Fourth of July Sparklers

Happy Independence Day!  Let's raise a glass to celebrate our great nation and all those who make our freedom possible.  

No celebration is complete without sparkling wines - but for the 4th of July, not just any bubbles will do. This special holiday calls for sparkling wines made in the U.S. Whether served as an aperitif or alongside pulled pork, fried chicken, grilled fish or even burgers, American sparkling wines are the ultimate pairing for your holiday festivities.

Different states all over the country produce delicious, high quality sparkling wines.   Some may even rival fine Champagne.  A few states really stand out for their bubbly production, especially those making their wines using the Méthode Champenoise, the traditional process developed in Champagne, France.  This method is meticulous and expensive, but the final product is a fine sparkling wine with finesse that cannot be rivaled by other methods. Here is a list to seek out this weekend and beyond:

Domaine Carneros, Napa Valley

California 

With so many stellar wine regions, it is no surprise that California offers a wide variety of sparkling wines.  The variation of soils and climate in each region lends itself to a range of sparkling styles, from bone dry to sweet. Some regions and producers to consider are:

Amador County - The End of Nowhere

Anderson Valley - Roederer Estate

Napa Valley - Chandon, Domaine Carneros and Schramsberg

Sonoma Valley - Gloria Ferrer and J Vineyards

Santa Barbara - Fess Parker

Santa Lucia Highlands - Caraccioli Cellars

Michigan

Michigan is an interesting region for sparkling wine, as its cooler climate can be similar to the climate in Champagne, France. Sparkling wine grapes need colder temperatures to preserve a grape's acid, a key ingredient for stellar bubbles. In Michigan, you can find sparkling wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as Riesling, Vidal and  Gewurztraminer. Try these producers:

Leelanau Peninsula - L. Mawby

Old Mission Peninsula - Mari Vineyards

Lake Michigan Shore - Tabor Hill

Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan

New Mexico

While New Mexico may not immediately jump to mind for bubbly, it actually produces some delicious sparkling wine - at a great value - from the Gruet family. With roots in the Champagne region, the Gruet family expanded to the soutwestern US in the 1980's. Their wines are made using the principal Champagne varieties in the Méthode Champenoise. Look for the Gruet label in wine shops everywhere.

New York

From the Finger Lakes to Long Island, you will find sparkling wines made from a variety of different grapes. Some are made with the traditional Champagne grapes of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, but others are produced from Riesling and hybrid grape varieties like Catawba and Isabella. Some producers to consider are Anthony Road, Boundary Breaks, Lieb Cellars, Macari Vineyards, and Sparkling Pointe.

Oregon

Some of the finest wines from the classic Champagne grapes of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are made in Oregon. It should come as no surprise that Oregon also is making high quality sparkling wines in the traditional Champagne method. A few producers to seek out are: Argyle Winery, Gran Moraine Winery, Ponzi Vineyards, ROCO Winery, Sokol Blosser Winery and Soter Vineyards.

Virginia

The trend for high-end sparkling wine in Virginia started in 2007 by Patricia Kluge of Kluge Estate (now Trump Winery). French winemaker Claude Thibaut joined Kluge as a consultant and put Virginia sparkling wine on the map. Thibaut now owns his own winery, Thibaut-Janisson, a standout for Virginia bubbles. Others to consider are Casanel Vineyards, Greenhill Vineyards, Rappahannock Cellars and Veritas Vineyards.

Independence Day celebrations provide the perfect opportunity to support American winemakers. Head to your local wine shop for a few bottles to enjoy with family and friends this holiday. Cheers to America!