Just as the song, The 12 Days of Christmas , became popular in the 1800’s, so did American sparkling wine. In Ohio, in 1842, Nicholas Longworth (called ‘the father of American sparkling wine’), accidentally created a pink sparkling wine from the Catawba grape. The wine later went on to win awards in London wine competitions, and was praised by the poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in a poem .

And so in honor of American sparkling wine, I have identified 12 different and unique styles of ‘made in the U.S.A. bubbly’ to celebrate the holidays. Each is spectacular in a special way, and, together, they showcase the diversity and quality of U.S. sparkling wine. However, first, some fun facts about the U.S. sparkling wine industry.

The U.S. Sparkling Wine Industry In 2024

“Currently there are 2,642 sparkling wine producers, or 23% of the total number of U.S. wineries,” reported Andrew Adams, Editor of the WineBusiness Analytics Winery Database , in an online interview. He adds that this number includes the largest wineries focused primarily on sparkling wines, as well as smaller wineries that produce at a custom crush facility.

And Americans love sparkling wine. According to the Gomberg-Frederickson Report , Americans purchased 31 million cases of sparkling wine by the end of 2023 (12 million domestic and 19 million imported). Plus, a large percentage of sparkling wine is sold and consumed during the holiday season, with the months of November and December being the most popular.

Sparkling wine can be produced using three major methods, but the 12 that are listed below are crafted using the traditional method ( methode champenoise ) with second fermentation in bottle. This is generally a more time-consuming and expensive process that results in smaller, more delicate bubbles the longer the wine is fermented in the bottle. This is in contrast to less expensive sparkling wines that are fermented in a tank using the charmat method , or with CO2 injection – the quickest and least expensive method.

Domaine Carneros Winery in Napa Valley, home to one of the 12 spectacular U.S. sparkling wines for the holidays, reviewed in this article.

12 Spectacular Sparkling Wines From The U.S.

The list of sparkling wines below is organized from the most sophisticated and complex to the more festive and fun with riper flavors. The majority are made in the Brut style, which means they are primarily dry with less than 1.2 grams of residual sugar (RS), but there are a couple that are slightly sweeter, as noted. Just read the descriptions to find ones that are right for you.

You should be able to find all of these wines in wine shops or online. Prices are based on the average prices reflected on Winesearcher.com , and may vary based on your location.

#1. Domaine Carneros 2017 Le Rêve Blanc de Blanc Brut (Carneros AVA – Napa/Sonoma, CA): A very elegant, dry, and sophisticated bubbly made with 100% chardonnay grapes and aged an astounding 7 years in bottle before release. The bubbles are small and delicate, with a nose of pear, lemon zest and almond. On the palate it is very linear and refreshing with green apple, citrus and a hint of complex herbs. An ethereal experience, with a very long finish. Perfect with oysters. $125, 0.8% RS (dry).

#2. Schramsberg Vineyards 2021 Blanc de Blanc Brut (North Coast, CA): A classic American sparkler that made history when it was served in China in 1972 by Nixon at the Toast to Peace. With a bright apple and floral nose, it opens to a vibrant medium-bodied palate of pear, Meyer lemon, croissant, and a hint of almonds. The creamy soft bubbles glide across your mouth to conclude in a refreshing tart apple finish. 100% chardonnay, aged 2 years in bottle. $40, 0.9%RS (dry).

#3. Roederer Estate Brut MV (Anderson Valley AVA, Mendocino County, CA ): Always a crowd-pleaser, and frequently mistaken for French champagne in blind tastings, this wine has an excellent balance of ripe fruit, refreshing acidity and velvety bubbles. Made from chardonnay and pinot noir, it has a nose of white nectarine and apple, opening on the palate to touches of cherry, dried strawberry, baked bread and hints of wet stone. Complex and very well-made. Aged 2 years in the bottle. $32, 1% RS (dry).

#4. Gran Moraine, Brut Rosé (Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Oregon ): If you love rosé, this is an excellent sparkler to seek out. Brimming with notes of fresh strawberry and raspberry on the nose, it opens on the palate to bright cherry cordial with a touch of orange peel, and a dry tart cherry finish. Very refreshing, and with a medium-body, it can stand up to heartier food dishes. Made from pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, aged 3 years in bottle. $60, 0.5%RS (dry).

#5. Dr. Konstantin Frank 2021 Brut (Finger Lakes AVA, New York) : Celebrating its 40 ^th anniversary this year, this NY winery is known for its exquisite sparkling wines and is a great choice for the holidays. Very elegant and vibrant, it captivates with an aromatic nose of ripe apple, pear and a hint of white flowers. This follows through on the palate with silky delicate bubbles, bright lemon zest and hints of toast and yeast. Made from pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, aged 2 years in bottle. $30, 0.8% RS (dry).

