From the pop of the cork to the bubbles in the glass, there’s something about sparkling wine that sings celebration. Sparkling wine in Oregon has become increasingly popular as the ultimate dinner-party pairing and a welcome guest at any holiday table. A glass of bubbles goes with everything, and you’ll find a range of styles from traditional-method sparkling wines (similar to Champagne) to fun and funky naturally fermented versions. Here’s how to enjoy the state’s sparkling wines and experiences, from an underground cellar tour 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 Sparkling Experience for an interactive tour at its tasting house in Dundee. Highlights include artwork devoted to sparkling wine and a visit to the tirage library (climate-controlled warehouse), where the vintage wines are organized chronologically, so you can view bottles dating from the winery’s founding in 1987. Stock your holiday party with its 2023 Art of Sparkling set, which features beautiful artwork from Pacific Northwest College of Art scholarship winners on the labels.
Head to Soter Vineyards near Carlton to visit another legacy producer of sparkling wine. Set on a 240-acre biodynamic farm, the tasting experience here often begins with a flute of Mineral Springs Brut Rosé, bursting with wild-strawberry flavors. All of the estate wines are made in a barn here that dates back to 1943. In the winter months, you’ll see rustic wooden racks holding thousands of bottles of sparkling wine. Book the festive Provisions Tasting for the menu that highlights farm ingredients.
At the recently opened Domaine Willamette in the Dundee Hills, the state’s first winery dedicated exclusively to producing traditional-method sparkling wine, you can tour its underground cellar and then match sparkling wines with small plates. Think earthy foraged-mushroom bisque served with a wisp of truffle crème or Meyer lemon cheesecake. On weekends the winery offers a sparkling trio flight with ever-changing dishes.
Small-Batch Sparkling Wines Around the State
With sparkling wine on the rise, there’s a new guard of winemakers making their mark around the state. The husband-and-wife team behind Corollary Wines produce a portfolio devoted solely to bubbles in a range of styles from single-vineyard bottlings to classic blends that explore creative winemaking approaches — try some in one of their cozy heated outdoor tents. You can taste with the winemakers by appointment at Ruddick/Wood in Newberg.
For a standout sparkler from the Columbia River Gorge, swing by Analemma Wines, a stunning estate lined with windswept poplar trees in the Mosier Hills. Try its limited-production 2017 Atavus Blanc de Noirs Sparkling, crafted from biodynamically farmed pinot noir — only 200 cases were made. Check out the winery’s events page for seasonal dinners and intimate cellar tastings through winter.
Another rising star in the Gorge, Landmass Wines is a small-scale winery known for creative sparklers, especially its popular pétillant naturel wines, a naturally fermented style that’s more popularly known as pét-nat. “We make these to be fun, fizzy and uncomplicated with a lightness of heart,” says co-winemaker Malia Myers. There’s no tasting room yet, but you can find their bottles at local spots like Cork Wine Shop in Hood River and Division Wines in Portland.
In Southern Oregon, an expanding collection of producers crafts small-batch bubbles including Maison Jussiaume, which has a blanc de blancs made with Rogue Valley white grapes. Brandborg Vineyard and Winery in Elkton produces a blanc de noir along with a vibrant pét-nat made with estate gewurztraminer. In the Applegate Valley, Troon Vineyard & Farm turns out a brisk and bright pét-nat from its estate tannat (an intense red wine grape).
Follow the Bubbles Trail
Start the holiday season at Brooks Wines in Amity at its annual bubbles party in December. Riesling fans will revel in tasting three vintages of the winery’s limited-production Brooks Extended Tirage Sparkling Riesling, an elegant wine with nutty aromas and lemon-biscuit flavors.
Mark your calendar for the annual Bubbles Fest in February at Anne Amie Vineyards, where you can taste wines from around 30 regional sparkling-wine producers, along with inspired snacks like fried chicken from Biscuits & Pickles and cheeses from Don Froylan Creamery.
Tour top-notch sparkling-wine spots in the Willamette Valley by following Best Oregon Bubbles, a tasting trail that includes ROCO Winery, Argyle Winery, Adelsheim Vineyard, Elk Cove Vineyards, Lytle-Barnett and Lundeen Wines. In February wineries on the trail offer educational events and special flights.
If you’re interested in learning more about bubbly, check out Sparkling Wine Anytime, an effervescent guide packed with playful illustrations and infographics by Oregon author and podcaster Katherine Cole. She’s also one of four female founders of Celebrate Sparkling, a network devoted to conversation and education about sparkling-wine production in Oregon.
