The 5 Best Sparkling Wineries in Napa, CA
Looking for a list of the best sparkling wineries in Napa? As if the wine scene couldn’t get more glamorous in Napa, add in bubbles and you will find just how sparkling Napa Valley can be.
In this dazzling realm, the best sparkling wineries await, ready to enchant your senses with their liquid magic. From the timeless traditions of méthode traditionnelle to the daring experiments of avant-garde vintners, Napa’s sparkling wine scene is a playground of bubbles and sophistication.
Prepare to be dazzled, delighted, and deliciously fizzed as we unveil the crown jewels of Napa’s sparkling wine kingdom. Let the bubbles begin!
Short on Time? Here are the key takeaways:
- There are truly only 4 sparkling wineries in Napa
- We’ve ranked them from best to good below
- Most of them require reservations to do a tasting
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Map of Sparkling Wineries
Click the interactive map below!
HOW TO USE THIS MAP: To view the layers and see the names of the places on this map, click the tab in the top left corner. You can select the check marks to show or hide certain layers. If you select the icons on the map, you will get more information about the point of interest.
HOW TO SAVE THIS MAP: If you select the star icon next to the map name, you can save this map to your Google Maps account. To view it, open Google Maps in desktop or on your phone, select the menu button, go to “Your Places,” scroll to the right to Maps, and you will see this map.
Best Sparkling Wineries in Napa
We tend to have some pretty strong opinions about what makes a winery the best. Instead of telling you why we think something is the best, we’ve devised our own ranking system based on two factors:
- Public ratings (sites such as Google, TripAdvisor and Yelp)
- Popularity
The popularity ranking shows which one is most loved by the number of average reviews written.
In the end, we are ranking each of the sparkling wineries in Napa by this formula to determine the “best”.
Rank | Winery | Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Schramsberg Vineyards | 4.59 |
2 | Domaine Carneros | 4.43 |
3 | Mumm Napa | 4.36 |
4 | Frank Family Vineyards | 4.14 |
5 | Domaine Chandon | 3.93 |
If you want to learn more, read our ranking formula.
Ready to learn about each of these sparking wineries and choose your own favorite sparkling winery in Napa?
1. Schramsberg Vineyards
- Hours: 9AM – 4:30PM
- Food Available: Cheese plates only
- Reservation Required: Yes, visits by appointment only
- Tasting Per Person: start at $85+
Schramsberg Vineyards has been on the sparkling wine scene since the 19th century, and we’re here to drop some knowledge on why they’re the best sparkling winery in Napa.
Jack and Jamie Davies took the reins in 1965, determined to create the crème de la crème of American sparkling wines, and boy, did they succeed. Their wines have graced the tables of official State functions, making it into every U.S. Presidential administration since Nixon’s “Toast to Peace” in 1972.
From hand-harvesting grapes to manual winemaking, they put love and care into every step of the process and you can visit their underground caves on a tour. These are like wine wonderlands, where bottles are stacked and riddled (rotated) by hand. It’s like a secret society of wine magic.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are their dynamic duo. They have searched far and wide across four coastal counties, sourcing the finest grapes to create over 250 base wines each year. And let us tell you, their winemakers are masters at blending those babies together, crafting very distinctive sparkling wines in their portfolio.
Schramsberg Vineyards isn’t your average California sparkling wine house. They like to spice things up by fermenting 25% of their juice in oak barrels, giving their wines a touch of richness and lusciousness that sets them apart.
And hold on tight, because they’ve got a reserve of base wines aging in barrels for up to a whopping 10 years, adding that extra refinement and complexity to their finished masterpieces.
In their top-notch J. Schram and Schramsberg Reserve sparkling wines, a bold 40% of the components get the barrel-fermentation treatment. Who needs ordinary when you can have extraordinary?
Now, let’s talk about Méthode Traditionelle, the fancy French way of making Champagne, and the real deal behind creating those delightful bubbles. It’s a labor-intensive and wallet-pinching process where the wine undergoes a secondary fermentation right inside the bottle. This fancy technique comes into play after the base wine has its primary fermentation in steel tanks or oak barrels.
Oh, and heads up, all the classy Champagne and most high-quality sparkling wines follow this route so you’ll be seeing this a few times in this article.
It’s a bit of magic in a bottle that Schramsberg knows how to pull off like nobody’s business. Between their bubbles and in-person experience, it’s no wonder they’ve earned the top spot among bubble lovers.
So if you’re looking for sparkling wines that have stood the test of time, ooze with history and burst with flavor, Schramsberg Vineyards is where it’s at.
