Sparkling Tastings: champagne method, Lambrusco-style, pet-nat
It was my birthday last week, I'm feeling festive. So here are some cool bubbles to try across Sonoma.
Typically, I’m a Champagne person— the perfectly sized bubbles, the complexity, the balance of acidity and the tiniest bit of sugar and malo - the French just know what they're doing. And compared to a good bottle of California wine, Champagne is actually ... affordable(???). But sometimes, just sometimes, I stray. And Sonoma, my friends, is a very worthy fling.
Here are a few Sonoma wineries with sparklings worth exploring:
Sosie: French Charmers
French for "twin," Sosie crafts small-lot wines with Old-World finesse, focusing on French varietals like Roussanne and Syrah. Their wines are all about elegance—high acidity, lower alcohol, and serious restraint. Their selection of sparkling wines (made in the French Champagne method, obviously) are delightful, and doing a white, rose, red sparkling tasting felt perfect on a sunny afternoon.
Tasting Experience: A charming and unfussy tasting room in a courtyard in downtown Sonoma. You can mix and match white, sparkling, and red wines in the tasting.
Notable Varietals 🍾: Sparkling Roussanne, Syrah, and the award-winning rosé of Syrah
Other Essentials:
🍷📅✅Booking Tock
🍾💲Median Bottle Price $$$
Amista: Dry Creek Valley’s Hidden Sparkling Gem
Amista makes all sorts of wines, but their true love is sparkling—thanks to winemaker Ashley Herzberg. They focus on small-batch, estate-grown bubbles that don’t play by the rules—think Sparkling Syrah, Grenache, and Mataró alongside the classic Blanc de Blancs. A little rebellious, a lot of delicious.
Tasting Experience: Set amid picturesque vineyards, their open-air patio and barn-style tasting areas are equal parts relaxed and charming. You can do a classic tasting or go full Sonoma with a picnic, all while soaking in the pet-friendly (and kid-friendly!) vibes. Bonus: there’s pétanque.
Notable Varietals🍾: Sparkling Syrah, Grenache and Mataró (Mourvèdre), all estate-grown and méthode champenoise.
Other Essentials:
🍷📅✅Booking Tock
🍾💲Median Bottle Price $$$
Obsidian: The Truly Experimental Stuff
Obsidian isn’t afraid to get a little weird—in the best way possible. While they’re best known for their Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon (from their Red Hills Lake County vineyard with Napa-like soil and climate, but decidedly not Napa-like prices), they also make some seriously interesting sparklings. The star of the show (IMHO)? Their "Chambrusco"—a Syrah-based take on Lambrusco that is both fun and unexpectedly delicious. They even make sparkling wines with actual fruit added. It shouldn’t work, but somehow... it does.
Tasting Experience: At Obsidian’s "Base Camp" tasting room just off Sonoma Plaza, expect a casual yet stylish space with glass walls that open to a zen garden.
Notable Varietals 🍾: Petite Sirah and Pinot Noir pet-nats, a classic Blanc de Blanc, and the (very drinkable) "Chambrusco"—their Syrah-based take on Lambrusco
Other Essentials:
📍Pedestrian entrance at, 134 Church Street, 441 1st St W, Sonoma, CA 95476
🍷📅✅Booking Tock
🍾💲Median Bottle Price $$$