I’ve selected four all-American bubblies, two in what I would describe as the top tier of sparkling wine in the United States and two that I would describe as exceptional value bubblies that over deliver in relation to price.
Always high on my list of top-tier sparklers are the Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé ($44) and the J Vineyards Cuvee 20 ($45).
The current release of the Domaine Carneros brut Rosé is from the 2016 vintage.
The J Cuvee 20 is a superb multi-vintage brut that shows off the potential for bubbly made in the Russian River Valley, where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reign. You really can’t go wrong with either of these beauties.
On the value side, the non-vintage Korbel Blanc de Noirs ($13.99) is a gem and probably the most consistent of all the Korbel sparklers, which, in general, are exceptionally consistent.
Then there is a newbie (at least to me) called Bash! sparkling Rosé ($13.99). It comes with a generic "California" appellation, and it was a surprise gold-medal winner at the recent San Diego International Wine & Spirits Challenge.
And there you have it: your very own July 4th fireworks in a bottle!
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