From the pop of the cork to the rise of bubbles in the glass, there’s something about sparkling wine that sings celebration. And in Oregon, its star is rising fast, making it both the ultimate dinner-party pairing and a festive favorite for any holiday table. A glass of bubbles plays well with everything, and the state’s producers offer a remarkable range of styles from elegant, traditional-method sparklers reminiscent of Champagne to fun and funky naturally fermented versions. Here’s how to enjoy the state’s sparkling wine scene, from underground cellar tours to a bubbly tasting trail.
Uncork Sparkling Wine History in the Willamette Valley
Go behind the scenes at Argyle Winery, one of the first wineries in the state to produce traditional-method sparkling wine. Reserve the Master of Sparkling experience for an interactive tour of the tasting house in Dundee. Highlights include sparkling-wine–inspired artwork, a walk through the historic crush pad and a visit to the tirage library, where vintage bottles are organized chronologically—including those dating back to the winery’s founding in 1987.
Next, head to Soter Vineyards in nearby Carlton, another legacy producer of exceptional sparkling wines. Set on a stunning 240-acre biodynamic farm, the tasting experience here often begins with a flute of bubbles — most notably the Mineral Springs Brut Rosé, a delicate pink sparkler brimming with wild-strawberry flavors. All of the estate wines are made in a picturesque barn dating back to 1943 and in winter, you’ll see rustic wooden racks holding thousands of bottles of sparkling wine. Book the festive Provisions Tasting for a family-style feast using ingredients from the farm with dishes such as eggplant tartine and cauliflower gratin with chanterelles.
At Domaine Willamette in the Dundee Hills, the state’s first winery dedicated exclusively to producing traditional-method sparkling wine, you can tour the underground cellar before pairing sparkling wines with inventive small plates. Think earthy foraged-mushroom bisque finished with a wisp of truffle crème or Meyer lemon cheesecake. On weekends, the winery offers a sparkling trio flight accompanied by an ever-changing selection of dishes.
Small-Batch Sparkling Wines Around the State
With sparkling wine on the rise, there’s a new guard of winemakers making their mark across the state. The husband-and-wife team behind Corollary Wines focuses exclusively on bubbles, crafting a diverse portfolio that ranges from single-vineyard bottlings to classic blends that explore creative winemaking techniques. Sample a flight of top-tier fizz at their design-forward tasting room in Amity.
For a standout sparkler from the Columbia River Gorge, swing by Analemma Wines, a stunning estate framed by windswept poplar trees in the Mosier Hills. Check the winery’s events page for seasonal dinners and intimate cellar tastings.
Another rising star in the Gorge, Landmass Wines is a small-scale producer celebrated for creative sparklers, especially pétillant naturel, a naturally fermented style more commonly known as pét-nat. “We make these to be fun, fizzy and uncomplicated with a lightness of heart,” says co-winemaker Malia Myers. Taste a bubbles flight at their recently opened urban tasting room in Northeast Portland, paired with snacky bites like roasted squash dip and cornbread cookies.
In Southern Oregon, a growing cadre of producers is crafting small-batch bubbles. Maison Jussiaume offers a beautiful blanc de blancs made from Rogue Valley white grapes. Brandborg Vineyard and Winery in Elkton produces a blanc de noir along with a vibrant pét-nat crafted from estate gewürztraminer. In the Applegate Valley, Troon Vineyard & Farm turns out a brisk pét-nat from its estate tannat along with a rosé bubbly featuring grenache, mourvèdre and cinsault.
Follow the Bubbles Trail
Start the holiday season at Gran Moraine’s annual Sparkling Celebration in December. After a welcome toast featuring the newest vintage, guests enjoy a wine-paired dinner followed by a lively dance party in the cellar. Over at Ponzi Vineyards, the Holiday High-Low experience — held on Sundays throughout December — pairs fried chicken and caviar with two exquisite pours of Bollinger Champagne.
Riesling lovers will find plenty to cheer about at Brooks Wines in Amity, where tasting flights during their Riesling Takeover include a pour of the limited-production Brooks Extended Tirage Sparkling Riesling, an elegant bottling with nutty aromas and lemon-biscuit flavors. To explore more top-notch sparkling producers in the Willamette Valley, follow Best Oregon Bubbles, a dedicated tasting trail featuring ROCO Winery, Argyle Winery, Adelsheim Vineyard and Lundeen Wines. In February wineries on the trail offer educational events and special flights.
Additional standout sparkling-wine producers in the region include Arablis, Trisaetum and Lytle-Barnett. For those eager to expand their bubbly knowledge, Sparkling Wine Anytime — an effervescent guide by Oregon author Katherine Cole — offers playful illustrations and approachable expertise. And for serious enthusiasts, plan ahead for Method Oregon, the state’s only symposium devoted to celebrating the craft and character of traditional method sparkling wine.
