Made at Schramsberg from the red wine grape Pinot Noir, this is a delicious, fruitful, full-bodied sparkling wine. Schramsberg pioneered the Blanc de Noirs style in the United States, releasing the first such American sparkler in 1967.

Tasting notes

Making a white wine from a red grape requires great care: handpicked fruit, early morning harvest, optimal fruit maturity, delicate pressing. A balance of bright flavors, crisp acidity, and minimal tannins is achieved. Three years of yeast contact knits all the elements together in a mature, toasty style. Blanc de Noirs presents layers of roasted almond, caramel, cherry and spice. The wine is especially appealing with lighter meats such as veal and pork tenderloin, caviar and smoked fish, risotto with chanterelles and vegetables, or cheese souffles.

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Hugh Johnson wrote in his Picket Encyclopedia of Wine: “Schramsberg*** a dedicated specialist: California’s best sparkling. ”Blanc de Noirs outstanding.” The 1992 Blanc de Noirs won a gold medal at the World Wine Championships; the 1996 and 1997 both won gold medals at the Orange County Fair.