Cool-climate bubbles from an 1882 house to a White House favorite. Updated for 2026.
Sonoma County makes some of California's best sparkling wine, and it has deep roots in the craft. Korbel has been making sparkling in the Russian River Valley since 1882, and in 1986 the Spanish cava family behind Freixenet opened Gloria Ferrer in Carneros, betting that Sonoma's cool, fog-influenced climate could rival Champagne. They were right: the same cool conditions that suit Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the two main sparkling grapes, give Sonoma bubbles their bright acidity and finesse.
Below are the Sonoma wineries we think do sparkling best, from a White House favorite to a historic 19th-century house and a festive sabrage experience. Most make their wine by the traditional method, the same labor-intensive process used in Champagne, where the second fermentation that creates the bubbles happens inside the bottle, followed by aging on the lees, riddling, and disgorging. That craft is part of what you are tasting, and several of these houses will walk you through it on a tour. Sparkling makes a perfect start to a tasting day, or a celebratory finish. These are seated, mostly by-appointment experiences; reserve ahead. Current as of October 2026.
The White House sparkling
Famous for estate sparkling wine poured at the White House across several administrations, Iron Horse makes serious, cool-climate bubbles and pours them on a rustic open-air deck with one of the best views in Green Valley.
Good to know: Outdoor tastings by reservation; sweeping views. Green Valley, near Sebastopol.
Our tip: Come for sparkling on the deck; the view and the bubbles are the point.
The Carneros sparkling landmark
Opened in 1986 by the Spanish cava family behind Freixenet, Gloria Ferrer was the first sparkling house in Sonoma Carneros, with a grand hilltop terrace overlooking the vineyards, a signature Sonoma bubbles experience.
Good to know: Seated terrace tastings; reservations recommended. Sonoma Carneros.
Our tip: Book a terrace table for sparkling with the Carneros view.
The historic Russian River house
Making sparkling wine since 1882, Korbel is one of California's oldest and most widely known producers, set in a historic, ivy-covered Russian River estate with tours through its old cellars and a rose garden.
Good to know: Tours and tastings; historic grounds. Guerneville, Russian River Valley.
Our tip: Take the cellar tour; the 19th-century history is the draw.
The modern bubbles-and-food house
A polished Russian River producer known for its signature sparkling wines and a refined food-and-wine pairing experience, a modern, hospitality-forward sparkling stop.
Good to know: Seated tastings and pairings by reservation. Russian River Valley.
Our tip: Book the food-pairing experience; it is built around the bubbles.
The sabrage and fun
A fun, sisters-run sparkling house near Healdsburg where you can learn to sabre open a bottle, a festive, hands-on celebration stop that stands apart from the still-wine rooms.
Good to know: Seated sparkling tastings; sabrage lessons. Near Healdsburg.
Our tip: Book the sabrage experience; opening bubbles with a saber is a blast.
The Carneros gateway bubbles
At the southern gateway to Sonoma in Carneros, Anaba makes Rhone varieties and cool-climate wines including sparkling, with a welcoming tasting house and a wind-powered, sustainable ethos.
Good to know: Seated tastings by reservation. Sonoma Carneros.
Our tip: An easy first or last stop; try the sparkling alongside the Rhones.
Sparkling is the ideal way to open a Sonoma day, so slot a bubbles house first, when your palate is fresh, or save one for a celebratory send-off. The cool regions that make the best sparkling, the Russian River Valley and Green Valley in the north, Carneros in the south, also happen to be convenient bookends, so let geography decide which one you use. A few terms help: brut means dry, extra brut drier still, blanc de blancs is made entirely from Chardonnay, blanc de noirs from red grapes like Pinot Noir, and a rose gets its color from brief contact with red skins, so ask which you are drinking and how the house's styles differ. Reserve ahead, especially for terrace experiences and tours, and consider the food pairings, sparkling with a bite is a highlight, not an upsell. Keep the day focused, and arrange a driver.
Do not treat sparkling as a throwaway stop; these are serious, traditional-method wines worth a proper seated tasting. Do not save bubbles for the end of a heavy red day, when your palate is tired, lead with them instead. And do not skip reservations for the terrace and cellar experiences; they are limited and book up, especially on weekends. Finally, do not underestimate how well sparkling pairs with a wide range of food, it is one of the most versatile and underused food wines there is, a natural match for everything from oysters to fried chicken.
Does Sonoma make good sparkling wine?
Yes, some of California's best. Korbel has made it in the Russian River Valley since 1882, and Gloria Ferrer brought Spanish cava expertise to Carneros in 1986. Sonoma's cool, fog-influenced climate gives its sparkling the bright acidity and finesse that bubbles need.
Which Sonoma winery has the best sparkling experience?
Iron Horse for serious sparkling with a view, Gloria Ferrer for a grand Carneros terrace, Korbel for 19th-century history and a cellar tour, and Breathless for a festive, hands-on sabrage lesson. All are seated and mostly by appointment.
Where in Sonoma is sparkling wine made?
Mostly in the cool regions: the Russian River Valley and Green Valley in the north (Iron Horse, Korbel, J) and Carneros in the south (Gloria Ferrer, Anaba). These cool, fog-influenced areas suit the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that sparkling is made from.
Should I taste sparkling at the start or end of the day?
Start, ideally. Sparkling is light and palate-opening, a perfect first stop, whereas a tired palate at the end of a big-red day will not do it justice. Save it for the end only as a deliberate celebration.
Do Sonoma sparkling houses do food pairings?
Many do, and they are a highlight, J Vineyards is known for its sparkling food pairing, and others offer bites on the terrace. Reserve the pairing when you book rather than adding it on the day.
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