With tiny bubbles of carbonation and a flair for excitement, sparkling wines are often associated with celebrations. Yet, their effervescence offers loads of diversity and enjoyment throughout the year, regardless of the occasion. The holidays may be upon us, but raise a glass to the sparkling discovery of your next favorite bubbly, even if to celebrate a Tuesday night between Thanksgiving and the bright New Year. [Stoller Wine Bar pictured above]
Stoller Wine Bar in Bend
Family Estate 2019 LaRue’s Blanc de Blanc
From the Dundee Hills AVA in the Willamette Valley, the Stoller Family Estate 2019 LaRue’s Blanc de Blanc kicks off with tiny bubbles. They dance on the palate and mellow out with a lingering finish, complete with the taste of ripe Fuji apples and a full mouthfeel of brioche bread. This blanc de blanc—translated to “white of whites”—is 100% chardonnay. It’s a wine worthy of many things. Pair it with the gourmet popcorn selection, cheeses and charcuterie at the Stoller Wine Bar in Bend.
Visit Stoller Wine Bar, Box Factory | 555 NW Arizona Ave., Bend
Ermisch Winery & Tasting Room in Bend
Argentinian Sparkling Rosé
Bendite Christopher “Kirk” Ermisch, operates Ermisch Winery & Tasting Room, and is the majority owner of Bodega Calle, a winery in Mendoza, Argentina, founded in 1925. He also makes wine under the Ermisch Cellars wine label with his daughter, Hannah, who grew up in Bend and is a trained winemaker and sommelier. Visit the urban winery and tasting room to sample some of the six sparkling wine offerings, including several Argentinian versions like Matías Riccitelli Kung Fu and Bodega Calle’s Baja Tanga Sparkling Rosé. The Baja Tanga is a bubbly sipper made with predominantly chenin blanc and just a bit of Torrontés, an aromatic white grape variety, and malbec, a red-skinned grape variety from which the wine gets its pale pink color. This wine bursts with lightly candied aromatics, vibrant acidity on the palate and a rounded mouthfeel that makes sipping oh-so-delicious. Baja Tanga Sparkling Rosé is produced in the same way that prosecco from Italy is made: A second fermentation, the process that creates tiny bubbles of carbonation, is done in a pressurized vat versus in the bottle as is French Champagne. The result is a zippy, fresh-flavored sparkling wine that does not require aging to enjoy it at its finest.
Visit Ermisch Winery & Tasting Room | 11 NW Lava Road, Bend
Amaterra Kitchen + Social Club
2019 Blanc de Noir Traditional Method Brut
Amaterra Winery is a reflection of its relationship to place: The word Amaterra combines Italian amare (to love), with terra (earth) to form “for the love of the Earth.” With grapes from its Swede Hill estate vineyard in the most northern part of the Willamette Valley AVA, the golden straw color of the Blanc de Noir Traditional Method Brut might initially confuse the consumer: It’s made exclusively from the red-skinned pinot noir grape. It is light in color due to minimal skin contact during the winemaking process. Full-bodied with a delicate hit of dried rose petal, the 2019 Blanc de Noir is a delightful wine to pair with a traditional Thanksgiving turkey meal or many of the offerings on the Amaterra Kitchen + Social Club’s dinner menu, including its take on ricotta gnudi, a traditional Italian dish from Tuscany that pops with cheesy deliciousness.
Visit Amaterra Kitchen + Social Club | 909 NW Bond St., Bend
Va Piano Vineyards Wine and Champagne Bar
Duval-Leroy Brut Reserve Champagne
Two wine worlds meet at Va Piano Vineyards Wine and Champagne Bar in the Old Mill District. Sparkling wines galore augment the red and white offerings from the Walla Walla, Washington, winery. A standout on the wine-by-the-glass menu is the Duval-Leroy Brut Reserve Champagne, a classic example of the character of wine from the Champagne region of France. Although single-varietal Champagnes do exist, most are blends of white and red grapes. This includes this one, made of chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir. Va Piano’s Bolle Vino Club Membership is a fun way to dive into trying different sparkling wines and Champagne—members receive four allocations of six bottles every year.
Visit Va Piano Vineyards Wine and Champagne | Old Mill District, 425 SW Powerhouse Drive, Bend
