Local Bubbles made in the Méthode Champenoise
We have so many amazing local champagnes and Sparkling Wines right here on the central coast, there’s no need to look further afield for birthday, holiday, wedding, or New Year’s Eve bubbles. With more than 70 sparkling wine makers in Santa Barbara county and more than 80 in San Luis Obispo county, this coastal region in California can really stand up to real Champagne.
Below is the list of classic Sparkling Wines on the Central Coast, made in the Champagne style.
San Luis Obispo & Paso Robles
Starting in Paso Robles in the north, these three wineries in, plus two in Edna and Arroyo Grande Valleys south of San Luis Obispo, make classic Brut or Extra Brut (more dry-style) Bubbles in the same style as in Champagne. They have a classic taste and flavor profile, and are available year round. You can always ask for a taste if the Sparkling Wine isn’t on the tasting menu.
Rava Winery
Info coming soon…
Hope Family Wines – Treana Sparkling
Info coming soon…
Niner Wine Estates
Info coming soon…
Hoyt Family Wines
Info coming soon…
Chamisal Vineyards
Info coming soon…
Laetitia – 7 different sparkling wines!
Laetitia has a heritage going back to the early 80s, when their wine was produced under Maison Deutz, a Champagne maker in France. Since 1997, Laetitia Vineyards & Winery has been the Grand Dame of sparkling wine on the central coast, now with 7 different bottlings.
From their classic Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noir styles, as well as a sparkling rosé and more yeasty styles, you’re sure to find something for everyone. These wines can be tasted every day in their tasting room and they also have a Sparkling Wine club. Perfect for anyone who loves bubbles. Laetitia photo by Toki Lee.
Online in SLO County
Honorable mentions to buy wine online: Haliotide,
Santa Barbara & Santa Ynez/Maria Valleys
Riverbench – Cork Jumper
In Santa Barbara county, the only place to taste a flight of sparkling wine every day is Riverbench Winery on upper Foxen Canyon, just outside Santa Maria (and their tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara). They make 6 different sparklers: Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Brut Rosé, Demi Sec, Pinot Meunier – Santa Barbara County’s only sparkling wine made with Pinot Meunier.
From their Santa Maria-focused Chardonnay and Pinot Noir program to their certified sustainable farming practices, the quality here is really high. Perfect for Burgundy (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir) lovers.
Fess Parker & The Bubble Shack
This is Fess Parker’s all-bubbly, all-the-time tasting room with 3-5 different sparklers on their tasting menu. It’s located in the courtyard with Epiphany, and it’s open Friday – Monday only. Bottles sales are possible at Epiphany and Fess Parker Winery.
- 2016 Fesstivity Blanc De Noir – 88% Pinot Noir and 12% Chardonnay
- 2017 Fesstivity Blanc De Blancs – all Chardonnay, baby!
- 2016 Sibling Bubblery Sparkling Grenache – fun red sparkler of all Grenache
- 2016 Brut Rosé – light color, fruitier taste
- 2018 Brut Cuvée – 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay
Margerum Winery – Barden Sparkling Wine
Info coming soon…
Sanford Winery
Info coming soon…
Flying Goat – Goat Bubbles
Flying Goat Cellars has a long history of quality Pinot Noir, and they’ve been hand-riddling, disgorging and bottling sparkling wine since 2005. Currently, they have a lineup of 5 sparkling wine classics of Goat Bubbles: Rosé (a fruity Pinot Noir), Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay), Blanc de Noirs (Pinot Noir), Brut Cuveé (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) and Crémant (a tart fruit Pinot Blanc).
These sparklers can be tasted at their Bubbles Bar every weekend in Lompoc. Another small-production winery creating each bottle by hand, with a perfect lineup expressing each style of Champagne. Perfect for the slightly irreverent sparkling wine lover.
Online Only: Sea Smoke – Sea Spray
Sea Smoke is renowned for their Pinot Noir… and I mean in a major cultish way. With that reputation for cool climate Pinot Noir, we’re lucky they also make a sparkling wine, called Sea Spray.
This sparkling wine is the most expensive on my list, and can also be hard to come by as they sell wines exclusively to their allocation list and some retail. I found a bottle in Santa Barbara, and was charmed when I finally opened it. It has the smallest, finest bubbles and a wonderful yeasty, classic Champagne taste. Perfect for the Champagne snob you need to impress. (Or for a super-special wedding!)
Local Food Renegade – Full of Life Flatbread
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