#7. Kosta Browne Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut (Green Valley AVA - Sonoma County, CA) – Made in a slightly sweeter style at 3.25 grams of residual sugar, this wine is another crowd pleaser. It opens with a nose of ripe golden apple and toasty oak (due to partial oak aging), but explodes on the palate in a cornucopia of pineapple, lemon custard and vanilla with some complex notes of wet stone and croissant. Very expressive with fine bubbles. Made from 100% single vineyard chardonnay. Aged 2 years in bottle. $130, 3.25% RS (semi-sweet).

#8. Domaine Chandon Etoile Rosé (North Coast, CA ): A very impressive sparkling rosé aged 5 years in bottle, this fizz is seductive with a salmon pink color and a nose of raspberry and plum. On the palate it has elegant and smooth bubbles with enticing flavors of dried strawberry, spice, and nuts. One of the oldest sparkling houses in Napa Valley, this bubbly is dry, classic and sophisticated. Made from chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier, aged 2 years in bottle. $54, 0.75 RS (dry).

#9. Frank Family 2019 Brut Rosé (Carneros AVA – Napa/Sonoma, CA): Very cheerful and festive, this brightly colored rosé sparkler entices with a nose of ripe raspberry and cherry. This continues on the palate with creamy strawberry and red plum notes all wrapped in graceful bubbles. Made from 90% pinot noir and 10% chardonnay, aged 4 years in bottle. $60 (dry and fruity).

#10. Korbel Natural (Russian River AVA – Sonoma County, CA): A rich and satisfying sparkler from one of America’s oldest wineries, established in 1882. This wine is medium-bodied and fruit-forward with ripe apple and peach on the nose and palate, followed by creamy, smooth bubbles with a pear and lemon finish. Aged 18 months in bottle, it pairs perfectly with many dishes and is a proven crowd pleaser. $20, 0.7% RS (dry and fruity).

#11. Gruet Sauvage NV (New Mexico) – From the high deserts of New Mexico, Gruet has been making sparkling since 1989. If you love sushi and seafood, this sparkler is a great choice for you. Crisp and clean with bright grapefruit, lemon and apple notes, it has delicate bubbles that glide across the palate ending in a refreshing zippy finish. Made primarily with chardonnay grapes from New Mexico and other western states, this wine was aged 18 months in bottle. $24 (dry).

#12. Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut (Washington State) : If you love Prosécco from Italy, then this is a great American sparkler for you. Slightly sweet, and made with chardonnay and pinot grigio grapes, it is bright and cheerful. Inviting with a floral and white peach nose, it opens on the palate to lively bubbles laced with ripe pear and candied lemon. Uncomplicated, fun, and a great value. Aged 10 months in bottle. $14, 1.52% RS (semi-sweet and fruity).

Other American Sparklers to Consider : Following are a few other American sparkling wine brands that I’ve enjoyed tasting and evaluating: Argyle from Oregon, Trump Winery in Virginia, Tirriddis in Washington State, William Chris and McPherson from Texas, Wölffer Estate in NY, and in California (the nation’s largest producer of sparkling wine) Artessa, Breathless, Cuvaison, Gloria Ferrer, Golden Eye, J Winery, Laetitia, and Scharffenberger.

The Versatility Of Sparkling Wine

Perhaps one of the most positive features of sparkling wine is its versatility. It tastes great on its own, and is excellent for toasting at many occasions – ranging from celebrations, holidays, or even on a relaxing Wednesday evening. It also works well mixed as a cocktail or with fresh fruit – but don’t use the really expensive sparklers for this. Enjoy them on their own.

Probably the best aspect of sparkling wine is that it is one of the most food-friendly pairing wines in the world. It goes equally well with appetizers, salads, soups, seafood, poultry, pork, and vegetable dishes. Some experts say you can even pair sparkling wine with beef if you add a cream or mushroom sauce, and match it with a more robust full-bodied or rosé sparkler.

Why Do Some American Sparkling Wine Producers Use The Term ‘Champagne?’

Legally, the term ‘ Champagne ’ only refers to sparkling wine that is made in the region of Champagne, France. However, the U.S. government has made some exceptions to this rule. If the U.S. ‘champagne’ brand was established on or before March 2006, they are allowed to label their sparkling wines as “champagne,” just as long as it is proceeded by a geographical term, such as ‘California Champagne.’