{"id":91376,"date":"2016-04-15T10:48:13","date_gmt":"2016-04-15T10:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/6toplists.com\/?p=91376"},"modified":"2016-05-12T11:42:47","modified_gmt":"2016-05-12T11:42:47","slug":"best-6-us-sparkling-wine-brands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/6toplists.com\/?p=91376","title":{"rendered":"Best 6 US Sparkling Wine Brands"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we promised, we debunk the best sparkling wine brands of the U.S.A<\/strong>. in this article. What is the difference between American sparkling wines and European Champagnes<\/a>? Primarily the price. And the name of course, no one is allowed to use the name \u201eChampagne\u201d apart from Champagne.<\/p>\n

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Their quality is more similar<\/strong>. California sparkling wines correspond to a beseeching\u00a0 midway point of both price and complexity between elegant Champagne and easy-going Prosecco.<\/p>\n

In fact many US sparkling wineries were founded by famous fellows from Champagne<\/strong> after the industry started to rise, even though the marketing does not seem to reach the level of the prestigious European region (the wine indusrty of California declined during the years of Prohibition, until the huge recovery of production came in the 1970s, but these were mostly jug wines).<\/p>\n

The labels and names do not seem to show a huge diversity and excitement. According to Eileen Crane<\/a> (CEO and founding winemaker at Domaine Carneros) it takes a lot of money to promote a brand <\/strong>in the US, since operations are much smaller as their analogues in Champagne.<\/p>\n

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For example Domaine Chandon is one 10th the size of Mo\u00ebt & Chandon. Taittinger, Roederer, and Mumm also have outposts there, but they have to adapt to californian conditions<\/strong> -which are totally different from Europe’s- instead of applying the well-tried methods in their homeland. American sparkling wines are more structured and consistent, while the Europeans have more individuality and personality.<\/p>\n

Sparkling wines produced in the United States can be made in both the m\u00e9thode champenoise and the charmat method. A premium Champagne may be aged for 7 years<\/strong> or even more prior to it’s release, but there are no minimum prerequisites in the US, the length of the aging may vary from 8 months to 6 years.<\/p>\n

US laws are even less rigid in sugar levels<\/strong> and the sweetness of wine<\/a>, though most producers are likely to follow the European trends with less than 1,5 % sugar compared to Doux containing more than 5 %. The agreeable Californian climate allows a vintage wine to be bottled almost every year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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6. Knudsen Vineyard<\/h2>\n

\"best<\/p>\n

Cal and Julia Lee bought an area of 200 acre in the Dundee Hills<\/a> (which is one of the sub-appellations in Willamette Valley alongside Eola-Amity, McMinnville, Chehalem Mountains, Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill-Carlton District) with great soils and slopes to make world-class sparkling wines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The whole family got involved in the business. By 1972 the size of their vineyard became the biggest in the region which is famous about it’s amazingly fruity Pinot Noir<\/strong>. In 1987 they entered into a long-term grape supply agreement with Argyle Winery<\/a>, which won more awards for it’s wines than any other winery in the region (due to the outstanding quality of Knudsen’s grapes).<\/p>\n

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“ World-class sparkling wine ”<\/p>\n

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Cal Knudsen passed in 2009,<\/a> but the legacy continues. Both the still and sparkling wines can be characterized with ripe fruit flavors, spices and earthy tones<\/strong>. The Winery tends to produce elegant, complex and drinkable wines, which is not an easy task, beacuse complexity and drinkabilty does not always go hand in hand, moreover these two qualities are hard to harmonize.<\/p>\n

Their Pinot Noir has a medium body<\/strong> with energetic red fruit and tenuous stony aromas. The wine faithfully represents the variety’s playful elegance and vibrant attitude. Knudsen Chardonnay shows a beautifully light yellow color<\/strong> and possesses vanilla, apple and citrus aromas. Some say this wine is quite similar to the great Chablis<\/a> in characteristics.<\/p>\n