Podcasts about schramsberg

In this episode of Wine Talks, we delve into the noble tradition of wine in the corridors of the White House. With the aid of Frederick J. Ryan, whose impressive tome "Wine in the White House: A History" serves as our guide, we explore the nuanced role of wine in American presidential history. Here are 7 points I pulled out of the conversation.

What happens when Kat sits down to reflect on 10 years of marriage and partnership? Schramsberg Blanc de blancs! This North Coast premium sparkling wine was the first in America to come up with this style of wine and carries the name and legend for a reason. Kat is beyond pleased to bring you this gorgeous Champagne-like wine to The Enlightened wine club for fall. She also talks about what it means to her to be a mother, a wife and a career-motivated person in this crazy culture. Real talk here. Thanks for listening. Get more wine & wellness at ZenWineClub.com.

This week on our Vino Lingo segment we feature Fred Zammataro of Schramsberg Vineyards, Napa Valley, defining the term “Elegance”.  Learn more by visiting www.schramsberg.com.

Several of our Podcasts have focused the history of wine growing regions. For many of our listeners, that history is fascinating. Napa Valley wineries date back to the late 1800’s and in fact the Schramsberg Vineyards property goes back to the 1860’s. Fred Zammataro is COO, CFO and Executive Vice President at the winery and [...]

Our guest this episode of the Cork & Taylor Wine Podcast was born with a wineglass in his hand, and that is the truth you could say as Hugh was born in 1965, the same year that his parents, Jack and Jamie Davies, purchased the abandoned Schramsberg Estate in Calistoga. Hugh grew up among the vines, caves, tanks and barrels that make Schramsberg Vineyards what it is today: the premier producer of American sparkling wines. We had a great time sitting down talking wine with Hugh Davies and tasting the some Schramberg sparkling wines too.Thanks to Silvadore Brands for partnering with the Cork & Taylor Wine Podcast and being the official wine preserver or gas (Argon) provider.Go the link below to get your Silvadore Argon Gas Wine Preserver. Make sure you click FOR YOUR HOME and enter CODE corkandtaylor to receive 10% off your  orderhttps://www.silvadorebrands.com/Also, Welcome Fly With Wine as a new partner of the Cork & Taylor Wine Podcast.Solve the single biggest problem faced by wine country travelers as they follow their dreams of visiting their favorite wineries around the world. How to bring their favorite wines back home with them safely and securely on an airplane so they can be enjoyed while reliving memories with every sip. And so was borne the idea for FlyWithWine. Enter CODE corkandtaylor to receive 10% off your orderhttps://www.flywithwine.com/Don't forget to Subscribe, Rate and Review! Please please It only takes a few minutes and helps me/the show grow. The more subscribers, reviews and rates helps us to get discovered! Also, follow us on our Facebook @corkandtaylor and Instagram accounts @corkandtaylorpodcast.Also, Please consider supporting the show as it would be appreciated. This helps me offset  expenses to continue to run and grow the Cork & Taylor Wine Podcast. Thanks! Lukewww.patreon.com/corkandtaylor

If yo u cannot see the audio controls, listen/download the audio file here Sommelier Spreti Valente - Chairwoman, Los Angeles International Wine CompetitionHugh Davies - President/CEO, Schramsberg Vineyards & Davies Vineyard 

In todays episode, Shelley and Phil push the Joe Rogan model of podcast length while they visit with former neighbor, Laureen Betts, as she shares her stories and experiences from her many years of working at the Robert Mondavi Winery and how Robert Mondavi helped shape the California wine world. You'll also learn about the proper way to dry wine glasses so you won't break them. This is a long one with loads of great stories. Pour yourself a glass (or bottle?) of Robert Mondavi wine, sit back and enjoy! #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime #Cheersing #WineNot #Skullduggery #Boinking #EasterEggWines this episode:2018 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay ($40 at Bottle Joy)

Part 5 of A PHILADELPHIA TASTING MENU Does this grungy, haut-cuisine, haunted Nic Cage drama pair in a contrapuntal sort of way with this bubbly, tropical, and historic Blanc de Blancs from Napa Valley? Share some dope Bao buns with those you love and press play on our latest episode! Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 2018 is available at Crush Wine Co. for $32.  PIG is a 2021 feature film written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, based on a screenstory by Sarnoski and Vanessa Block. It stars Nicolas Cage, Alex Wolff, and Adam Arkin. It is currently available to stream on Hulu and wherever you rent those VODs. Baology is a Taiwanese street food restaurant in Philadelphia, PA. Under the leadership of Judy Ni, they have been leaders in sustainability and worker advocacy in the city. Also the food is super yummy. The Curried Crab Shen Jian Bao special will be available the week of this episode's release. All other food mentioned is available year round. Follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @BiggerBottlePod. Email us at biggerbottlepod@gmail.com. Our NEW art is thanks to Ross Connard! Music is selected from Camille Saint-Saëns' ‘The Carnival of the Animals - XII. Fossils' as performed by the Seattle Youth Symphony, licensed under Creative Commons (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode)

