Just because this week marks the Fourth of July does not mean that the fireworks should get to have all the fun. Here are some sensational California sparklers…sparkling wine, that is…sure to light up the night during any summer celebration.
Light and bright, this pink-hued pool pounder has just the right amount of berry mixed with all those bubbles. $14.99
PoiZin Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine
Forget the name; this sparkler will do nothing but cure what ails ya! Made by master winemaker Brandon Lapides at Armida Winery, this perfectly peachy pink offering is silky and refreshing with notes of honeycomb, melon, red apple and even a bit of banana cream pie to the taste. $48
Benovia 2018 Blanc de Noir Sparkling Wine
Hello, lime! The zesty note is warm and welcoming in every sip of this stunner, which also dazzles with red plum, ripe apricot and cream. $60
Bright and crisp, Pops is special in that it is the only wine produced from the vineyard’s 2020 harvest. The nose on this wine is a stunning combination of red apple and raspberry with a hint of cherry blossom, and flavor profile offers notes of green apple and citrus zest. $50
Delicate with a touch lower alcohol than most sparkling wines, this Italian-style California sparkling wine from the fast-growing Temecula winery is a celebration of golden apple in every sip. $39
This effervescent dream is bursting with tangerine, grapefruit and Meyer lemon on the nose. The flavor upon sipping still has some of that citrus, yet also boasts the essence of farm-fresh strawberries and ripe raspberries straight from the vine. $58
Domaine Carneros 2018 Blanc de Noir
This party in a glass (or flute) opens with cooked sweet pears and melon before transitioning to yummy notes of green apples. This California sparkling wine gets creamy as it is enjoyed, offering kisses of white cherry and lychee fruit. $42
2015 Roederer Estate L’Ermitage Brut
Roederer Estate has amazing tête de cuvée that will be just perfect for warm, sunny and grilling days. Carrying on the tradition of Champagne Louis Roederer in France, Roederer Estate produces its wines in the méthode traditionnelle and adds special oak-aged reserve wines to each blend. $68
Williamson Bliss Sparkling Shiraz
Unique to the eye, nose and taste, this California sparkling wine bursts with bubbles and is packed with plum and black currant in each sip. Note: enjoy in a Champagne flute versus a wine glass and do not swirl unless you want a big, red mess of bubbles all over your clothes! $69
There is a lot happening in this bottle, each flavor more spectacular than the next. There is melon and white cherry, but also almonds and pear. There are even bits of golden apples and blooming flowers on the nose and palate. $55
A glass of this off-pink sparkler starts off slowly with hints of raspberry before building to the main event, which features a symphony of stone fruits, bold minerality and even a glimmer of brioche. $58
Chandon Reserve Sparkling Meunier
This reserve wine offering primarily uses lesser-known Pinot Meunier grapes as its base, which are a cousin of sorts to Pinot Noir. The result is a round and ripe bottle of bubbly featuring peaches and dried plums followed by sweet warm bread kissed with a hint of strawberry jam and touch of citrus zest. $52.50
2019 Iron Horse Vineyards Spring Rosé
A special, limited-edition vintage cuvée, the Pinot Noir-based bubbler boasts floral notes on the nose with a tickle of strawberries. On the palate, expect a hint of citrus followed by a lovely black cherry finish. $75
Complex and concentrated, expect some rich cream then an intricate blend of guava and mango, giving it an ultra-tropical feel. $50
Merriam 2018 Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine
Nutty at times with hints of macadamia nut cookie and then fruity at others with rich notes of berry cobbler, this is a perfect summer selection, all balanced with just the right amount of lemon zest-infused effervescence. $48
Ektimo Vineyards 2017 North Coast Brut
Playful and lively, this is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, resulting in a party in a bottle. It weaves the citrus and berry notes from both grapes into a perfectly layered, luscious summer treat. $26
Forget gin and juice. These days, Snoop Dogg is all about the bubble, baby. The serial entrepreneur is now trying his hand at winemaking with this fun-loving wine that combines floral and citrus with a subtle nutty background. $18
2015 FEL Brut Sparkling, Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley
This vintage marks the award-winning winery’s first foray into bubbles. The result? An unabashed triumph that blends Pinot Noir and Chardonnay following the traditional méthode champenoise. $160
This Chardonnay-based beauty is named to honor Schramsberg founder Jacob Schram. Each bottle is hand-riddled and aged for eight years underground. The result offers a nose of caramel apple and baked brioche with a touch of vanilla. To the taste, expect layered flavors of cream, tropical fruit and just a touch of citrus. $130
2019 Sterling Vineyards Sparkling Blanc de Blancs
Floral, creamy and soft, yet still with an elegant palate of fruit, every sip of this California sparkling wine presents lemon and green apple for acid but also smooth pear, which rounds everything out. $35
David Coffaro 2019 Dry Creek Valley Sparkling Wine
An estate-grown gem, there are the teeniest bit of Zinfandel and Pinot Meunier mixed with the beautiful Pinot Noir prestige grapes here, resulting in a burst of Fuji apple followed by a lively and ultra-complex finish. $35