Celebrate New Year with Top Sparkling Wines from Pacific Northwest

By: Jessica Ivaska | December 26 2010
Posted in Seattle - Find It - Seattle

Photo credit: Flickr

New Year’s Eve is just around the corner, and you know what that means: cocktail parties with scrumptious nibbles and a midnight toast. So as you’re shopping for that perfect bottle of bubbly, don’t forget about local sparkling wines from our Pacific Northwest. They may not be from France, but they are delicious.

Christopher Chan, Director of Wine & Spirits at The Rainier Club in Seattle, has a few top picks that are sure to help you start off 2011 with just the right flavors.

Photo credit: Christopher Chan

TLD: We know that true champagne comes from France, but are there some local sparkling wines that are just as outstanding?

CC: When it comes to wine in the Pacific Northwest, we are best known for our rich and robust reds, bright and racy Rieslings, and sublime and sexy Pinot Noirs and Pinot Gris. But we do have more to offer than these classics gems, we have some great sparkling varieties as well.

TLD: With so many great wines coming from Washington and Oregon in recent years, we knew there had to be at least a few top-notch sparkling ones. What are your top picks for ringing in the new year?

CC: Always affordable and widely available, Washington’s Domaine Ste. Michelle produces a host of sparkling wines. They have everything from a 100% chardonnay “Blanc de Blancs,” to a Brut, an Extra Dry Brut and a “Blanc de Noirs”, a white made from Pinot Noir.  All of these wines have flavors of fresh fruit and lively acidity.

If you’re seeking something with a bit more of a sophisticated flavor, I recommend LUXE, which is Ste. Michelle’s premier pure chardonnay sparking wine. It’s fermented in oak for richness and aged for five years in the bottle (just like Champagne). LUXE is lightly textured, with flavors of tart lemon, apple blossom and bread crust notes, and it has a crisp, dry lingering finish.

TLD: The LUXE sounds delicious. Do you have any favorites from the Willamette Valley? 

CC: From Oregon, I recommend several fantastic sparklers from Argyle Winery. The Brut, Brut Rosé and Extended Tirage (ET) wines are all fantastic. All are vintage dated and unique each year, depending on which vineyards boast the best grapes. In my humble opinion, Argyle’s ET is by far the most outstanding Champagne-like sparkling wine made in America.

On the other end of the spectrum is a beautiful, low-alcohol, highly floral, aromatic and slightly sweet Muscat from Oregon’s Tualatin Estate, which is one of Oregon’s older vineyards that consistently produces award-winning wines. I love this wine because it’s light, flavorful and just plain fun. It’s perfect for toasting at midnight paired with desserts, or even served with pastries over New Year’s Brunch, It also makes delectable mimosas.

TLD: Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us.

CC: My pleasure. Washington has some incredible wines and these are a few of my favorites for ringing in the season with great food, fine friends and family. Salud!

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Top Picks for Northwest Sparkling Wine

Blanc de Blancs, Domaine Ste. Michelle, WA

Blanc de Noirs, Domaine Ste. Michelle, WA

Cuvee Brut, Domaine Ste. Michelle, WA

Extra Dry, Domaine Ste. Michelle, WA

Moderately Priced ($15-$30 per Bottle)

LUXE, Domaine Ste. Michelle, WA

Argyle Brut, Argyle Winery, OR

Semi-Sparkling Muscat, Tualatin Estate, OR

Higher-end Toasting ($50-$60 per bottle)

Argyle Brut Rosé, Argyle Winery, OR

Extended Tirage Brut, Argyle Winery, OR