Letters from Lodi

An insightful and objective look at viticulture and winemaking from the Lodi
Appellation and the growers and vintners behind these crafts. Told from the
perspective of multi-award winning wine journalist, Randy Caparoso.

December 18, 2025 | Allison Champion

Pop the Cork on Lodi: Sparkling Wines to Celebrate the New Year

When the ball drops on New Year's Eve, most people reach for Champagne. But here's a sparkling secret: some of the best bubbles for your celebration are being made right here in Lodi.

Using traditional sparkling wine production methods, Lodi winemakers are crafting wines that reflect the region’s terroir and inventive spirit. These Méthode Champenoise–style bottlings offer depth, finesse, and character, proving that world-class celebration can begin right in your backyard.

Why Lodi Sparkling Wines Deserve Your Attention

Exceptional Value: While Champagne easily commands $50-100+ per bottle, these Lodi sparklers deliver comparable quality, with prices on the below bottles ranging from $26 to $60.

Accessibility: No reservations needed. Lodi's welcoming tasting rooms, many of which accept walk-ins, make it easy to discover these gems for yourself. With average tasting fees of just $16 for a flight, you can explore multiple producers without breaking the bank.

Sustainable Practices: All of these wines are locally (U.S.) grown and made, and many come from LODI RULES certified vineyards, meaning they're produced using rigorous sustainable winegrowing practices covering everything from soil health to water conservation.

Innovation: Lodi winemakers are experimenting with unique varietals like Albariño, Verdelho, and Assyrtiko to create distinctive sparkling wines you simply can't find anywhere else.

Authentic Craftsmanship: These aren't industrial sparklers. They're small-production, handcrafted wines made by passionate winemakers who are investing months or years into bottle aging.

The Traditional Method, Lodi Style

Check out these exceptional Lodi sparkling wines, produced in the Méthode Champenoise (or traditional method) style, aged on the lees for months or even years before disgorgement. This time-intensive process – the same as used in Champagne – produces complex, nuanced wines with fine persistent bubbles and sophisticated flavors.

Bokisch Vineyards 2023 Lo Xalet Sparkling

Bokish Vineyards Lo Xalet

The Bokisch family is making history with Lo Xalet – America's first authentic cava-style sparkling wine made from Spain’s traditional "holy trinity" of grapes: Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada.

This groundbreaking wine represents a deeply personal journey for owners Markus and Liz Bokisch. Markus's family hails from Catalonia – he spent every childhood summer there, and he and Liz lived and worked in the Cava region in the early '90s. They still return to the family's seaside home (or xalet) in La Ràpita once or twice each year, which inspired the wine's name: Lo Xalet, meaning "the seaside home."

Tasting Notes: A crisp and vibrant sparkling wine with fine, persistent bubbles. Aromas of citrus blossom, green pear, and crushed stone. The palate is dry and bright, with refreshing acidity and a long mineral finish.

Details: Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada from the Miravet Vineyard | Vineyard farmed under CCOF and LODI RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing | Native fermentation in stainless steel (9 months), bottle-fermented (méthode traditionnelle), aged en tirage for 9 months | 12% alcohol

Klinker Brick Winery Sparkling Albariño

Klinker Brick Winery Sparkling Albariño

"Albariño is a tangible example of the Klinker Brick philosophy to question, re-examine and challenge the status quo. In the pursuit of world class winemaking, we embrace the lessons of the past but are not shackled to old traditions." —Klinker Brick

That philosophy shines through in their sparkling Albariño, a wine that lets terroir and climate dictate production rather than following market trends. The fruit comes from two exceptional vineyard sites in Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA: Ted's Vineyard and Jungeblut vineyard, both benefiting from deep sandy loam soils and the cooling Delta Breeze.

Tasting Notes: Crisp and classy, the sparkling Albariño is extra dry, light and a pleasure to sip. The lingering effervescence produced by champenoise (traditional) methods offer flavors of citrus and apple with a bright acidity.

Details: 100% Albariño from Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA | Vineyard farmed under LODI RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing | Traditional method | 11% alcohol

LVVR Sparkling Cellars Brut

LVVR Sparkling Cellars Brut

LVVR specializes exclusively in traditional method sparklers produced entirely within the Lodi Appellation, with every step controlled by owner and winemaker Eric Donaldson. This commitment to keeping production local showcases what Lodi can do.

The blend of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Verdelho is the winery's signature, creating a unique expression that highlights both classic sparkling wine character and Lodi-driven style.

Tasting Notes: This Brut presents a nose of green apple with hints of grapefruit, delivering a palate of elegant zest with a crisp finish and fine acidity.

