Sparkling Wine

A Guide to American Sparkling Wines: the Best Styles, Labels, and More

There’s so much more to sparkling wine than just Champagne. Learn about the production methods and top American sparkling wines here.

By 

Jillian Dara

 |  May 26, 2025

Sparkling wine is a symbol of celebration. Luckily, in recent years, the celebration doesn’t have to be a promotion at work, a milestone anniversary, or even a birthday, as consumers are realizing that the act of opening a bottle of sparkling wine is the celebration. Sparkling wine is also a wonderful pairing for a wide range of foods, not just for sipping solo. 

There are many different types of sparkling wine in the world, from Champagne made in Champagne, France, to Prosecco made in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, to American sparkling wine that doesn’t necessarily have a designation of origin (DO) like Champagne and Prosecco, but still delivers on premium quality. 

This article dives into the top producing regions, types of sparkling wine, and labels in the U.S. Interested in broadening your scope? Check out our guide to the best sparkling wines from around the world. 

In This Article

• Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine 
• The Champagne Method
• Other Production Styles
• The Main Styles of U.S. Sparkling Wine
• The Top U.S. Sparkling Wine Regions and Labels

Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine 

Champagne is the most expensive style of sparkling wine available due to the regulations, traditional production methods, and history of the iconic region in northern France. It’s a DO, meaning only sparkling wine produced in Champagne, France, following certain production rules can be labeled Champagne. The sparkling wine’s history dates back to the first century when the first domestic vines in Champagne were planted, but the foundations of Champagne as we know it today were established between the 1600s and 1800s. The official legal protection of the name dates back to the 1891 Madrid Agreement, but it wasn’t enforced in the U.S. until 2006. That’s why you’ll occasionally see some bottles labeled California Champagne; their labels predate the enforcement and are therefore permitted. 

In Champagne, France, there are only seven approved grapes that can be used in the titled wine. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier are the most prominent grapes used in Champagne, but regulations permit Arbane, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris as well. The U.S. doesn’t have restrictions on the types of grapes that producers use in their sparkling wine, nor does it have regulations on where or how they craft it. A majority of U.S. sparkling wine producers tend to use the traditional trio of Champagne grapes — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. However, some U.S. producers enjoy experimenting with crafting sparkling wine from other grape varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc. 

Read More: The Definitive Guide to Champagne and Sparkling Wine

The Champagne Method

The Champagne method, also called Méthode Champenoise or the traditional method, dates back to 1668 and is the prominent method producers use in Champagne, France. The process begins with a still base wine that they bottle with a small amount of yeast and sugar. Then, they seal the bottle with a crown cap and rest it in the cellar for the yeast to eat the sugar (a second alcoholic fermentation). This yields two by-products — alcohol and carbon dioxide gas, the latter creating bubbles. 

After the second fermentation ends, the yeast is still in the bottle, so producers store them on an angle with the neck pointing down and riddle (gradually turn) them to encourage the leftover yeast, also called the lees, to gather at the neck of the bottle. Once the lees have collected at the neck, the bottle is disgorged to expel the lees and refill the lost liquid with the dosage, a mixture of wine and sugar. The final step is sealing the bottle with a cork and wire cage. 

Other Production Methods

In short, the Champagne method is when the second fermentation occurs in the bottle. However, there are other techniques producers use to create sparkling wine. The Tank Method, or Charmat method, is when the second fermentation (creation of bubbles) occurs in a sealed tank before bottling. The Asti Method is where the base wine is not a dry, still wine but rather grape juice that producers add directly to a pressurized tank with yeast to ferment; the carbon dioxide gas is able to escape for the first half of the process but for the second half, the tank is sealed to retain the carbon dioxide and create the sparkling wine. 

The Ancestral Method is when producers bottle the base wine before the first fermentation stops. It instead stops in the bottle and results in a sparkler. Producers employ the Carbonation Method for the most inexpensive sparkling wines across the globe, injecting carbon dioxide into a wine before bottling it.

U.S. producers use a mixture of these methods, but even those that rely on the traditional Champagne method to craft their sparkling wine still cannot label it as Champagne. 

The Main Styles of U.S. Sparkling Wine 

The most classic terms you’ll see on an American sparkling wine label are: Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, and Pét-Nat. Brut simply means dry; the wine will not be sweet, and there is very little residual sugar in this sparkling wine. Blanc de Blancs denotes a sparkling wine using 100% Chardonnay that has crisp acidity alongside fresh fruit and citrus flavors. Blanc de Noirs translates to “white from black” in its native French. This term reflects a sparkling white wine made from red grapes like Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which provide more structure to the wine and notes of red fruits. Finally, Pét-Nat is short for pétillant naturel, a style of sparkling wine crafted by using the Ancestral Method in which a single fermentation is interrupted so the wine can finish fermenting in the bottle. Each producer of Pét-Nat will have different styles, so do your research. 

More: The Champagne Encyclopedia, The Definitive Guide to Champagne and Sparkling Wine

The Top U.S. Sparkling Wine Regions and Labels

There are no regulations as to where producers make American sparkling wine. However, some destinations are more ideal for sparkling wine production than others. This is due to their generally cool-to-moderate climates, which preserve the freshness of the grapes (a popular attribute of high-quality sparkling wine). 

Sonoma, California

Sonoma’s climate and terroir are perfect for growing grapes that retain freshness and acidity, contributing to the structure of a quality bottle of bubbles. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay make up a majority of vineyard plantings there, and they tend to thrive in the county’s mild temperatures, thanks to the breeze and fog from the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. 

Notable Bottles:

• J Vineyards Late Disgorged Vintage Brut
• Gloria Ferrer 2013 Carneros Cuvée
• Repris Texture Blanc de Blancs 

Napa, California

Napa Valley is further inland from Sonoma, but there are certain parts of the region that are famous for their sparkling expressions, most notably Carneros. The southern Carneros AVA is famed as the coolest region in Napa, with its proximity to the San Pablo Bay influencing its weather. The cool microclimate provides the optimal growing conditions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are predominantly grown here for use in sparkling wines.

Notable Bottles: 

• Joseph Phelps Ovation
• Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram Blancs 2015
• Domaine Carneros Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs 
• Chandon Étoile Brut 

Finger Lakes, New York

If you’re seeking value for price, explore the sparkling wine from the Finger Lakes in New York. While its prices may not be as high as some West Coast counterparts, the area has a rich history with sparkling wine. In the 1800s, the region was often touted as the Champagne of America, but it hasn’t been restored or appreciated in modern day. The cool climate is optimal for growing sparkling grape varieties, and winemakers are experimenting with unique sparklers like Riesling, Saperavi, and Cabernet Franc. We give it a few years before these bottles skyrocket. 

Notable Bottles:

• Hermann J Weimer 2012 Blanc de Noir 10 Year Disgorgement
• Buttonwood Grove Cabernet Franc Rosé Pét-Nat 2023
• Hosmer Estate Blanc de Blancs

Willamette Valley, Oregon

The Willamette Valley in Oregon is a cool climate region that’s long been reputed for its premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Therefore, it only makes sense that their sparkling wine scene is an extension of this popularity. Producers there are also increasingly experimenting with Pinot Meunier as a sparkling rosé.

Notable Bottles: 

• Argyle 2012 Extended Tirage Brut 
• ROCO Winery 2014 RMS Brut 10-Year Delayed Disgorgement 
• Domaine Serene 2015 Vintage Brut Sparkling

Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Rosé Wine, The Best Rosé Champagne 

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