Winery tours can get boring, but this one is actually worth it. The coolest part about visiting Schramsberg Vineyards is the chance to tour through its miles of underground caves, where millions of bottles of nascent wine are stored as they undergo the secondary fermentations that make them fizzy. There’s no better way to learn about the complicated process of Champagne-method winemaking than seeing it in action. After that educational tour, you’ll taste a flight of wines, typically four sparkling and one still. These are some of the best bubblies made in California, from affordable, everyday bottlings like the Blanc de Blancs to the pricier, longer-aged J. Schram cuvee. But the winemaking team here is versatile, and it’s also a treat to get to taste the still versions of Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon from Schramsberg’s sister label, Davies Vineyards.
