American Sparkling Wine Increasing in Popularity

According to the Wine Institute, sparkling wine and Champagne sales in the United States in 2015 reached 21.7 million 9-litre cases, up from 19.7 million in 2014. Americans are continuing to enjoy more bubbly.

The selection of American sparkling wines available on restaurant wine lists and on retail shelves is also increasing, giving more choice for the consumer. Sales numbers for sparkling wine at Sonoma-based Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards is up by 5% this year.

The first American sparkling wines actually came from Buckeye, rather than California. In 1842, an accidental sparkling wine was created when some of the wines spontaneously fermented in the bottle and the results were so encouraging that Nicholas Longworth hired French winemakers to teach him how to create bubbles on purpose.

Champagne houses began investing in California sparkling wine, with Domaine Chandon (Moët & Chandon), Roederer Estate (Louis Roederer) and Domaine Carneros (Taittinger).

American sparkling wine isn’t confined to California, New York, Washington and Oregon are some of the other states that produce sparkling wine.