Wine enthusiasts, you don’t need to travel to France to have a true sparkling wine experience. The US has become an exciting destination for great bubbly as producers from California to New Mexico leverage traditional French methods to craft vibrant sparkling wines.
Visitors are welcome and some are even invited to witness the process required to create bubbles. Make your next wine trip bubblier by adding this American sparkling winemaker to your itinerary. This successful American sparkling producer is owned by Louis Roederer, who produces France’s famed Cristal Champagne.
In 1982, the fifth generation descendent of Champagne Louis Roederer, Jean-Claude Rouzaud chose this quiet parcel of land north of Sonoma. The estate is only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean and one of the area’s most unpopulated virgin redwood forests, Hendy Woods. The tasting experience includes samples of the sparkling wine in addition to a tasting of their grand cru from Magnum bottling (which deliver a very different taste experience than regular bottling).
Tasting Room is open daily 11 a.m.-5 p.m., excluding major holidays. Tours are available by appointment for $6 per person. Visitors can also order a picnic for two (call ahead) for $25. Check availability at 707-895-2288.