Details: 75% Chardonnay, 25% Verdelho | Off-dry style (0.5% RS) | 3-6 months tirage | 12.8% alcohol | pH 3.25

Nostra Vita Family Winery 2020 Blanc de Blanc Serendipity

Nostra Vita Family Winery 2020 Blanc de Blanc Serendipity

In 2013, Robert Indelicato took on a special challenge when his partner Leslie asked him to create an extraordinary sparkling wine. With his reputation on the line, he utilized the méthode champenoise process – labor intensive and time consuming. The result was Serendipity, a 100% Chardonnay sparkling wine you can enjoy on every occasion, or on no particular occasion at all.

Tasting Notes: Toasty bouquet from aging, with aromas of brioche and Granny Smith green apple. Crisp and bright with tiny bubbles and a creamy, velvety mouthfeel. Fresh acidity balanced by smooth body, crisp fruit and silky yeast character.

Details: 100% Chardonnay grown in the Clements Hills AVA | 36 months bottle aging

Peltier Winery 2022 The Gala - Brut Nature

Peltier Winery 2022 The Gala - Brut Nature

As proprietor and bubbly enthusiast Gayla Schatz approached a milestone birthday, the Peltier team set out to craft their very first sparkling wine using the traditional Méthode Champenoise as a tribute to both the occasion and the inspiration behind its name: The Gala.

This Brut Nature Blanc de Noir is true to Gayla's preference for a fresh, vibrant expression of sparkling wine. It's crisp and luminous, with lively acidity that keeps you coming back for more. Because life should be filled with lavish moments!

Tasting Notes: Pale straw in color with aromas of nectarine and green apple. The palate shows nectarine, orange, and grapefruit with bright minerality. Lean body and a clean, refreshing finish.

Details: 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir | Méthode Champenoise | Vineyard farmed under LODI RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing | 11.6% alcohol | pH 3.14 | 0.3 g/L RS

Perlegos Family Wines 2023 Sparkling Assyrtiko

Perlegos Family Wines 2023 Sparkling Assyrtiko

Mediterranean-inspired and California-grown, this is America's first-ever sparkling Assyrtiko. The Perlegos family’s Thera Block of Assyrtiko is located 25 miles northeast of Lodi in the region’s Clements Hills AVA.

Assyrtiko's birthplace is the Mediterranean island jewel of Santorini, officially called Thera. The grape is the current face of Greek wine, and for good reason. It's spectacular, intense, and stands out in a crowd. There is very little of this grape planted outside of Europe.

"As sons of Greek immigrants, we are especially proud to be amongst the first to grow and produce this wine in California," the Perlegos family shares.

Tasting Notes: Dry, crisp, and mineral-driven. Perfect for celebrations, get-togethers or with a meal. Stone fruit and citrus with hints of toast, all lifted by refreshing acidity and a long, minerally finish.

Details: 100% Assyrtiko from the Thera Block in Clements Hills-Lodi on fine sandy loam | Whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel | Méthode Champenoise (traditional method) | Zero dosage | 16 months on lees, disgorged January 2025 | 12.0% alcohol

Bring Your Visitors to Lodi for Holiday Bubbles

Want to taste these bubbles for yourself? Lodi is just 35 miles south of Sacramento (about a 40-minute drive) and 83 miles northeast of San Francisco (90 minutes, depending on traffic). It's an easy day trip or weekend getaway, and you won't need to plan months in advance or pay premium tasting fees.

With friends and family in town for the holidays, Lodi offers an ideal escape that feels special without the fuss. Show out-of-town guests authentic California wine country where they can relax, explore at their own pace, and discover wines they've never tried before.

Many Lodi wineries welcome walk-ins, though calling ahead is always a good idea, especially if you're bringing a group. The region's "No Reservations" approach makes wine tasting feel spontaneous and genuine rather than exclusive or intimidating. Most of these

Ready to explore more of Lodi's sparkling wine scene? In addition to the producers above, check out this list of other Lodi wineries offering sparkling selections:

Celebrate with Lodi Sparkling Wines

As you plan your New Year's celebration, consider swapping Champagne for something closer to home. These Lodi sparkling wines prove that world-class bubbles don't need to travel across an ocean—sometimes the best celebration starts in your own backyard.

Whether you're toasting to new beginnings, enjoying an intimate dinner, or hosting a lively gathering, these Lodi sparklers deliver the elegance and excitement you want in a New Year's wine, with the authenticity and value that California's most dynamic wine region is known for.

Cheers to local bubbles and new discoveries in the year ahead!

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Lodi Winegrape Commission