10.29 €
Total price 10.29 €
Summer has reached its halfway point, and the remaining days offer plenty of opportunities for joy. Let's celebrate them to the fullest – ideally with a glass of quality Californian bubbles. Not just any bubbles, but exceptional ones. Join us in discovering the second half of summer with Domaine Carneros, a winery that crafts sparkling wines with precision and passion. Because there's always a reason to raise a glass!
As founding winemaker Eileen Crane says, "Domaine Carneros sparkling wines are like Audrey Hepburn in a little black dress by Coco Chanel." Domaine Carneros is a family-owned winery in Napa Valley that produces sparkling wines using the méthode traditionelle, grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in its vineyards, and is housed in a stunning chateau inspired by Château de la Marquetterie, the historic home of the Taittinger family in France.
What does Domaine Carneros have in common with the famous Taittinger family? The winery was founded in 1987 by Claude Taittinger, a prominent figure in the French wine industry, particularly in the field of champagne. As early as the 1980s, Claude Taittinger saw the value in French-American wine cooperation. His vision was to create a top-quality Californian sparkling wine using the Champagne method, thus bringing French style and elegance to America.
Behind the development of the winery under Claude Taittinger's leadership is the aforementioned Eileen Crane, founding oenologist and winemaker. Claude chose her to oversee production and development. Eileen Crane was one of the first women to hold a high position in California winemaking and was nicknamed the "Lady of American Champagne." In 2020, after 33 years at the helm of Domaine Carneros, Eileen handed over the reins to the new CEO, Remi Cohen, who continues Taittinger's tradition of visionary female leadership.
Domaine Carneros focuses on producing sparkling wines made using the "méthode traditionnelle," a method similar to that used to make Champagne, as well as excellent still Pinot Noir wines. Unlike classic French wines, Domaine Carneros sparkling wines retain their specific Californian expression: they are fruity, fuller-bodied, but still with French elegance.
Domaine Carneros draws exclusively from its own grapes from six vineyards spread over 400 acres in the Carneros AVA region – a place with ideal conditions for slow, even ripening of grapes and a perfect balance of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties.
Entre amis: The French expression "among friends" refers to sharing experiences with friends over good food and wine. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are planted in this newest vineyard. The combination of cool winds from nearby San Pablo Bay, western sun, and gravelly soil creates the perfect conditions for growing grapes.
Tula vista: Vineyards with a unique combination of heavy clay soils that retain nutrients, constant breezes, and western and northern exposure guarantee fruity notes and fresh acidity.
Le Ciel Serein: Translated as "clear sky," this is the most picturesque vineyard in Carneros. If the views of the vineyard look familiar, you may remember them as the background from Windows XP. The name perfectly matches Claude Taittinger's vision of bringing French elegance and a sense of beauty to California.
La Rocaille: "Rocky" is the smallest of the six vineyards and offers good drainage, light soil, and southern exposure. Such a location is ideal for growing Pinot Noir.
Pompadour: Named after Madame de Pompadour, the famous mistress of King Louis XV, who is said to have declared: "Champagne is the only drink that makes a woman even more beautiful." Domaine Carneros produces Brut Rosé Pompadour in her honor. A balanced sparkling Rosé with fruity and floral aromas, which is delicate and balanced with a long finish. Rosé sparkling wines are made not only from Pinot Noir, but winemakers add Chardonnay for better structure. The wine is aged for at least three years on yeast lees.
Domaine Carneros Estate is the home vineyard, located directly below the castle and serving as a representative terroir. This is where the iconic Le Rêve wine and the excellent still Pinot Noir come from.
The flagship wine of Le Rêve is also often praised as the best sparkling wine in America. Produced using the traditional and demanding méthode traditionnelle, this wine displays complexity and concentration resulting from at least six years of aging en tirage (sugar and yeast are added to the bottles so that secondary fermentation can take place directly in the bottle, creating bubbles). Le Rêve is made from the most valuable blocks of 100% Chardonnay. Here you can enjoy the 2017 and 2012 vintages.
Like other wines, Le Rêve was created with an emphasis on aging potential. It already offers an excellent taste experience today, but with longer aging in the cellar, it continues to develop and gain depth, finesse, and complexity.
Like most progressive wineries in California, Domaine Carneros emphasizes sustainability, nature conservation, and a responsible approach to the environment.
The winery has received numerous awards for its approach to ecological farming and community care, including the prestigious California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Award in 2019. Only four wineries that excel in their comprehensive approach to sustainability receive this award each year. Domaine Carneros also holds Napa Green Winery and Napa Green Vineyard certifications, which are among the most stringent standards in the US wine industry. Obtaining these certifications requires advanced water and energy saving technologies, waste reduction, efficient recycling, and an emphasis on biodiversity.
Domaine Carneros is a pioneer in the field of energy—in 2003, it installed one of the first solar systems among wineries in the world. In 2023, it added battery storage, which allows it to store energy from sunlight and use it efficiently. Thanks to this system, the winery is able to cover up to 75% of its energy consumption from renewable sources, thereby strengthening its energy self-sufficiency. In 2025, it received the Napa RISE Leadership Award in the energy efficiency and savings category for its innovative approach to renewable energy and the development of a solar microgrid.
Part of the sustainable approach is also caring for the surrounding ecosystem and community. The winery actively cares for the local population of birds, fish, and other wildlife. Domaine Carneros is also involved in the Fish Friendly Farming program, which promotes the protection of waterways and healthy soil life in agricultural areas. Respect for people is also part of Domaine Carneros' philosophy – the winery prides itself on an inclusive environment where no distinctions are made based on opinions, skin color, education, or origin.
Let's finish with a little educational interlude. How can you tell the difference between brut and demi-sec? The label on a sparkling wine bottle will tell you how much residual sugar the wine contains – in other words, how sweet it will taste. There are seven levels on the wine sweetness scale. For clarity, we have put them into a simple table:
Brut and Demi-sec are the most popular. You definitely won't go wrong if you choose Domaine Carneros Brut 2020. However, choosing the right style of sparkling wine is not just a matter of taste, but also of occasion. While brut is more suitable for a festive toast or light dishes, Demi-sec or Doux can be enjoyed with a sweet dessert or as the perfect end to a wonderful dinner.
Sparkling wines are a celebration of the moment – and each one has a different tone, a different character. Domaine Carneros proves that bubbles don't have to be exclusively French to be elegant, refined, and exceptional. Whether you choose a dry Brut or taste a delicious still Pinot Noir, one thing is certain: wine from Domaine Carneros can turn an ordinary day into an extraordinary experience.
Sources:
https://www.domainecarneros.com/
https://www.napagreen.org/rise-symposium/
https://www.fishfriendlyfarming.org/
4.8.2025