Is there any wine more synonymous with joy than Champagne? Bubbly just feels right to celebrate every type of milestone: weddings, birthdays, graduations, births, and more – and such is the case around much of the world. To be called “Champagne,” a wine can only be produced in Champagne, France, produced in the traditional method (méthodechampenoise).* However, the main grapes used to make it: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, also grow very well here in the Willamette Valley. Oregon winemakers took notice and began crafting their own world-class versions of traditional sparkling wine, at wineries concentrated in and around Newberg.
A few helpful terms as you embark on your sparkling wine exploration:
Blancs de Blancs: Traditional method sparkling wine made with only Chardonnay grapes
Blanc de Noirs: Traditional method sparkling wine made with dark skinned grapes – Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
Brut: Dry (not sweet)
Begin your tasting tour at ROCO, where Oregon sparkling wine pioneer Rollin Soles and his talented team create a variety of award-winning single vintage sparkling wines. Wine Enthusiast named ROCO’s RMS Brut 10-Year Delayed Disgorgement #1 on its list of The Enthusiast 100: The Best Wines of 2024 (worldwide). ROCO offers four wine tasting experiences in its tasting room–they make lovely still Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well – but we recommend the flight of five sparkling wines.
Next head to Trisaetum winery, where winemaker James Frey makes a variety of traditional method sparkling wines under his Pashey label. During the month of February in the tasting room, Trisaetum is featuring a flight of five of their sparkling wines. Year-round, you’ll find at least one of their sparkling wines on every flight, and additional bottles for purchase.
Argyle winery in nearby Dundee is the original Oregon sparkling wine pioneer, crafting award winning sparkling wines since the 1980s. Argyle now boasts a spacious modern tasting room with exceptional hospitality. They offer two experiences celebrating bubbly every day of the week: the Master of Sparkling exclusive tour paired with a curated flight of sparkling wines and a charcuterie plate, or simply a Tasting House reservation for an all-sparkling flight to enjoy at your leisure.
Additional Newberg wineries where you’ll find traditionally made sparkling wine available in bottles and on tasting room flights are Adelsheim, Cho Wines, Domaine Divio, Domaine Lumineux, Et Filles, Raptor Ridge, REX HILL and Styring, each making wine that evokes their winemaker’s style and the terroir of the land.
To explore sparkling wine tasting in the greater Willamette Valley check out this guide, where you can search by area and wine type. Cheers!
The Taste Newberg website uses cookies to improve your experience. By using it, you consent to our