Local Santa Barbara Bubbles
Updated June 2022
By now, eating and drinking local in Santa Barbara County is easy. With our plethora of local farmers and chefs who embrace local ingredients, along with the more than 200 wineries and over 21,349 acres planted to wine grapes, you can easily find locally grown food, wine and food products to enjoy every day of the year. Now, you can include sparkling wine too!
It can’t be called Champagne (since it’s not from the Champagne region of France), but much Sparkling Wine in Santa Barbara County is made in the same way, and some is made in even older methods.
Sparkling wine is a labor of love for many Santa Barbara County vintners, and the number of local producers has been growing slowly and steadily over the last 10 years. Today, with the popularity of an ancestral method resulting in a sparkling wine called Pét-nat, there are over 50 producers of sparkling wine in the county—with 15 right here in Los Olivos—making bubbly wine available here in town year-round.
Pét-nat is short for pétillant naturel, or natural bubbles, and is the oldest (and easiest) way to make sparkling wine. If differs from traditional Champagne production in that the wine is bottled before the fermentation is complete (so only 1 fermentation happens, partially in the bottle), no sugar or yeast is added for a second fermentation, and it’s usually unfiltered, and can be made from a multitude of grape varieties. It also takes a much shorter time than the traditional method, meaning more winemakers can get in on the bubbly action. Pét-nat’s bubbles typically don’t last as long as traditional sparkling wine, and the flavors can be all over the map, instead of the classic style and flavor profile you get from the méthode traditionnelle.
Los Olivos has a high concentration of these fun, fresh bubbles, as well as traditional sparkling wine, so it’s a perfect place to go bubbly tasting this Spring. Pét-nats include Carhartt’s sparkling rosé of Grenache or Sauvignon Blanc (availability is seasonal), Dreamcôte’s 3 different pét-nats (Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Verdejo) and Solminer, also with 3 different bubblies (all certified organic and biodynamic: Riesling, rosé of Syrah and Sparkling Syrah).
Some of the traditional sparklers in town are Blair Fox (also rosé made from Grenache), Coquelicot’s Sparkling Riesling, Fess Parker’s Fesstivity label (3 different sparkling wines from classic Blanc de Blancs to sparkling red Grenache plus a 30th Anniversary Magnum of sparkling Cuvée, all available at the Bubble Shack) and a few just outside of town (Demetria, Roblar, Vincent).
Plus, you can also get Italian DOCG (high-quality) Prosecco at Moretti Wine Co. and small-lot Loubud Blanc de Noirs & Goat Bubbles from Flying Goat (some of the oldest bubbles in the County) at local wine shop Community Craft.
Find more Santa Barbara County bubbles on our local sparkling wine map, and celebrate any season in Los Olivos: pop some local bottles!
Artiste
Artiste makes an Effervescence Rosé in the méthode champenoise (traditional Champagne method) style that is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Carignane – a grape mostly grown in Southern France and used in blends to add flavor and richness.
Blair Fox
This méthode champenoise rosé of Grenache is crisp and fruity, and they recently released a Blanc de Blancs (white sparkling wine made from white grapes) and Blanc de Noirs ( white sparkling wine made from red grapes). If the wines are not open for tasting, just ask and they will pour you a taste.
From Blair: “Our 2018 Foxy Bubbles is a brut style, low sugar Grenache Rosé sparkling wine that is light and fresh and just fun for any bubbly situation!”
Brewer-Clifton
Brewer-Clifton 3D Vineyard Sparkling Blanc de Blancs is a labor of love. The entire process is done in-house, completely méthode champenoise (traditional Champagne method), with all tasks done by hand. It’s made from 100% Chardonnay, and it’s the yeasty, delicate bottle of bubbles you’d want to buy in France. Not always available, so ask for it.
The Bubble Shack
This is Fess Parker’s all-bubbly, all-the-time tasting room with three different sparklers made in the méthode champenoise 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.
“The 2016 Fesstivity Blanc De Noir checks in as 82% Pinot Noir and 18% Chardonnay. It’s a more toasty effort that offers plenty of hazelnut and brioche nuances as well as background stone fruits. Made in a richer, more opulent style (think Krug as opposed to Cristal), it hits the palate with plenty of fruit and richness, terrific balance, no hard edges, and a great finish. This cuvée had 19 months of aging and 10 grams of dosage.” ~ Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2017 Fesstivity Blanc De Blancs has bright, fresh aromas of citrus and lemongrass with hints of biscuit and a subtle minerality. Flavors of green apple, citrus and mineral notes are made more complex with hints of caramel and toast.”
“Our 2016 Sibling Bubblery Sparkling Grenache is surprisingly refreshing despite its dark ruby color. Aromas of cranberry, red plum and baking spice are what you will encounter on the nose of this sparkling Grenache. The palate is loaded with juicy flavors of red plum and black raspberry made more delicious due to a hint of cinnamon. While Grenache is an unusual choice of varietal for a sparkling wine we can assure you that you will be better off for having put your preconceived notions aside and trying it. Enjoy! “
2016 Brut Rosé: “Generous passion fruit, raspberry and a hint of orange zest won’t be missed on the nose. Persistent bubbles dance in the flute, while bright tangy flavors of cranberry, raspberry, grapefruit are mellowed by a touch of vanilla on a pleasant palate that finishes with a clean, quenching acidity.”
2018 Brut Cuvée (2017 and 2015 Anniversary Magnums also available): “A complex sparkling blend comprised of roughly 88% Pinot Noir and 12% Chardonnay spending an extended time en tirage to bring out its unique characteristics. You won’t miss fine persistent bubbles floating to the top of your flute in a pale straw background. Light and flowery on the nose with a palate dominated by lemon cream, pear, roasted cashew and rounded out by a hint of nectarine.”
