“Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!” Dom Pérignon is said to have exclaimed upon discovering Champagne. When the bubbles are right, it’s hard to disagree; the effervescence feels like a celebration in every sip, making sparkling wine the perfect companion to holiday gatherings.

Newberg has emerged as an epicenter for New World sparkling wine. Production began in 1986 when Rollin Soles recognized that the Willamette Valley’s soils and climate could produce world-class bubbles. At Argyle, he proved it by earning a spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list. Today, that legacy continues at ROCO, where his sparkling wine was recently named the #1 wine of the year by Wine Enthusiast.

With 14 local wineries now producing sparkling wines, Newberg offers plenty of options to pick up in town or have bottles shipped in time for the holidays.

ROCO starts our list with their RMS Brut in the 2015 and 2016 vintages as well as their 2017 Brut Rosé, all made in the “traditions Methode Champenoise” style of Champagne. This labor-intensive process yields a sparkling wine with complex flavors and a long, fresh finish. 

Adelsheim currently has four sparkling wines available: a 2014 Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, and from 2015, a Sparkling Brut Cuvée, Sparkling Brut Rosé, and a dessert-style Sparkling Demi-Sec Cuvée.

Arbor Brook also makes a sparkling wine in the Champagne style, with their Célébrer la Vie. Made of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay, it’s a crisp wine with light flavors. It might be the perfect toast to accompany your holiday turkey or ham.

Archer Vineyard offers their 2019 Sparkling Rosé of Pinot Gris. This wine is made from the 30-year old vines on their Chehalem Mountain estate. At $25 a bottle, your holiday toast doesn’t have to break the bank!

Domaine Divio offers a sparkling wine in their 2017 Willamette Valley Crémant. The tart fruit and a long finish are the perfect pairings with high-in-fat holiday foods.

Domaine Lumineux, founded by Academy Award winner Francis Ford Coppola, pours estate wines, including a 2019 sparkling rosé, in a cozy 1890s Victorian in the heart of downtown.

Et Fille, in downtown Newberg, has released their first sparkling wine. It’s their Pére Honneur Sparkling Wine, made from 2015 grapes. It’s notable because it has been fermenting in the bottle for four years. This crisp bubbly is classified as “Extra Brut” — meaning it’s very dry. Expect bright acidity, intense bubbles, and a rich depth.

JK Carriere’s 2011 Blanc de Noir, Extended Tirage is 100% Pinot Noir sparkling wine, with grapes from Temperance Hill Vineyard, northwest of Salem. Wine reviewer, Josh Reynolds, said of this wine, “… here’s a great example of what’s happening in the Beaver State.”

Lachini Vineyards offers a Willamette Valley Brut Rosé sparkling wine, also made in the Champagne style, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Enjoy its silky body and citrus flavor notes.

Native Flora is off the beaten path, but a worthy destination for collectors looking to meet the region’s contrarian winemaker, Scott Flora, who insisted on planting his grapes on the “wrong” side of the hill and is now rewarded with late-ripening fruit that yields exquisite vintages, both sparkling and still, year after year.

Raptor Ridge schedules their “Bubbles Block” harvest for early morning in late summer before the sun warms the fruit. The sugars are low and the acids are high, and the result is their Estate Cuvée Blanc de Noirs Sparkling and Extended Tirage Sparkling Brut Rosé, both worthy of a visit to experience for yourself!

REX Hill currently features two sparkling wines. First, their La Vie en Rosé Sparkling 2016. This fruity pink wine has a lingering finish that will impress your guests. Also available is their Grande Cuvée Sparkling 2015. This classic Brut-style sparkling wine will have you forgetting 2020 and welcoming 2021 with style.

Styring is a family-owned and award-winning winery that has been producing exceptional wine for 22 years from its organically farmed estate vineyard. Their Méthode Champenoise sparkling and rosé wines are named for their Viking ancestor, Rixi.

Trisaetum wraps up our list with two sparklers. They are the 2017 Pashey Blanc de Blancs Coast Range Estate and the 2017 Pashey Estates Cuvée. Made in the style of Champagne, neither is completely dry. One more thing…if sparkling wine is a passion of yours, keep an eye on Trisaetum. They frequently produce other sparkling wines, which can sell out quickly.  

As you can see, although Newberg may be a distance west of France, our Newberg, Oregon wineries are perfect partners in helping you celebrate your holidays and ring in the New Year.