2. Domaine Carneros
- Hours: Daily from 10AM – 5:30PM
- Food Available: Yes, no outside food allowed
- Reservation Required: Yes
- Tasting Per Person: Start at $40+
If you’ve ever wanted to jet set away to the Champagne region in France to sip bubbles in the countryside but didn’t want the jet lag or plane ticket expense, Domaine Carneros might be the next best option.
Nestled in the heart of Carneros, Napa Valley, Domaine Carneros is a captivating winery that specializes in méthode traditionelle sparkling wines and exquisite Pinot Noir.
Established in 1987 by the renowned Champagne Taittinger family, the Château has recently welcomed a new CEO, Remi Cohen, carrying on the tradition of visionary female leadership.
With 400 acres of estate vineyards and a range of exceptional wines, including their renowned Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs, Domaine Carneros invites you to savor the spirit of Northern California’s wine country while enjoying tableside service on their terrace or in the salon.
When we visited, we sat on their terrace overlooking the stunning gardens below while we each thoroughly enjoyed a flight.
Sam savored every sip of the sparkling wine flight while Chris decided to try their Pinot Noir flight since they’ve been producing Pinot since the 1990s. Despite being known for their sparkling wine, they have some incredible Pinot Noirs.
3. Mumm Napa
- Hours: Daily 10AM – 6PM
- Food Available: Yes, no outside food allowed
- Reservation Required: Yes, walk-ins will try to be accommodated
- Tasting Per Person: start at $40+
Mumm Napa has been in the bubbly game since the 19th century, drawing inspiration from their French heritage to create some seriously exceptional sparkling wines in the Napa Valley. They’ve earned their stripes and racked up accolades over the years, becoming the go-to choice for those seeking some of the best bubbly in town.
You’ve probably had their wine before, especially if you’ve been to a Giants game in San Fran as they’ve had a long-standing partnership with them since 2002.
Mumm Napa is all about tradition using the Méthode Traditionnelle and fermenting 25% of their juice in oak barrels.
From the vineyard to the cellar, Mumm Napa leaves no stone unturned in their quest for sparkling perfection. They go through thirteen meticulous steps, from pressing the grapes to bottling and aging, to create their unforgettable sips.
Like many of the wineries in Napa, their views are hard to beat so give yourself a little extra time to take them all in.
4. Frank Family Vineyards
- Hours: 10AM – 5PM
- Food Available: Yes
- Reservation Required: Yes
- Tasting Per Person: $60+
We debated not adding this to our list since it’s technically not a sparkling wine house in Napa BUT they have 4 sparkling wines that are ranked consistently high among wine connoisseurs.
Frank Family Vineyards is renowned for its exceptional wines and inviting tasting room. Located on Larkmead Lane in Calistoga, the winery offers a warm and friendly atmosphere, housed in a charming 1930s Craftsman home.
Guests can enjoy a range of intimate, seated tasting experiences in the tasting room or on the inviting back porch. The winery has been recognized for its outstanding hospitality, winning the “Best Napa Tasting Room” award in 2022.
One of the highlights of Frank Family Vineyards is their signature wine, the 2016 Blanc de Blancs. This sparkling wine showcases lightness, and elegance with notes of lemon, green apple, and fresh ginger, leading to crisp and fresh palate finish. This sparkling wine will have your taste buds doing a happy dance.
Oh, did we mention the rich history? Frank Family Vineyards has been around since 1884, when their original stone winery was born. Over the years, it changed hands and saw some fascinating winemaking eras, like the time of Kornell Champagne Cellars.
But fear not, my wine-loving friends, the legacy lives on.
Today, under new ownership by Treasury Wine Estates, they continue to craft outstanding wines and offer tastings of their full array of single-vineyard reserve wines. The dedication to quality and the warm welcome you receive remain the same, ensuring an unforgettable experience at Frank Family Vineyards.
5. Domaine CHANDON
- Hours: Thursday – Sunday: 10AM – 4PM
- Mondays: 11AM – 4PM
- Tuesday & Wednesday: Closed
- Food Available: Yes, but food service might be limited during construction
- Reservation Required: Yes, but walk-ins are able to purchase a glass (no tastings)
- Tasting Per Person: start at $55+
Last on our list for best sparkling wines in Napa is CHANDON. No, we aren’t shouting it. They capitalize all the letters in their name.
CHANDON, born from the audacious vision of Robert-Jean de Vogüé and John Wright, embarked on a worldwide quest to redefine luxury sparkling wine. From Argentina to California, Brazil to Australia, China to India, CHANDON now proudly calls four continents home.
As part of the esteemed LVMH – Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton luxury group, CHANDON has been blending traditional French methods and expertise in winemaking with the luscious, sun-kissed fruits of California for more than five decades, resulting in the creation of exceptional sparkling wines.
