Schramsberg Vineyards

Few names in Napa carry the sparkle of Schramsberg Vineyards. Founded in 1862 by Jacob Schram and revived in 1965 by Jack and Jamie Davies, Schramsberg helped define American méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine—crafting bubbles with the same in-bottle secondary fermentation used in Champagne.

A house of firsts and historic moments. In 1972, President Nixon poured Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs for the legendary “Toast to Peace” in Beijing—an international debut that cemented Schramsberg’s reputation on the world stage. Since then, their wines have been served at more than 90 White House and State functions across administrations.

Why their wines thrill the palate. Schramsberg’s portfolio showcases precision and depth: Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay), Blanc de Noirs (Pinot Noir–led), Brut Rosé, Crémant Demi-Sec, and prestige cuvées like J. Schram and J. Schram Rosé. Tête-de-cuvée wines typically age seven to eight years on the lees before release, developing creamy texture, brioche richness, and remarkable finesse; other bottlings receive two or more years—a level of patience that yields complexity and length.

A mosaic of cool-climate vineyards. To build layered, age-worthy blends, Schramsberg sources Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from North Coast sites across Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Marin. The winemaking team draws from 78+ specific vineyard sites and 172 blocks to assemble 250+ base wines each year—then artfully blends them into a dozen-plus distinct cuvées.

Time and tradition beneath Diamond Mountain. Schramsberg’s 19th-century caves—hand-dug by Chinese laborers in the 1870s—provide the cool, steady environment where bottles slumber “en tirage,” developing their signature refinement. These were Napa’s first hillside wine caves, and you can still see the pick-axe marks today.

Innovation with pedigree. Schramsberg pioneered America’s first commercial Blanc de Noirs in 1967, and continues to release special late-disgorged cuvées that showcase extended lees aging from their historic Diamond Mountain cellars. Many of their wines are delicious on release yet cellar beautifully for 20+ years.

Why we’re thrilled to pour Schramsberg at the Napa Truffle Festival. Truffles love texture, acidity, and lift—qualities that Schramsberg’s wines deliver in spades. From the citrus-lined cut of Blanc de Blancs to the red-fruited depth of Brut Rosé and the creamy, layered elegance of J. Schram, these bottlings amplify umami, elevate aromatics, and make pairings feel effortless and thrilling. In every glass, you taste heritage, patience, and the art of blending—American sparkling at its most expressive.