Wine educator Sam Hohl joins Robert Tas to explore the wine list of Seamore's to find the best pairings with the renowned seafood menu. Sam reviews wines and grapes from the Basque country in Spain, Cava, and Portugal and also provides insight into the terroir of the more expensive wines on the list.  Wines reviewed include: 2018 Brut Blanc De Blancs from Schramsberg 2020 Txakolina from Gaintza, Spain 2020 Nortico Alvarinho

War, wine and peace. This month we report on wine in the Ukraine, the Russian wine professionals defying Putin, who's buying and selling in the US, the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie Chateau Miraval bust-up, the Schramsberg anniversary dinner for the “Toast to Peace”, say farewell to Anthony Barton and much more.Find out more at wine-conversation.com

Episode 25 jumps into the holidays with a festive episode that was recorded onsite in the historic Schramsberg caves. As the second winery in Napa Valley and the first winery to make sparkling wine, this episode is rich in history and delicious tasting notes. The September 2021 and June 1996 police logs were discussed over the 2018 Schramsberg Brut Rose, 2012 J. Schram , Davies vineyards 2019 Ferrington vineyard Pinot Noir and 2018 estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Highlights of the episode include a wandering horse, criminals turning themselves in, disruption at a Hunt ave store and a missing street sign. Enjoy this special full of bubbles, reminiscing and crime. 

An interview with associate Winemaker Jessica Koga. Cheers #goodjuice

Shepherd (Shep) Rouse is Virginia through and through. His ancestors roots trace back to the 17th century in Virginia. Shep was a Fulbright Scholar and after spending time in Germany he fell in love with their wines and Riesling specifically. When he returned to the U.S. he decided to take up the art of winemaking and headed to the West Coast where he would as a get his degree in Enology at U.C. Davis. He worked for several of the early pioneers in Northern California and would eventually make it back to his native state, Virginia, where he took the position as winemaker at Montdomaine winery in what is now the Monticello AVA. He and his wife Jane founded Rockbridge Winery in the Shenandoah Valley in 1988 after he found what he believed to be the ideal site at an elevation of 2,000 feet. Shep has been making wine in Virginia longer than anyone other than Gabriele Rausse, and Jim Law. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INTERVIEW a). as a 9 year old he discovered an artifact which is the second oldest wine bottle unearthed in this country today.b). he describes his beginning days in winemaking at several of the early pioneers in California, most notably Veedercrest Vineyards, Mark West, Ch. St. Jean, & Schramsberg.c). He takes the winemaking position at Montdomaine Winery and moves back to Va in 1986. he describes what the industry was like at that time.d). Founding Rockbridge winery with his wife in 1988 and produces his first vintage in 1992.e). discusses why he choose to plant a significant amount of hybrid grape varieties.f). explains how is early love for the wines of Germany led him to plant and cultivate Riesling which he prefers to this day over all the other wines he produces. g). states how important it was for him to get his enology degree at U.C. Davis and how that has been so valuable to him in his winemaking here in Virginia.Much, much more.

If you cannot see the audio controls, listen/download the audio file here Michael Haney - Executive Director, Sonoma County Vintners & Owner, Black Dog Cellars - Sip From Home With Sonoma County Wineries Hugh Davies - President/CEO, Schramsberg Vineyards & J. Davies Estate Vineyard   

