8 Oregon Sparkling Wines That Rival Champagne
TheWillamette Valley'sdistinctive climate and geology have made it renowned forPinot Noir, and its Chardonnays can be equally impressive—two varieties that also happen to be the classic ingredients of great sparkling wine. But until now, only a few wineries here—notablyArgyleandSoter—had devoted themselves to bubbles. Sparkling wine production is complex and costly, and buying a bottling line for bubbly is out of the reach of most of the small wineries that have made Oregon's name. But in the past few years, entrepreneurs have started "custom crush" facilities devoted to sparkling wine production. The result? A burgeoning world of top-quality bubbles, from wineries already known for impressive still wines. The holidays are the perfect time to explore them.
Best Oregon Sparklers to Shop
Watermelon-fruity and sealed with a crown cap, this bright pink sparkler is made with the same process used for Prosecco.
2016 Sokol Blosser Bluebird Cuvée($25)
An unusual blend of grapes from Oregon and Washington, this lemon-limey sparkler is a new cuvée from acclaimed Willamette Valley producer Sokol Blosser.
2016 Division Winemaking Crémant De Portland Brut Urbanique($35)
This zingy, apple-inflected bottling is 100 percent Chenin Blanc; that, plus the term crémant, are nods to the sparkling winemaking traditions of France's Loire Valley.
2014 Raptor Ridge Brut Rosé Harbinger Vineyards($50)
Raptor Ridge's Scott Shull is known for superb single-vineyard Pinot Noirs; he uses one of those sources for this rich, black cherry–inflected bottling.
2015 Elk Cove La Bohème Brut Rosé($50)
Winemaker Adam Campbell is one of Oregon's top Pinot talents. His skill shows through in this creamy, lightly toasty wine.
2014 Roco Rms($65)
After making wine at Argyle for over two decades, Rollin Soles left in 2013 to found ROCO. His subtle, elegant flagship cuvée reflects all those years of experience.
2014 Soter Mineral Springs Brut Rosé($65)
Tony Soter's hilltop winery is an Oregon must-visit, and his precise Mineral Springs Brut Rosé, with its bright berry flavors, is one of the state's very best bottles of bubbly.
2007年Argyle香槟酒发酵Bru扩展t($75)
Argyle's extended tirage wines are aged for multiple years on the lees (leftover yeasts from fermentation) in the bottle, making them remarkably complex and luscious.