Friday Five
As we all try to get through Election Day Part Four, it’s good to get your preparations in order. Sure, we mean your plan if Trump tries to steal the election, but also importantly, what bottle(s) of bubbly you’re going to pop when this shitshow is over and our democracy is hopefully still standing.
Here are five of the best local, Northern California bottles of sparkling wine special enough for the special occasion of screaming Madam Vice President in happiness as you breathe your first sigh of relief in four years.
1. Blue Ox 2019 Sparkling Rosé of Carignan
Blue Ox Wine Co. is located in West Berkeley’s natural wine corridor near other iconic natural wine labels like Broc Cellars and Donkey & Goat. Even though Blue Ox is the newer kid on the block, owner Josh Hammerling boldly dove into the world of sparkling wines pretty quickly into creating the label. The result is this delicious Sparkling Rosé of Carignan made from grapes in the Lime Kiln AVA that were originally planted in the late 1800s along the San Andreas Fault (making it among the oldest in the state). Completely dry-farmed and organic, each bottle of this sparkling wine is somewhat funky and different. You can call or use the website to order for curbside pickup; call (510) 282–9035 when you’re outside.
Speaking of Donkey & Goat, this one is a winner. The description on the website reads “This one will make you smile.” As one of the first wineries to experiment with making domestic Pet Nat wines way back in 2009, they know what they’re doing. This Pinot Meunier comes from 53-year-old vines, a “result of a natural fermentation bottled mid-way in its metamorphoses from juice to wine.” The result is a wine with notes of fresh brioche and warm honey, and it goes with everything.
3. Breathless NV Brut Méthode Champenoise
Breathless is owned by three sisters — Sharon Cohn, Rebecca Faust, and Cynthia Faust — who grew up in Northern California and created the wine brand in honor of their mother, who took her life in 2008. The label was launched in 2015 in Healdsburg and has received many accolades. The sparkling wine to try is Breathless NV Brut Méthode Champenoise (90 points), which is golden in color with notes of mango, pear, and apple skin. It’s very fresh and lively. You can visit the tasting room by appointment or use their business locator to see what stores they’re available in near you.
4. Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs
A lot of the bottles of bubbly we’ve talked about here have been on the trendier side, but this one is a classic. Schramsberg was founded by Jack and Jamie Davies in 1965 when they discovered a rundown winery on the mountainside above St. Helena. They restored the abandoned mansion and vineyards with the goal of producing world-class sparkling wine. And that they did. Their Blanc de Blancs was the first commercial use of Chardonnay in American sparkling wine and was a huge hit. You should be able to get this at most wine shops in SF.
5. Bodkin Wines Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
Located in Healdsburg, Bodkin Wines is a Black-owned wine company that puts out some of the best wines in the state. Founder Chris Christensen is originally from Iowa and started the winery in 2011 and joined forces with Andrew Chambers, an Oregon native, in 2013. Their award-winning sparkling sauvignon blanc is the ultimate stunner among the bunch. While there isn’t a tasting room, the best way to support this small but mighty winery is by joining their wine club. You may not be able to pop this by the time of the election results, but maybe you can save it for Inauguration Day.