It’s a new year AND a new season! In honor of turning the calendar, saying 'good riddance' to 2020 and ‘hello 2021, what took you so long?’, Shelley and Phil have the honor of tasting through three different wines with Master Sommelier, Andrea Robinson, maker of The One Wine stemware. This is the longest episode in the history of Wine Time Fridays because there is just so much great information! Learn about Andrea’s two spanking new wine courses, available scholarships and why you don’t need to waste kitchen real estate with wine glasses you never use on this episode of Wine Time Fridays. #HappyNewYears! #HappyFriday! #ItsWineTime!Wines tasted this episode: 2016 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs ($49 from The Culinary Stone)J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay ($11 from Super One)2014 Hertelendy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($125 from Wine Library)For more information on the 2016 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs please visit https://shop.schramsberg.com/SHOP.AMS?LEVEL=BOT&PART=N16For more information on the 2019 J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay please visit https://www.jlohr.com/wines/2019-riverstone-chardonnayFor more information on the 2014 Hertelendy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon please visit https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/hertelendy-2014-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley/For more information on Andrea’s two new wine courses, please visit https://andreawine.com/virtualwinecourses/ Use the code "Fridays Friends 15” at checkout for 15% off any course you purchase!To see the rules and submit an application for one of Andrea’s 10 scholarships to her Great Wines Made Simple 8-session wine course, please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXvQp-9w5S5B4E8wUayDQ2PN1NF5lQTTdpjkrvELr3Ds5fIw/viewformIf you want to drink your wine out the same wine glasses Shelley and Phil use please visit https://andreawine.com/theonewineglass/ and use the code “AndreaFF15” at checkout for 15% off!A special thanks to our sponsors:The Social Media Web. Visit https://www.smwcda.com for more information on the The Social Media Web and The Social Media Summit Inner Circle.The Culinary Stone. Looking for that special bottle of wine or a wine club that really over delivers, visit https://culinarystone.com or call them at 208-277-4116.And of course, a HUGE thank you to Tod Hornby who wrote and recorded our official Wine Time Fridays theme music which is ANYthing but average. Please contact him at veryaveragemusic@gmail.com Mentions: Gary Vaynerchuck, Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards, Coravin, Napa Valley Vintners, Kevin Zraly, Heidi and Chris Cochran, Rooted Family Wines.Please visit us at https://winetimefridays.com, and find us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WineTimeFridays), Twitter (@VintageTweets) and Instagram (@WineTimeFridays).

Part 2 of “10 Questions - How to Get Started” dives into some common questions that we’ve all thought, but maybe never asked... Is there really a difference between bottled wine and canned wine? Screw tops vs. corks? How do you choose something to go with dinner? We will also tackle a very interesting question submitted from one of our friends around choosing 5 bottles, as recommendations - but with a twist. Tune in to hear more….Notes:Magazines like Wine Spectator and Wine EnthusiastWine & War, by Donald & Petie KladstrupPhoebe’s recommendationsAll in the sparkling category:Vintage Blanc de blancs from ChampagneCalifornia sparkling wine, Schramsberg or RoedererSpanish cavaItalian prosecco, Nino FrancoYuanbo’s recommendationsAll from Champagne:Rose: Laurent Perrier RoseGrower (small producer) blanc de blancs:Pierre PaillardAgrapart et FilsDhondt GrelletBranded blanc de blancs: Ruinart blanc de blancsVintage champagne: Comte de Champagne with some age (2008 for example, a great vintage)One post-recording addition: Gonet Medeville, who make an excellent blanc de blancs from Mesnil sur Oger and a blanc de noir from Ambonnay

Peter Dills of the Dills restaurant review family interviews Hugh Davies of Schramsberg Winery

Among aficionados California sparkling wine has always played a bit of a second fiddle to sparklers from other parts of the world.  While that is changing over the past few years with the emergence of Grower Champagne-like wines coming from the likes of Under the Wire and the cult wine Ultramarine, among others, the one exception to this notion has always been Schramsberg. Gaining prominence going back to 1972, when Nixon used the Blanc de Blanc to toast the Chinese Premier at the White House, wines from this historic estate have been served by every administration since. I met with Hugh Davies to talk about his family's commitment to sparkling wine, why they tore up their historic estate vineyard and replanted with Bordeaux varieties in the late 1990's and of course to taste some delicious wine.

Paul talks with Hugh Davies of Schramsberg and Davies Vineyards about the Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, used for President Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace” with China’s Premier Zhou Enlai. Then Paul is joined for tasting by Anne Parent, 12th generation winemaker of Domaine Parent.

Bubbles! In episode 10 of Sip On This, Roger and J'nai visit Hugh Davies, the second-generation owner and winemaker of Schramsberg, one of the oldest wineries in Napa. Hidden in the Diamond Mountain, just near the Calistoga district of Napa, Schramsberg is well-known for it's sparkling wines which has been served in the White House with every Administration since President Richard Nixon. Learn about Schramsberg's wide-ranging line of sparkling wines and the Davies label which includes Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Listen to Sip On This, the most entertaining and informative podcast about wines. Visit us at siponthis.org.