Ca’ Del Grevino
This Santa Maria-based winery has just released an Italian Prosecco-style sparkler called Riesecco. It’s a sparkling Riesling from their estate vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, also made in the méthode champenoise. It’s not available online, so make sure you visit in Los Olivos to try it.
Carhartt Family Wines
Carhartt’s sparkling wines change every year, but all are Pét-Nats, made in the méthode ancestrale in limited quantities. Recently, they’ve had two Sparkling releases: the Venture Nat/É Boi SB, a Pét-Nat made from Sauvignon Blanc, with a zingy acidity and fresh flavor profile, and the Nat/É Boi Sparkling Rosé made from Grenache with fresh fruit and floral notes, and balanced acidity.
Note: Pétillant Naturel, or Pét-Nat, is an even more ancient way to make sparkling wine than the widely-used méthode traditionelle or méthode champenoise originated in Champagne, France. In the méthode ancestral, the wine is bottle before it even finishes its first fermentation, so developing carbon dioxide as it goes. It’s not disgorged, often unfiltered and can be made from any grape variety.
Coquelicot
Sparkling Riesling from Coquelicot is available now! Made in the méthode-champenoise style by hand, the wine is made from organic grapes in their Solvang vineyard.
Dreamcôte
In addition to still wine and hard cider, this effort from Brittany Zotovich also includes other Pét-Nat sparkling wines, which sell out every year
“Desert Flower” Sauvignon Blanc: “Bright! Green apple, gooseberry, and white peach. This is a “Pét nat”! Pétillant Naturel is a wine that is bottled before it has fully finished fermenting and sealed with a screw cap. The wine continues to ferment, building pressure with the conversion of sugar to alcohol and C02 resulting in some pretty awesome BUBBLES.”
Also available at times during the year are 2 other Pét-Nat sparkling wines: Sparkling Verdejo, Sparkling Grenache Blanc and Sparkling Riesling.
Future Perfect
This colorful, dynamic new wine tasting spot in Los Olivos has just released a Sparkling Rosé Méthode Champenoise made of 69% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 6% Pinot Menuier (these are the classic grape varieties allowed in Champagne, France). Owner and winemaker Sunny Doench Stricker makes wine that brings people joy, from the best Santa Barbara County vineyards.
The Hideaway LO
The team behind these fun labels makes a méthode champenoise sparkling wine called Flocking Fabulous Sparkling Wine, with floral, citrus, and pear aromas with a hint of yeast. The fine mousse brings forth the light citrus, smooth and round in the mouth. It has a round finish, with a note of grapefruit. This Sparkling wine is a blend of 63% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, and 3% Pinot Meunier grapes.
Moretti Wine Co.
The Moretti Prosecco is an Italian Superiore DOCG Valdobbiadene Brut—a high-quality sparkling wine for just $25. It’s made in Italy, with oversight by owners Antonio & Jeni Moretti – he’s from northern Italy, but she’s studied and traveled the country so much that she knows it better than he does. From the Morettis:
“Sipping on this is like stepping into an impressionist painting. The bubbles remind you of the lightness of being that those paintings evoke. Yet underneath that easy, Mediterranean feeling, you can appreciate the layers of complexity, even smell the hints of flowers, meadow and fruit. Its palate (and palette) has a richness that defies its sparkle and shine.”
Refugio Ranch
The Gleason family who owns Refugio Ranch decided to make a new label for their Pét-Nat of Sangiovese called Gleason Family Vineyards. This red sparkler is in the style of classic Italian bubbly wines. The tasting room is in a historical, early-1900s warehouse, and now features two wine tasting bars, a VIP lounge, and an expansive outdoor deck, one of the largest tasting locations in Los Olivos.
Their sister property just outside of Los Olivos, Roblar, also has 2 different sparklers made in the méthode champenoise.
Solminer
Solminer is located at the flagpole at the center of town, in the same building at Kanea Wines (just north of the post office).
Solminer makes 3 different Pét-Nats, and their wines are “completely natural. Nothing but organic grapes creating clean, fresh bubbly.” The Sparkling Rosé of Syrah is exceptionally bubbly, and has a lovely earthy and fruity flavor. Their Sparkling Riesling offers something different to bubbly lovers – it is dry and citrusy, also floral with delicate bubbles.
They also make “Nebullite” Sparkling Syrah: “Whether there is a new star forming or simply a family holiday, certainly a champagne glass filled with the swirling, fizzing cosmos of red sparkling Syrah is intriguing and worthy of any celebration, large or small.”
Stolpman & Combe
“Pete Stolpman’s esoteric project is labeled “Combe” referring to the French word for a small sheltered valley within a vineyard (in partnership with Raj Parr). Sometime around 2010, Pete became convinced of the great potential for the pale red Trousseau grape on the Limestone soils of Stolpman Vineyards. We decided to make a light red Trousseau and a Trousseau pét-nat. The first vintage for the Trousseau wines was 2014, and we now have 3.5 acres planted to the varietal. Our 1.5 acres of Chenin began producing in 2016. The tiny first crop of Mondeuse made it into the 2019 Vin Gris and should make up the majority of this delicious dark pink wine in 2020.”
This is the only known sparkling Trousseau in the world; get it in Los Olivos, CA!
Story of Soil
Story of Soil has release their very fits bubbly: a 2021 pét-nat of Grüner Veltliner. We don’t know if you get a taste or glass of it in the tasting room, but you can buy a bottle.
Roasted Local Vegetable Skillet at Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe
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