09 Dec Yakima Valley Sparkling Wine Scene

Weddings, birthdays, New Years. The pinnacle of our celebrations is when we raise a glass of sparkling wine to toast our joys and dreams. But according to Wine Spectator more people in the U.S. are raising a glass of bubbly more often, even if it is just to celebrate a Tuesday night.

Our wineries have your sparkling needs covered for any day of the week. In fact, the largest sparkling wine producer in the state resides in the Yakima Valley. Now some still winemakers are taking their turn at this incredibly technical process with fantastic and fun results. Definitely something to raise a glass to.

Treveri Cellars:  Washington State’s exclusive sparkling wine house, produces some of the finest handcrafted sparkling wines in the nation. Like a candy shop for adults; Treveri has a wide array of bubbly choices. We highly recommend you try them all to find your favorite.

Wit Cellars: Previously known more for their Cabernet and Chardonnay, they recently released their first sparkling wine and everyone is raving about the results. “Unleashed” is a Pinot Grigio that is known for “light bubbles that dance across your palate.” Yes, please!

Here are some helpful terms to navigate the wonderful world of sparkling wine:

Sec – In French it means “dry,” but don’t be confused, a sparkling wine labeled sec is semisweet, and best accompanied with dessert or for dessert.

Brut – This is the most popular kind of sparkling wine and is typically dry.

Pét-Nat– Pétillant Naturel seems new on the scene but is actually the original way to produce sparkling wine. Unlike Champagne or traditional sparkling wine, a Pét-Nat is bottled before it finishes its first fermentation. There are many opportunities for this process to go awry and requires a level of skill on the winemaker’s end. Results can be incredibly variable. Final product is a rustic and wild sparkler that is best served chilled.

Blanc de Blanc – These wines are made exclusively with white grapes. Typically this means the wine has been made with 100% Chardonnay grapes.

Blanc de Noir – Sparkling wines made only with red grapes, traditionally a 100% Pinot Noir. However, the U.S. is not bound to the same rules as Champagnes in France so be sure to ask your favorite sparkling wine house.

Finding a Yakima Valley sparkler that you love is easy. Next up is the hard part, learning to saber that bottle! Cheers!