We are honored to be featured in Sonoma County Winegrowers’ The Good Stuff article, “Bubbles in Good Times and Bad,” alongside Sonoma sparkling wine friends like Breathless, Gloria Ferrer, Healdsburg Bubble Bar, Inman Family, Iron Horse, J Vineyards, and more.
We’re especially pleased to be recognized for our use of organically grown Rhône varieties in our sparkling wines. The Good Stuff notes:
“The Dry Creek Valley-based Amista loves sparkling wines and Rhône-inspired wines and often combines the two – founder Vicky Farrow is also behind Sparkling Discoveries, a community dedicated to all things sparkling wine. Its estate sparkling Fusión, for example, blends Chardonnay, Syrah and Grenache. Grapes are estate and wines made by Ashley Herzberg, who uses methode champenoise techniques to refine the bubbles. Vineyards were certified organic in 2024.”
We’re thrilled to be part of this sparkling community in Sonoma County. If you’re planning your own bubbly-centric wine country visit, here are five tips to help you get the most from the experience.
Top 5 Tips for a Sparkling Visit to Sonoma County
1. Find a Winery That Offers a Sparkling Flight
Sonoma County is home to a number of wineries that make a sparkling wine but not every winery that makes bubbly offers it for tasting. Your best bet is to visit wineries that offer a sparkling wine flight where you’ll be sure to get a sample of several different bubblies.
Seek out wineries known for dedicated sparkling wine flights: Amista, Breathless, Buena Vista, Domaine Carneros, Gloria Ferrer, Iron Horse, J Vineyards & Winery and Korbel.
2. Taste Both Classic and Innovative Sonoma Sparkling Wines
Classic Champagne grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier (though the latter is rare in Sonoma). Many local sparkling producers stick to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but a few push the envelope.
- Classic Sparkling (Champagne grapes): Breathless, J Vineyards, Iron Horse, Gloria Ferrer, Domaine Carneros.
- Classic + Innovative (Rhône & other varieties): Amista, Buena Vista, Korbel.
At Amista, for example, you’ll find a classic Blanc de Blanc made from 100% Chardonnay, as well as single-varietal sparklers and blends from Rhône grapes like Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. And our sparkling Fusión is a blend of Chardonnay, Syrah and Grenache.
Buena Vista honors tradition, adds a Sparkling Rosé of Zinfandel and even offers an authentic French Champagne. Korbel’s range includes Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Noir, and blends featuring grapes like Chenin Blanc and Muscat Canelli, spanning from sweet to dry styles.
3. Seek Organic Sparkling Wines
If you prefer wines made from organically farmed grapes, currently two Sonoma sparkling wine producers stand out:
- Amista — We proudly became the first Sonoma sparkling winery to certify all grapes for our sparkling program as organic in June 2024.
- Gloria Ferrer — Their grapes achieved organic certification in May 2025.
4. Bring the Whole Group – Dog Friendly and More
Visiting with kids, dogs, or friends who prefer still wine? Amista and Buena Vista are two wineries that have offerings to satisfy everyone in your party—sparkling, still, and welcoming tasting spaces for your kids and canine companions.
5. Plan Your Route for Efficiency
Sonoma County is geographically expansive—driving between the northern and southern sparkling producers can take about 1½ hours. If you want to visit all eight of the wineries that offer sparkling wine flights, I suggest you consider splitting your itinerary:
- Northern day: Amista, Breathless, J Vineyards, Korbel
- Southern day: Iron Horse, Buena Vista, Gloria Ferrer, Domaine Carneros
Even better, stretch the trip over three days so can linger for lunch at a local restaurant or book a food-and-wine pairing or immersive experience at one of the wineries.
Whether you’re exploring bubbles for the first time or deepening your love for sparkling wine, Sonoma County’s sparkling wine trail offers something for every palate. We hope to see you soon at Amista, where each glass is a toast to friendship, nature, and the joy of discovery. Come Taste With Us and try our still and sparkling Rhône varietals.
Read the full article, Bubbles in Good Times and Bad in The Good Stuff from Sonoma County Winegrowers.
Still Thirsty?
If you want to learn more, here is a curated list of resources.