Their only U.S. winery, Domaine Chandon, is nestled in Yountville, in the heart of Napa Valley.
With a collection of prestigious accolades, including gold medals and high ratings, CHANDON continues to produce excellent wines.
While we didn’t get a chance to visit, their reviews are a mixed bag on various sites which is what ultimately put them in last place. However, a lot of recent complaints were about their construction and limited access to things. Per their website, all construction is scheduled to be completed in 2023.
As we always suggest, try it for yourself and form your own opinion.
BONUS STOP: Be Bubbly Napa Valley
- Hours*: Monday – Thursday: 10AM – 8PM
- Friday & Saturday: 10AM – 10PM
- Sunday: 10AM – 6PM
- Check Calendar for event exceptions
- BUBBLE HOUR: Monday – Friday: 5PM – 6PM
- Food Available: Yes
- Reservation Required: Yes for 6 or more people
Step into Be Bubbly, the ultimate Champagne and sparkling wine sanctuary in Napa Valley.
Located in the heart of historic downtown Napa, this lounge promises a sparkling adventure like no other.
Be Bubbly goes beyond just Champagne, curating a collection of the best sparkling wines from near and far. Taste a sparkling Chenin Blanc or Rosé from France, get fizzy with a bubbly Lambrusco from Italy, or dive into exclusive Prosecco on tap. And of course, they’ve got you covered with California favorites like Schramsberg and Iron Horse.
As the first Champagne Lounge in Downtown Napa, Be Bubbly is the place to be for a glass, flight, or bottle of bubbly bliss. You can indulge in their carefully crafted selections while savoring small bites that perfectly complement it—like caviar, grilled cheesy toast bites, and charcuterie boards.
Oh, and on weekends, they party with live entertainment and a ton of different events!
From Champagne education (because knowledge is key), sabering lessons (because who doesn’t love a bit of flair), and Bubbly Brunches (because brunch and bubbles are a match made in heaven), be sure to check out their event calendar to see what’s coming up.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the first wine tasting salon in Napa dedicated exclusively to Champagnes and sparkling wines. At Be Bubbly, they bring the sparkle and pour the joy.
BONUS: JCB Tasting Salon
- Hours: Daily 11AM – 5PM
- Food Available: Yes
- Reservation Required: Yes
The JCB Tasting Salon is a true gem, blending the world of wine with fashion and lifestyle, where wine tasting meets luxury and style. Curated by the one and only Jean-Charles Boisset, this unique tasting room and retail store showcases exclusive Napa Valley wines alongside a range of luxury products.
You have three fabulous wine flights to choose from, each served with a delectable pairing of your choice and presented in the stunning Passion by JCB Baccarat crystal. And if flights aren’t your thing, no worries! Wines are also available by the glass and by the bottle.
Explore JCB’s limited edition wines, each “named” with a number that represents Jean-Charles’ wine style and personal milestones. And don’t forget to check out the fabulous selection of custom-designed jewelry, candles, perfumes, and home accessories from renowned brands like Baccarat, Lalique, and Christofle.
While some might call this experience over-the-top, if you are looking to be treated like royalty during a sparkling wine tasting in Napa, this is the spot for you. Tasting flights range from $65 – $95 per person with an option to do a caviar tasting for $120 a person.
How to save Money in Napa
If you’ve made it this far, you definitely deserve a glass of wine. While this tip WON’T necessarily save you money on bubbly, it will most definitely help with other tastings.
A harsh reality check: Napa is expensive AF. Most tastings start north of $50 per person for 3-5 pours at maybe 2 ounces each. Luckily, we found the Priority Wine Pass to help us visit more wineries on a budget.
There are several wineries that offer 2-for-1 tastings (and other discounts) which helped us save over $300.
Yep, you read that right, $300. They cover more than just California, too and it’s good for an entire year!
In the sparkling wine paradise of Napa Valley, bubbles take center stage, captivating wine enthusiasts with their elegance. From the renowned houses with a legacy of méthode traditionnelle to the boutique wineries pushing the boundaries of innovation, Napa’s sparkling wine scene is a celebration of craftsmanship and creativity.
Whether you prefer the crispness of a Blanc de Blancs, the complexity of a cuvée, or the playful charm of a sparkling rosé, Napa offers a dazzling array of options to please every palate.
So raise your glass to toast the best sparkling wineries in Napa Valley, and let the bubbles dance upon your tongue, as you indulge in the sparkling treasures of this world-renowned wine region.
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Oh my God ! I absolutely love this article , what a lovely way to explain napa geography . Am glad that I can choose the best among the entire Napa lot now.
Well written, thanks for such an informative article this will be very helpful for me to the best Napa wine.