North America Sparkling

Question 1

How many states make Spkl?
Biggest? #2, #4?
Year 1st Commercialised Chard Sparkle - Who?
When Europe investors pile in
Who? When?
Leading US Producers?

Answer 1

All 50 States make - of varying quality + Style
#1 California 90% #2 Washington State #4 Oregon
1965 Schramsberg Est -BdeB “America’s 1st Commercialised Chard Spkl!”
1973 LVMH 1st Domaine Chandon - Napa
Mumm Napa, Roederer Anderson Valley, Domaine Carneros - Taittinger
1986 - Freixenet, 1991 - Codorníu

Leading US - Schramsberg, Calistoga, Iron Horse, Russian River Valley

Question 2

Who makes ‘Value’ Fizz, where do they get grapes from?

Answer 2

Grapes from all over the Valley inc. Lodi

E+J Gallo - Andre 1966 also Barefoot Bubbly
Constellation Brands - Cooks “America’s #1 Sparkling wine”

Question 3

The Wine Institute
2018 Sales qty? % of Wine sales?

California Qty + Type Split How Many producers?

Washington State Qty

Oregon Qty

Answer 3

2018 Sales - 334m bottles - 6.4% share of wine sales

Calif - Prodn - 148m bott / 45m Trad Meth 90% of US Sparkle

Washington State - 4m bottles - 75% Chateau Ste Michelle

Oregon - 800k bottles - Argyle biggest

Question 4

Calif - Where + what grown?

Styles

Answer 4

Napa Valley - Los Carneros AVA
Close SAN PABLO BAY - Cool breezes thru’ PETALUMA GAP
Little diurnal but temp rarely >27c
Most Meunier plantings here

Anderson Valley - Mendocino County - V Close Pacific coast
Cool Ocean Breezes + Diurnal - Best @ Elevation @Night drops 20c

Russian River Valley AVA - Sonoma Coast - V Close Pacific Coast
Cooled Ocean Mists + Fogs Thru PETALUMA Gap @Night 20c drop
Sub AVA - Green Valley AVA - Home to Iron Horse Winery

ALL Chardy + PN - Meunier in Los Carneros

Most Brut NV - Usually ~2yr lees
Prestige Cuvée Dom Chandon ‘Etoile’ 5yr

Question 5

California
How many producers?
2018 prodn Qty / How many Trad Meth
Av $

Answer 5

300 producers Boutique -> Large Domaines
2018 148m Bottles > 45m Trad Meth

Av $25 Brut NV
Dom Chandon ‘Etiole’ $100
J Schramsberg Late Disgorge 150th Anniversary $150

Korbel + E+J Gallo “Andre” + Barefoot Bubbly $10~$12

Question 6

Washington State
Size
Prodn - who dominates?
Where grown
Climate
Grapes used?

Answer 6

#2
4m bott - 75% Chateau Ste Michelle

Focus E Half of Columbia Valley AVA in Rain shadow of Cascade Mntns
Climate - Dry - Irig oft necessary
Dry, Long Sun hrs (Latitude) + Wide Diurnal

Most Wine Chardy based but some Rosé with Pinot N
Also some Sparkling Riesling

Question 7

Oregon
Prodn
Prodn Styles + Lees age
Who dominates
Where grown
Climate
Soil

Answer 7

~800k bottles ~ 1% US total
Both Trad Meth + Transfer - Most aged 2~3yrs lees
Tot ~ 40 producers
No.1 Argyle min 1980s = 1/2 Oregon Trad Meth
Only Oregon producer with Gyropalette
$30 Brut / $80 Ex Lees

Willamette Valley AVA
Mod Maritime - Sunny Dry Summers + Pacific Breeze + wide Diurnal
Soil - Main excellent drain Volcaniv ‘Jory’ Soil
Found >100m where most Sparkle Grapes Grown

Question 8

Oregon

Unique solution for smaller makers?

Answer 8

Mobile Contractor “Radiant Sparkling Wine Co”
Visits once base wine made to Tirage
Producer hand riddles
Radiant re-visits for Liq D’Expedition