Top-rated American sparkling wines for New Year’s Eve

Nothing says celebration like bubbly wine, and few other drinks are as synonymous with the old year ending or the new year beginning as bottles of sparkling wine.

While the phenomenon was said to have started in Limoux, in the south of France, the wine style has become intertwined with the northern French vineyards of Champagne.

On this side of the Atlantic, sparkling wine historians point to Ohio rather than California for the first American bubbles in the United States. It was a sparkling Catawba made by a Cincinnati lawyer named Longsworth, who became the founding father of bubbles in the US.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 25 of Clives’ top sparkling picks for New Year’s Eve

There is plenty for fans of sparkling wine to be excited about in the US and Canada. The French sparkling wine production method, often referred to as methode champenoise or just the ‘traditional method,’ is the predominant approach in North American, but it’s not the only one.

Fans of wines created in a style similar to Prosecco from the Charmat method – where the wines are produced in large tanks with less pressure and thus creating bubbles which tend to be lighter – will find plenty of New World options.

While the popularity of sparkling wines continues to grow, no category has seen its approval numbers increase like the Pétillant Naturel style or Pét nat as it’s commonly abbreviated.

Pét Nat is the world’s original sparkling wine production method, sometimes called méthode ancestrale. It differs from wines made in the style of Champagne as it is bottled before it finishes its initial fermentation.

Oregon

When Rollin Soles got the ball rolling on sparkling wine at Argyle three decades ago, who knows if he could have foreseen the growth and quality of the wine style’s production in the Willamette Valley. There are now close to 50 sparkling producers, and that number seems to grow by the week.

A big part of the sparkling movement in the Willamette Valley is the Radiant Sparkling Wine company, who contracts with small producers and provides the niche and expensive equipment to allow a number of wineries to begin experimenting and perfecting their own sparkling production.

See notes and scores for all 86 American sparkling wines tasted

New York

Perhaps the Empire State is the most perfectly positioned for American sparkling wine production with climatic conditions changing, and already being a cooler growing region. The sparkling wine scene in New York is very healthy, with many producers creating an array of wines. There are classically made, traditional method wines from producers like Hermann J Weimer and Dr. Konstantin Frank making precise wines in an Old Word style.

Additionally, there is plenty of excitement with Pét Nat being produced by folks like Macari, Buttonwood Grove and Channing Daughters. Some producers are even making quality carbonated wine, and while they may not satiate sparkling purists, they provide a great gateway into bubbles for new wine drinkers.

California

California has historically been the epicentre of American sparkling wine, specifically in Napa’s Carneros AVA. Big names from Europe like Roederer, Taittinger’s Domaine Carneros, as well as Spanish Cava producers like Ferrer Family and Codorníu. The Pét Nat is popping in California as well as sparkling wine continues to flow from the Golden State.

Washington and beyond

Washington has sparkling wines being produced by the state’s standard bearer, Chateau Ste Michelle, under the Domaine Ste Michelle label, as well as a few upstart producers who have focused specifically on bubbles, like Tirriddis and Treveri.

There are small producers like Syncline located in the cooler Columbia Gorge that have made sparkling wines for a long time. Pét Nat appears to be catching on a bit more slowly in Washington, but it is a burgeoning style.

In Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, we’re seeing successful sparkling wine programmes pop up – these include traditional method wines made in Virginia, and tasty Pét Nat from the shores of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania.

These wines are a testament to the evolution of the sparkling style across America’s wine country. From wines of lengthy lees ageing, to brightly coloured Pét Nats made from American hybrids, and everything in between, American sparkling wine is worthy of celebration.

Top American sparkling wines for New Year’s Eve:

The wines below are listed in score order.

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