Sparkling Wines, Mendo Style: Hopland Tasting to Feature 5+ Organically Grown Sparklers

I'm grateful to the sparkling wine Rack and Riddle facility for locating for a time in Mendocino County. This single incident gave rise to a new generation of organically grown sparkling wines. 

When French Champagne house Louis Roederer came to Califorina, it didn't mess around with the Carneros or Sonoma. It went right to the cool climate Mendocino region, which it deemed perfect for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the varietals Champagne is made from. And many critics, including the New York Times Eric Asimov, have applauded Roederer's wines.

While Roederer is partially growing organically (about 100+ out of 580 acres are organically farmed but not certified, according to the winery), other producers in the county, located in the warmer interior in the Sanel Valley or in coolish Potter Valley, have 7+ sparkling releases.

Now Mendocino's sparkling winemakers are putting on a joint tasting featuring a total of ten sparkling wines on Sat. April 5 from 12-4 in Hopland at Terra Savia. The tasting will include 5 wines from certified organic vines.

You can buy tickets online here.

The wines will be paired with smoked salmon, local oysters, pate, canapés, fresh strawberries and a lavender infused sponge cake.

The organically grown wines to be featured include:

POTTER VALLEY

MCFADDEN VINEYARDS

Both of these wines scored highly at the 2014 San Francisco Chronicle's Wine Competition, placing second only to Domaine Carneros' 2009 Brut ($32) and, somewhat shockingly, above Domaine Carneros' 2007 Le Reve ($100).

Nonvintage Cuvee Brut ($25)

• Made from 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir

• Double Gold Medal, SF Chronicle Wine Competition

Special Reserve Brut ($40)

• Higher end version of the Cuvee, this wine spends an extra 18 months on the lees

• Double Gold Medal, SF Chronicle Wine Competition

SANEL VALLEY

PAUL DOLAN VINEYARDS

Nonvintage Brut ($27)

• Made from Chardonnay

TERRA SAVIA

Blanc de Blancs ($30)

• 100% Chardonnay

• Aged for 36 months

Brut Rouge ($25)

• An unusual sparkler - made from 100% Merlot

• Gold Medal, SF Chronicle Wine Competition (2012)

Tickets are $55 and available online here. For more information, contact Terra Savia at 707-744-1114 or emailinfo@terrasavia.com.