Valentine’s Day might be behind us, but true love is worth celebrating continually. Instead of roses, here are a dozen ways to express your appreciation using the official language of love: sparkling wine. We’ll start with some local Central Coast talent and then bring in some designated hitters from Napa and Sonoma.
2019 Caraccioli Cellars Brut Cuvée, $65 – Caraccioli Cellars is a local sparkling producer worth knowing. Guided by the late Frenchman Michel Salgues, who spent 20 years at Roederer in Anderson Valley, this family of longtime row crop farmers began making world-class sparkling wine from the Santa Lucia Highlands 15 years ago. Acclaimed from their first vintage, they’ve been producing authoritatively statuesque sparklers like this since. Made in the French style but from California fruit, this shows a tension between creamy apple and pear and refreshing citrus.
2023 Gali Vineyard Brut Rosé, $40 – This appealing berry bowl made of pinot noir grown at the Gali Estate vineyard in Watsonville is paired with a raspberry ganache truffle made by Chocolatier Julia Anderson of Blue Canary Sweets as part of a seasonal tasting of five Gali wines. Anderson, who formerly owned Fleur de Cocoa in Los Gatos, created a box of five chocolates for the pairings, which are available until the end of February or until they run out of chocolate. https://www.galivineyards.com/local-events
2019 Rhys Vineyards Late Disgorged Brut Rosé, $90 – From vineyards on Skyline and Mount Madonna and in Anderson Valley, this seriously impressive beauty is laden with rose petals and raspberry mousse. It’s not the only sparkling they make, but it is the most attractive.
2020 Frank Family Brut Rosé, Carneros, $60 – Packaged in a clear glass bottle, its sheer pinkness is beguiling. Longtime winemaker Todd Graff made this entirely from pinot noir. The emphasis is on rose petals and spring strawberries.
NV Turnbull Blanc de Noirs, Los Carneros, $85 – An exciting and brisk pinot noir and pinot meunier-forward wine, it delivers strawberry, apple, kiwi and mango flavors while being bracingly dry.
2022 Bricoleur Blanc de Blancs, Sonoma County, $85 – A passionfruit creamsicle in a bottle, it finishes with honeycomb spread on brioche. With every bottle purchased, $10 is donated to the V Foundation, supporting cancer research.
2022 Iron Horse “Year of the Horse” Brut Zero, $60 – The Lunar New Year began on Feb. 17, and Iron Horse Winery, celebrating its 50th year, created a special Blanc de Blancs of pure chardonnay to mark the Year of the Horse.
2021 Kosta Browne Keefer Ranch Blanc de Blancs, Russian River Valley, $250 – From chardonnay 20% fermented in large Austrian casks called foudres, this sparkler exudes sugar-dusted aromas, with sweet flavors of sugar cookies plus pear and apple tart.
2022 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine, $64 – In celebration of Duckhorn’s 50th anniversary, this wine opens with honeysuckle, orange peel and pastry.
2017 Ram’s Gate Blanc de Noirs, $70 – Showing a bit of the nutty character that comes with age, this pinot noir sparkler delivers brown sugar-rich apple crostada in each sip.
“This Life” Crémant de Limoux, Languedoc, $25 – A collaboration between French wine producer Maison Wessman and celebrated musician Norah Jones, this creamy lemon sparkler evokes angel food cake.
2020 Sea Smoke “Sea Spray” Blanc de Noirs, Santa Ynez, $90 – Pleasing bread dough aromas are punctuated by zesty grapefruit and lemon peel. The base wine saw no new oak and spent three years in tirage.
Tastings and tours
Barrels & Bites Weekend: Feb. 21-22, noon-4 p.m. Taste your way through the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail with tastings and small bites at Cinnabar Winery, CordeValle Winery, Fortino Winery, Guglielmo Winery, Hecker Pass Winery, Kirigin Cellars, L & M Vineyards, Lion Ranch Vineyards & Winery, Martin Ranch Winery, Sarah’s Vineyard and Satori Cellars. https://bit.ly/4aScILL
SCMWA Passport Day, Feb. 21 – Visit participating wineries including Gali Wines, Saison Cellars, Kings Mountain Vineyard at The Pastaria, and Testarossa. On the Summit, visit Burrell School, Byington (new), Muns, Silver Mountain and Wrights Station. In Saratoga, visit Cooper Garrod, House Family, Naumann and Vidovich. https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com/events
Meet Nathan Kandler of Precedent on Thursday, Feb 26, 5-7 p.m. at Ancoro Vino in Los Gatos. Kandler, longtime winemaker at Fogarty, makes wines from historic old vine sites, including a 2019 Riesling from the Wirz Vineyard in the Cienega Valley. $30 general/$20 for wine club members. www.precedentwine.com
On March 8, 1-3 p.m., enjoy a guided tasting of Fogarty and Burgundy wines at Thomas Fogarty winery, where you’ll see how climate, terroir and tradition shape two iconic regions. Cheese and charcuterie included, $75. https://bit.ly/4aFWKmZ
Curious about oddball grapes like palomino and tannat? Head to Atascadero on March 28 for the Alternative Tastes Wine Festival at Pavilion on the Lake. Organized by Scott and Denise Schramm of CRUSH Vineyard in Paso Robles, it’s a chance to see what wineries like Alara Cellars, Brecon Estate, CRUSH Vineyard, Caliza Winery, Gali Vineyards, Lone Madrone, Midnight Cellars, Moose Mountain Vineyards, Tablas Creek, Thacher Winery and Vinyl Vineyards are turning out. https://bit.ly/4aFWPHj
The Santa Cruz Mountains Grand Tasting is March 29 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Early entry (limit 150) includes a white wine and caviar experience, along with artisanal cheeses and charcuterie by Oak & Rye, in the VIP area, noon-1:30 p.m. A seminar celebrating chardonnay is set for 11 a.m.-noon. https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com/events
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