America’s House of Sparkling Wine

In celebration of 50 years of producing world-class sparkling wines, this coming fall Schramsberg Vineyards will draw on its history in promoting an American food and wine culture by hosting a nationwide series of winemaker dinners. The dinners will occur in eight cities across the country, educating consumers about the wines produced by Schramsberg and demonstrating how well sparkling wines pair with food. Schramsberg has long created educational opportunities on the topic, including the bi-annual Camp Schramsberg program, hosting food and wine events at its property and developing winemaker dinners at top restaurants nationwide; it will use this special moment in its history to build on this tradition.

«We are very excited to find that more and more restaurateurs, sommeliers and consumers are really starting to understand how delicious and food-friendly sparkling wines are,» says Hugh Davies, Schramsberg’s second-generation vintner. «With this tour, we have the chance to develop a series of extraordinary dinners with outstanding chefs, to create dining experiences that will be remembered for years to come.» Schramsberg first came to the nation’s attention at President Nixon’s 1972 summit with China, when the 1969 Blanc de Blancs was poured for the «Toast to Peace.»

The wines have continued to be served at presidential dinners while winning many awards, including the James Beard Award in 1996. Schramsberg has maintained its dedication to preserving its attachment to local land, culture and history, while remaining a family operation. Hugh Davies’ parents, Jack and Jamie, revived one of Napa’s most historic wineries back in 1965 to establish Schramsberg Vineyards as the nation’s first craft sparkling wine house.

Dedicated to maintaining the property’s historical and natural integrity, the family has preserved and restored the century-old buildings and caves on the property, as well as taken rigorous steps to be certified as a Napa Green Winery on Napa Green Land. At the same time, the Davies have achieved something unique: quality sparkling wine evocative of California’s terroir. By sourcing grapes from a deep range of North Coast cool-climate sites, Schramsberg has come to be known as California’s premier producer of sparkling wine.

At the time of Hugh’s father’s death in 1998, the family established the Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Agricultural Land Preservation Fund «to preserve, protect and promote agricultural land in the Napa Valley,» continuing to put into practice words passed on from his father: «This place was created long before any of us were here, and our job is to ensure that it will last long after we’re gone.» 

(Featured Image: Schramsberg historic house.)