Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/5037
S parkling wine in Napa Valley? In the early 1960s, perfecting méthode champenoise techniques was not a hot topic of conversation in the rising wine community. But that didn't stop young wine enthusiasts Jack and Jamie Davies from pur- chasing the historic Schramsberg property in 1965 with the intent of producing world- class wine with tiny bubbles. Spirited entrepreneurs from Southern California, the Davieses began renovating the old winery and pristine hillside property at the southern end of Diamond Mountain near Calistoga. They also began the replant- ing of the fi rst hillside vineyards of Napa Valley to the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes that were required for the produc- tion of world-class sparkling wines. Over time, these investments paid off. In 1967, the family released its 1965 Blanc de Blancs, America's fi rst commercially pro- duced Chardonnay-based brut sparkling wine. Two years later, they released the country's fi rst vintage dated Blanc de Noirs. by Christopher Sawyer / photos by Ryan Lely The Best of Both Worlds With world-class sparkling wines and a sophisticated estate Cabernet, Schramsberg delivers "We're always on the lookout for quality fruit with concentrated fl avors, complexity and lively acidity," says winemaker Hugh Davies, President of Schramsberg. 46 / the tasting panel / december 2009 Napa Valley