Our chaotic process for grooming and bathing the girls! All our grooming supplies are on our Amazon Page of Stuff here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thegoldenratio WE GOT A SPONSOR! Sign up for Audible through our link, get a free book, and support the waffle fund! www.audibletrial.com/thegoldenratio Drink of the week: Schramsberg rose champagne (from California), often served at White House state dinners. You can buy some online! schramsberg.com German Word of the week: Frühjahrsputz - spring cleaning

Recently we attended the annual wine bloggers conference which allowed us to spend some time in Sonoma and Napa Valley. These next few episodes will cover some of the information we learned as well as some of the wines we sampled.   This week we discuss: Where is Napa Valley? Wine production and impact Climate and geography Grapes grown and why the focus on Cab? What to expect from Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabinet Sauvignon   Wines and Wineries featured in this episode Chardonnay: J. Moss 2015 Los Carneros - $42 Handwritten Wines 2016 Los Carneros - $55 Castello di Amorosa 2016 Reserve, Napa Valley - $50 Merlot J. Moss 2013 Napa Valley - $64 Castello di Amorosa 2014 Napa Valley - $42 Cabinet Sauvignon J. Moss 2013 Coombsville - $84 Handwritten Wines 2014 Los Carneros - $100 Handwritten Wines 2014 Stags Leap District - $115 Castello di Amorosa 2006 Il Barone Napa Valley - $185   Unusually Napa Valley wine varieties 2014 Nichelini Family Winery Chiles Valley Petite Sirah - $43 Antica 2014 Napa Valley Antinori Family Wine Estate Atlas Peak Pinot Noir - $35 Hess Collection Small Block Series 2016 Mount Veeder Gruner Veltliner - $28 Silverado Vineyards 2016 Miller Ranch Yountville Sauvignon Blanc - $25 Schramsberg 2013 Querencia Napa Valley Brut Rose - $55   A big thanks to Napa Valley Vintners, Castello di Amorosa and Las Alcobas for hosting us as well as all of the wineries who shared their wine with us!   We’re coming up to our 100th episode and to celebrate, we want to make you part of the show! Call into our new voicemail and tell us how the podcast has impacted you, or a short, fun story from your wine journey, or something you’ve learned about wine that’s made a difference for you. The number to call is 937-889-WINE (937-889-9463).  

Mirabelle Brut Non-Vintage, North Coast, California($26.99, Blend: 55% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir) Winemaker’s Notes: “Generous aromas of vanilla waffle cone and spun sugar are followed by rich apricot compote and ripe citrus. The post Schramsberg Sparkling Wine & Cheese Pairings appeared first on Laurie Forster | Wine Expert | Wine Coach | Wine Speaker.

This week on In the Drink, Joe Campanale invites Hugh Davies, proprietor of Schramsberg Vineyards in Calistoga, California. Tune into this episode to hear Joe and Hugh discuss Schramsberg’s legacy, and why the wines have been championed by so many United States presidents. Find out how Hugh’s wines are produced using the same methods used for making champagne, and why these California bubbles rival their French counterparts. Learn more about site-specific wines, and Schramsberg’s export market. What issues plague Napa Valley winemakers? Is a lack of water truly a threat to California’s wine industry? Find out all of this and more on this week’s edition of In the Drink! This program has been brought to you by Michter’s. Music by SNOWMINE. “We’re making a wine very much like a champagne… As we’ve evolved, we’ve actually moved closer to the coast where the grapes have a lower sugar and a higher acidity… We’re always trying to make a better product.” [6:35] “I want to taste that one acre… and that’s it! Every year, we’re doing some site-specific bottling.” [9:00] “If the regulations were not decided upon in the 60s, we wouldn’t have the Napa Valley that we have today.” [22:30] “We’re losing 30,000 acres of agricultural land a year, and none of that is in the Napa Valley.” [26:00] — Hugh Davies on In the Drink

