How We Do Dosage Trials at Amista Vineyards

…the joyful combination of art and science.

Most people, even avid bubbles lovers, aren’t familiar with the sparkling wine dosage, let alone the “dosage trial.” Neither was I, but from the moment we did our first one, it has always been my favorite part of crafting sparkling wines. It brings together the science and art of winemaking with the pleasure of working together—the same joy that comes from sharing a glass of bubbles with friends. Over the years, we’ve honed seven steps for the perfect dosage trial.

One of the final and most important steps in making sparkling wine is determining the dosage. The dosage, or liqueur d’expédition, is a blend of wine and sugar syrup added just before the cork and wire hood are secured. While its purpose is to “top up” the bottle after disgorgement, the real art lies in finding the perfect balance between acidity, sweetness, and the natural fruit expression of the wine.

A small change in dosage can completely alter a sparkling wine’s personality—transforming it from crisp and racy to round and generous. At Amista, we take pride in being the first sparkling wine house in Healdsburg, crafting elegant sparkling wines from organically farmed, estate-grown grapes.

We make our sparkling wines using the Méthode traditionnelle, a time-honored process used in Champagne for centuries, which creates wines with fine, persistent bubbles, rich texture, and beautifully layered flavors. We aren’t trying to mimic Champagne but rather to use this traditional method to express the unique character of our Dry Creek Valley vineyards. That’s why the dosage trial is both a science and an art—and at Amista, it’s also a joyful tradition.

Our 7 Steps to the Perfect Dosage Trial

Assemble a group of tasters who love bubbles. We always gather around the big island in our kitchen—usually with plenty of laughter and curiosity.
Prepare several bottles of one of our sparkling wines, each with a different level of dosage, plus one bottle of the base wine with none added. This part falls to our talented winemaker, Ashley Herzberg. It requires graduated cylinders and pipettes, which may sound complicated, but she makes it look easy.
Pour the samples—one glass for each sample in front of each taster. We each take a bottle and make sure to pour it into the correct glass. Bottle #1 must go into glass #1.
Sniff each sample and note the aromas. This step is meant to be done in silence. If we’re tasting just one sparkling wine that day, we follow the rule.
Taste each sample and make notes about the flavors, mouthfeel, and overall impression—again, in silence. If we’re tasting several wines, it’s harder not to share our thoughts.
Share impressions. Ashley calls on each of us to share our notes about each sample and reveal our favorite, reminding us there are no right or wrong answers since everyone’s palate is different. That’s why it’s best to have several people at a dosage trial.
Reach a consensus—which, surprisingly, we almost always do. When we don’t, everyone agrees that the final word belongs to Ashley.

Each dosage trial brings new insights. Sometimes the wine shows best with almost no dosage, highlighting the crisp minerality of our estate vineyards. Other times, a touch more sweetness adds roundness and depth, enhancing the stone fruit or brioche notes that come from years on the lees. The tiniest adjustment can make a dramatic difference.

Understanding Dosage Levels

Our sparkling wines typically range from no dosage—referred to as au naturel or brut nature—to extra brut (no more than 6 grams of sugar), which is a bit drier than most sparkling wines produced in California. In fact, over the years we’ve noticed a growing trend toward drier sparkling wines.

Dosage levels play a key role in defining a sparkling wine’s style. Wines with little or no dosage, such as brut nature or extra brut, are bright and bone dry, allowing the purity of the fruit and terroir to shine through. Brut, the most common style, has up to 12 grams of sugar and offers a balanced profile that combines crisp acidity with a touch of softness. Demi-sec and doux, with higher levels of dosage, are noticeably sweeter and often paired with desserts. Each style has its place, but at Amista, we lean toward the drier side to let the character of our estate fruit express itself naturally.

The Joy of the Process

What makes dosage trials so special at Amista is that they combine precision with pleasure. There’s something magical about watching a wine come into perfect harmony right before your eyes. It’s the culmination of years of farming, fermenting, aging, and waiting—and it marks the moment the wine becomes truly complete.

Taste the Results – Sparkling Wines at Amista

The next time you raise a glass of Amista Sparkling Syrah, Blanc de Blanc, or Tres, know that it represents one of these joyful kitchen-table experiments. Each bubble tells the story of teamwork, craftsmanship, and care. Better yet, come taste for yourself at Amista Vineyards in Healdsburg, where you can experience our sparkling collection and discover firsthand how the perfect dosage brings each wine to life.