Schramsberg Vineyards

I first stumbled upon Schramsberg Vineyards in 2013. My mother and father were visiting SF from the East Coast, and we decided to spend the day celebrating an early Mother’s Day in Napa Valley. I’ve been known to enjoy a glass of bubbly, but no one enjoys bubbles more than my mother. This is a woman who believes champagne goes with everything and can turn pizza night into a celebration. She even has a riddling rack in her living room. And it all started at Schramsberg

So when my friend asked to visit a wine cave, I immediately thought of them. I love that the original caves were dug by hand, how the bottles are all stacked ad infinitum, and the lichen hangs off the ceiling in the classiest creepy sort of way. The wine is also darn good. This isn’t just one of those wineries that your visit for a gimmick. During our tour this past month, we were able to sample the Blanc de Blanc, Brut Rosé, and even some J. Schram.

I’m happy to report that—six years after that first sip—Schramsberg still makes the best sparkling in the valley. If you’re looking for a life-altering gastronomic experience: this is the place.