This week WineGuyMike™ writes all about all things bubbly for your New Year Celebration and understanding the differences between Champagne, Sparkling Wine, Cava, Prosecco, and Spumante.  In this post I am also suggesting sparkling wines in a variety of price ranges that offer the consumer value. What is the difference between Champagne and Sparkling wine?  Sparkling wines and champagne are still wines that have been infused with carbonation. True Champagne is made in France will be noted by the capital letter “C”on the label.  Other sparkling wines called Champagne will by designated as “champagne”, notice no capitalization. Three grapes are used in Champagne, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.  It’s white because only the juice of the grapes is used.The four methods of Sparkling wine production:1. Carbon Dioxide Injection – soft drinks and inexpensive sparkling wines are produced using this method.  It produces large bubbles that dissipate quickly.2. Charmat Process – wine undergoes a second fermentation in large bulk tanks and is bottled under pressure.  Prosecco and Asti are produced utilizing this method, smaller longer lasting bubbles result from this method.  Many Sparkling wines are made using this method.3. Méthode Champenoise – this process takes place in the bottle and requires hands on attention.  During the second fermentation the carbon dioxide stays in the bottle and this is where the bubbles come from.4. Transfer Method – the cuvee is bottled for the second fermentation which adds complexity.  But the wine is then removed and stored in large tanks after it has spent the appropriate amount of time on yeast.Champagne:The Champagne region of France not only produces some of the finest sparkling wines in the world, but some of the finest wines in the world too.  Typically there are three grapes used in the blend for sparkling wines; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.  Different vintages are used to create the blend or better known as the “Cuvee”.Champagne is expensive due to the traditional method of how it is made, Methode Champenoise and techniques known as second fermentation.  This process takes place in the bottle and requires hands on attention.Pink Champagne or sparkling Rose is strained through the Pinot Noir grape skins, truly a delight.  Methode Champenoise is the true French fermentation process.  The wine is fermented twice, once in an oak barrel, and the second time the wine developes carbonation in the bottle while aging a minimum of one year.Blanc de Blancs is true French Champagne, it is produced entirely from the Chardonnay grape.  Blanc de Blancs fermented using the Methode Champenoise process, producing white Champagne.Designations of quality:Prestige cuveeThis Champagne is the highest priced and is available only in small quantities.  It is designated “Prestige” because the grapes come from the best grapes from the highest rated villages, it is made from the first pressing of the grapes, produced only as a vintage, and will have been aged longer than vintage and non-vintage Champagnes.Vintage Champagne                                         Some select years produce an outstanding grape harvest.  The Vintage Champagnes are aged for at least three years.  Here are an example of a few companies who produce these Vintage Champagnes; Veuve Clicquot, Perrier-Jouet, Moet & Chandon, and Taittinger.Remember a Vintage Champagne will be identified by an actual year marked on the label, but expect to pay a premium for this.Non-Vintage ChampagneThe majority of Sparkling wine on the shelf of a store is non-vintage.  These are a blend of wines aged for two years.How to Select your Champagne:■Brut is Dry■Extra Dry is Semidry■Sec is Semisweet■Demi-sec is SweetQuality Champagne Cellars:Ayala, Billecart-Salmon, J. Bollinger, Canard-Duchene, Deutz, Charles Heidsieck, Heid sieck Monopole, Henriot, Krug, Lanson, Lauret Perrier, Mercier, Moet & Chandon, Mumm Perrier-Jouet, Joseph Perrier, Piper Heidsieck, Pol Roger, Pommery, Louis Roederer, Ruinart, Salmon, Taittinger, Veuve ClicquotAll things are not at equal when it comes to sparkling wines and Champagne.  So what makes all of these types of sparkling wines different?  The answer is how they are made, the type of grapes, and the yeasts that are used in fermentation and left behind in the bottle to age with the sparkling wines.There are 2-3 elements of wine that create aroma and flavor.  The first element is the fruit, and the second is the yeast used to ferment the wine.  Fruit and yeast combine during fermentation to produce aroma and flavor or sense of taste.  The third influence upon the wine in your glass may be from an oak influence during the wines aging process.Other sparkling Wine Regions:Loire Valley of France produces Crémant, while the Asti region of Italy produces Asti Spumanti, and Prosecco comes from the Veneto region.  The Catalonia region of Spain produces the world’s most popular sparkling wine, Cava.  Quality sparkling wines made in Italy are made by the Metodo Classico process or what the French refer to as Methode Champenoise.Prosecco is an Italian wine, generally a dry sparkling wine, usually made from grape varietyGlera, which is also known as Prosecco.  The Veneto region of Italy is where Glera/ Prosecco is grown and produced.Prosecco is mainly produced as a sparkling wine in either the fully sparkling (spumante) or lightly sparkling (frizzante, gentile) styles.  