: It is worth trying Korbel’s award-winning, Chardonnay Champagne, which “combines the lightness and sophistication of champagne with the rich flavor and casual elegance of chardonnay,” according to the winery. The acclaimed Brut Rosé varietal combines pinot noir, chenin blanc, and gamay and is also worth a taste.

Amista Vineyards
3320 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 431-9200
TripAdvisor: 4 stars; 26 reviews
Tasting Price: Starting at $15

Amista Vineyards proprietor, Vicky Farrow, decided to make sparkling wines because she loves bubbles and sparkling wines taste great with nearly every food. A consulting winemaker asked if he could turn an Amista Rosé of Syrah into a sparkling varietal for a college class, and they quickly realized that they needed to continue its production and have been doing so for the past 10 years. When you visit Amista’s Dry Creek Valley location, make sure you try a wine flight tasting, take an estate tour, and sample the food and wine pairings.

Insider Tip: Amista has a great selection of sparkling wines from a sparkling Grenache to a sparkling Blanc de Blanc, and we recommend trying all of them.

Viansa Sonoma Winery and Marketplace
25200 Arnold Drive
Sonoma, CA 95476
(800) 995-4740
TripAdvisor: 4 stars; 245 reviews
Tasting Price: Starting at $35

Founded in 1989, Viansa focuses on creating world-class varietals from malbec and pinot noir to rosé, including a few high-quality sparkling wines. With incredible views of the surrounding wetlands and a friendly staff, it’s a must-visit while in Sonoma County. Guests can purchase their wines by the glass or by the bottle at their Marketplace, as well as gourmet food for a delicious, on-site picnic.

Insider Tip: Make sure to try Viansa’s Blanc de Noir, which is a fabulous and polished sparkling varietal fit for any occasion or meal.

Inman Family Wines
3900 Piner Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 293-9576
TripAdvisor: 5 stars; 4 reviews
Tasting Price: Starting at $20

A love of pinot noir and the soil that grows its grapes inspired Kathleen Inman to start Inman Family Wines in 2000. The winery focuses on pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot gris, but also produces two great sparkling wines; the Olivet Grange Vineyard Estate Blanc de Noir and the Olivet Grange Vineyard Estate Brut Rosé. Visitors to the vineyard can make midday tasting appointments Thursdays through Mondays, and the $20 fee will be waived with a $100 purchase.

Insider Tip: A cozy farmhouse on the Olivet Grange Vineyard property is available for rent to visitors. Enjoy views overlooking their vineyards and enjoy a stay just five minutes from the famous restaurants and wineries of the region.

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Author

WineCountry Staff