Local Sparkling Wine Explodes in Popularity in California: Santa Barbara County Spotlight
Sparkling wine may have its historic roots in Champagne, but in Santa Barbara County, it’s taken on a life—and a sparkle—of its own. What began as a handful of winemakers experimenting with méthode champenoise has grown into a full-blown movement: today, more than 85 producers across the County are bottling bubbles, from traditional cuvées to funky pét-nats and Prosecco-style wines made for easy, joyful drinking.
It’s a movement born not of trendiness, but of intention. In a place where slow food and small-batch production are part of our culture, it makes sense that winemakers approach sparkling wine with care and tradition, as well as a willingness to rewrite the rules.
Santa Barbara County winemakers are also reinventing sparkling traditions. Pét-Nats (pétillant naturel) are gaining popularity—bottled during primary fermentation, they’re cloudy, funky, and wild, often with crown caps like a beer bottle. Rosé sparklings are everywhere, bringing vibrant berry flavors and a more relaxed, summery vibe. Some wineries even make sparkling reds, or experiment with unexpected grapes like Albariño or Grenache Blanc.
Sparkling Wine is Rooted in the Vineyard
Like all wine, Sparkling wine starts in the vineyard. In Santa Barbara County, that means cool coastal breezes, foggy mornings, and long growing seasons—ideal for cultivating high-acid grapes like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
Grapes for sparkling wine are typically picked earlier than those destined for still wine, preserving brightness and acidity. Many local vineyards are picked by hand in August or early September, often in the early morning hours, followed by a toast among pickers and winemakers.
Bubbly Beginnings
The first Sparkling Wines in Santa Barbara County included single bottlings from Sanford, Brewer-Clifton, Kalyra, and Lucas & Lewellen. Then Norm Yost of Flying Goat Cellars launched Goat Bubbles in 2005 as the region’s first program of méthode champenoise, fully in-house sparkling wine—hand-riddled, disgorged, waxed, and labeled with love.
Later producers have built new sparkling traditions and rituals from the ground up. Each bottle carries not just bubbles, but a story about a family, a place, or a dream. At Riverbench, winemaker Clarissa Nagy and team have elevated sparkling into its core identity, releasing the county’s first sparkling Pinot Meunier alongside a lineup of eight different traditional-method styles made from estate fruit, grown sustainably since 2008. In the Sta. Rita Hills, Flying Goat, Sanford, Fess Parker and others continue to lean into Champagne’s traditions. Newer producers are adding their own vibrant expressions to the mix, showing that bubbles can come from unexpected grapes and bold ideas.
Sparkling Wine 101
Sparkling wine is created by fermenting and bottling wine under pressure, which traps the natural carbon dioxide and gives it those signature bubbles when opened. Many of our County’s finest sparkling wines are made in the traditional méthode champenoise, the same technique used in Champagne. That means secondary fermentation happens inside the bottle, often followed by months or even years of aging on the lees (spent yeast), which creates those delicate, persistent bubbles and toasty, brioche-like aromas.
This method is labor-intensive and time-consuming, which is exactly why it fits so well into the Santa Barbara artisan wine community—where small producers take pride in hands-on, intentional winemaking.
Whether a founding family, a solo winemaker, or a generational estate, many local Sparkling winemakers are rooted in heritage, family, and Santa Barbara terroir.
Family-Driven Sparkling Wine from Fess Parker
In 2015 the Fess Parker family launched their small-batch sparkling label, Fesstivity, built around Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and their first Blanc De Blancs and Brut Rose. But the story goes back much further. Founded in 1989 by actor-turned-winemaker Fess Parker—famous for his roles as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone—the winery began with an estate vineyard in the Foxen Canyon area of Santa Ynez Valley, crafting Rhône and Burgundian wines.
Read about Fess Parker Fesstivity Bubbles.
Bubbles for Everyday Celebration
Once reserved for coronations, weddings, and life’s biggest milestones, sparkling wine is now cherished as an everyday luxury. Here especially, we are lucky to have so many local quality wines just minutes from us, no matter where we are in the County. And with so many sparkling wines, Bubbles are frequently part of casual meals and backyard hangouts. Sparkling Wine pairs with everything from oysters to fried chicken to popcorn—as well as tamales to Santa Maria–style BBQ. And don’t forget dessert! It’s the easiest pairing wine for food, events, friends, and well, anything.
Santa Maria Roots at Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
Deep in the Santa Maria Valley (the oldest American Viticultural Area in Santa Barbara County), a vineyard was established in 1973 on the Santa Maria Bench, growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the cool climate of coastal winds from the Pacific. It wasn’t until 2005, when the Hamils, the Hermrecks, and the Wills—three long-time Santa Maria families—bought the property, that they started producing their own wines.
Read about Riverbench Sparkling Wine.
Sparkling Wines Further West
The most grapes for sparkling wine are found in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, where Flying Goat and Sanford have been making high-quality Bubblies, among many others. This area is also known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, where cool weather, fog from the ocean, and long growing season all contribute to their excellence. Younger winemakers can source fruit from some of these Champagne-like vineyards, adding traditional or modern, fun Sparkling Wines to their lineup when they don’t have an estate.
Loubud Wines in Downtown Santa Barbara
One of the youngest Sparkling Winemakers focusing on her own label of Bubblies is Laura Hughes of Loubud Wines, founded in 2015. Named after a nickname given to her by her father when she was young, Loubud has exploded onto the sparkling scene.
Read about Loubud Bubbles, tasting room located in Santa Barbara.
Celebrating with Bubbles
Sparkling wine is a staple at holiday tables around the world, but it doesn’t have to be formal or intimidating. In Santa Barbara County, it’s a joyful expression of craftsmanship and an invitation to celebrate life’s moment, with the all the people you love.
These wineries are among more than 85 sparkling producers now bubbling up across Santa Barbara County—a testament to how much this region has embraced (and redefined) sparkling wine in the past decade. From the traditionalists using the labor-intensive méthode champenoise to the experimentalists crafting pét-nats (pétillant naturel) or Prosecco-style charmat wines, Santa Barbara winemakers are treating bubbles not as a sideshow, but as a central, expressive part of their portfolios.
As Santa Barbara’s sparkling wine movement matures, it’s becoming clear that this isn’t a trend—it’s a tradition in the making. Whether it’s méthode champenoise made with reverence and precision, or pét-nat fizzed with playful freedom, the message is the same: bubbles belong here.
Santa Maria Roots at Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
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