Prosecco spumante, which has undergone a full secondary fermentation, is the more expensive style.  The various sparkling wines may contain some Pinot Bianco or Pinot Grigio wine.  Depending on their sweetness, Proseccos are labeled “brut”, “extra dry”, or “dry”, with the brut being the driest.Unlike Champagne, Prosecco does not ferment in the bottle consequently the wine goes off or gets old quickly and should be drunk as young as possible, preferably within one year.Prosecco is Italy’s answer to refreshing, well-made, sparkling wine that is low in alcohol, about 11 to 12 percent by volume.  Created from predominately Prosecco grapes in the northern Veneto region of Italy in the foothills of the Alps.  Prosecco is light, affordable, and fun.  This Sparkling wine is aromatic and crisp, with nuances of yellow apple, citrus, pear, white peach, and apricot.  Today’s Proseccos tend to be  dry and very bubbly and typically will present itself as light, fresh, with an initial intense bouquet/aroma, but simple and straight forward compared to Champagne.Prosecco is made using the Charmat method rather than the Champagne method, the French method of making sparkling wine.  The Charmat method is a second fermentation in pressurized tanks rather than in individual bottles.  The shorter, tank fermentation is preferable for Prosecco because it preserves the freshness and the flavor of the grapes.Asti Spumante is a sweet sparkling wine.  It is produced in the province of Asti and made from the Moscato grape.  Spumante is a fruit forward sparkling wine that is grapy, and has a low alcohol content usually around 8%.  Moscato d’Asti is a sparkling wine that is frizzante in style and for my palette I find these wines to be more refined than the Asti Spumante.Cava originated in the Catalonia region at the in the late 19th century.  Originally the wine was known as Champaña until Spanish producers officially adopted the term “Cava” (cellar) in 1970.  Cava wines are fermented and aged in the bottle in underground cellars.   Today 95% of Spain’s total Cava production is from Catalonia.Cava is produced in different styles ranging from dry to sweet; Brut Nature, Brut (extra dry),Seco (dry), Semiseco (medium) and Dulce (sweet).  Under Spanish Denominación de Origen laws, Cava can be produced in six wine regions and must be made according to the Traditional Method with second fermentation in the bottle.  The grapes used to produce Cava are Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel·lo, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and Malvasia.  The Chardonnay grape is a late comer to the scene despite being a traditional grape used to produce Champagne.  It was not introduced in the production of Cava until the 1980s.In order for the wines to be called ‘Cava’, they must be made in the traditional Méthode Champenoise.  Wines made via the low-cost Charmat process may only be called ‘Spanish sparkling wine’.   A rosé style of Cava is also produced by adding in small amounts of red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha or Monastrell to the wine.Cava made by the Champagne method, is a very acceptable alternative to French champagne.  Cava is usually made by the Coupage method, whereby must, a.k.a.(grape juice) from different grape varieties is subjected to the first fermentation which is blended until it  is consistent with the wine that the winemaker wants to produce .  After the Coupage, the wine is put into bottles and yeast and sugar added.  It is then cellared for the second fermentation and aging.Crémant is produced in the Loire Valley of France and is the largest producer of sparkling wines outside of the Champagne region.  Crémant has to be aged for at least one year and it is handpicked.  The producers are also limited as to how much can be harvested, this all according to the French A.O.C.There are seven French appellations that carry the Crémant designation in their name:1.Crémant d’Alsace2.Crémant de Bordeaux3.Crémant de Bourgogne4.Crémant de Die5.Crémant du Jura6.Crémant de Limoux7.Crémant de LoireCrémant de Loire’s are a blend of the Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.  In Burgundy, Crémant de Bourgogne, must be composed of at least thirty percent Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris while Aligoté is often used to complement the blend.  The Languedoc region in the south of France produces Crémant de Limoux.  This Sparkling wine is produced from the indigenous grape Mauzac, with Chenin blanc, and Chardonnay rounding out the wine in small amounts.The Crémant Sparkling Wines are pressurized less than Champagne and therefore have a larger looser bubble as a result.California Sparkling Wines:Sparkling wines from California use a few grape varietals such as Berger and Chenin Blanc to blend with the traditional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.Producers to look for in California; Hacienda, Domain Lauier, Roederer Estate, Domaine Carneros, Domaine Chandon, Codorniu-Napa, Iron Horse, Jordan, Mumm-Cuvee Napa, and Schramsberg.Remember the name “Champagne” can only be used in Europe on bottles that actually are produced in the Champagne region of France.As a consumer you now are empowered by the information WineGuyMike™ has shared with you in this week’s blog post.  I would like to wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.From my table to yours,