Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, North Coast, USA 2020

For over 50 years, Schramsberg Vineyards has been committed to crafting extraordinary sparkling wines. Living and working on the Napa Valley Diamond Mountain property, the Davies family and Schramsberg team have focused on creating wines that reflect the passion and experience of the people behind each bottle.

Blanc de Blancs (white from whites), made from Chardonnay, is the counterpart to the Blanc de Noirs (white from blacks), made from Pinot Noir. Blanc de Blancs was the first wine Schramsberg produced in 1965 and was Americas first commercially produced Chardonnay-based brut sparkling wine. Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs gained international recognition in 1972 when then President Nixon served the wine at the historic Toast to Peace in Beijing, China.

The Schramsberg style of Blanc de Blancs is dry and crisp. Small lots of barrel fermented wines, some of which complete malolactic fermentation, are added to stainless-steel fermented wines to create added complexity in the blended base wine. After undergoing a second fermentation in bottle, the wine then ages on its yeast lees for about two years prior to disgorgement. With its vibrant, fruitful and focused nature, this sparkling wine will maintain its freshness, structure and refined finish for many years, even decades following its initial release.

While this wine can be enjoyed by itself as an apéritif, it is also perfect with fresh oysters and other shellfish, crab cakes, ceviche and grilled sea bass. It is also delicious with lemon chicken and Thai curries. Serve with aged Gouda or other hard cheeses, and as a counterpoint to soft triple creams.

TASTING NOTES

The 2020 Blanc de Blancs has captivating aromas of Granny Smith apple, tangerine and lemon-lime, complemented with layers of apple custard and apple tart. Flavors of fresh grapefruit, white peach, and golden apple anchor the palate, which follows with hints of ginger and vanilla chiffon. This bottlings finish is crisp, refreshing, and mouthwatering, in the long-established Schramsberg tradition.- Winemakers Sean Thompson, Jessica Koga and Hugh Davies