Domaine Carneros is a winery located in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, California. It was founded in 1987 by Champagne Taittinger, a prestigious French champagne house, with the goal of producing high-quality sparkling wine in the traditional Champagne method.
The winery’s vineyards are located on the rolling hills of the Carneros region, which is known for its cool climate and chalky soil, both of which are conducive to growing top-quality sparkling wine grapes. The vineyards are planted with a variety of grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, which are the three primary grapes used in Champagne.
In the winemaking process, the grapes are hand-picked and carefully sorted before being gently pressed to extract the juice. The juice is then fermented in small batches, using a combination of traditional and modern techniques. After fermentation, the wine is aged on its lees (dead yeast cells) for a period of time, which adds complexity and depth to the wine.
Once the wine has reached its desired level of maturity, it is bottled and undergoes a second fermentation process, known as “méthode champenoise,” in which the wine is aged in the bottle for several more months or even years. This process creates the bubbles and sparkling character that are characteristic of sparkling wine.
Domaine Carneros produces a range of sparkling wines, including its signature Brut, a classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier; a Rosé Brut, made with a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; and a Brut Le Rêve, a more rare and limited-edition wine made from 100% Pinot Noir.
In addition to its sparkling wines, Domaine Carneros also produces a variety of still wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Merlot.
Throughout its history, Domaine Carneros has received numerous accolades and awards for its wines, including numerous 90+ point scores from wine critics and a spot on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines list. It is considered one of the premier wineries in the Carneros region and a leader in the production of sparkling wine in California.
Visitors to Domaine Carneros can tour the winery and vineyards, taste a selection of wines in the tasting room, and enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant, which features dishes made with ingredients sourced from local farms and purveyors. The winery also offers a variety of special events and experiences throughout the year, including food and wine pairings, winemaking classes, and live music.
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Melissa Bunn
2 weeks agoJohn made this experience exceptional. In fact everyone there was top notch. The bubbles and bites was so much fun. Excellent sparkling (my fav was zero dosage) and really yummy food. Views are breathtaking. Decor is stunning. The building itself is nothing short of amazing. From bottom to top this place excels.
Dena L.
a month agoFirst time guest and my experience was amazing. A wonderful gift and experience with a friend. The chateau is beautiful, the landscape breathtaking. The service was excellent. The wine, the sparking wine and champagne wow,!!! I had to purchase a special bottle for my birthday celebration next month. A great big thank you to Andres . Andres is knowledgeable and was attentive. I will return to this beautiful place.
Mike Degenhart
5 months agoThis was our final stop. The experience (the actual tasting) was our least favorite as it was more of a restaurant style seating. But the view and grounds were incredible. We left with a lot of (expensive) wine. Our server was pleasant and knowledgeable. He allowed us to try many wines not on the list and got us a glass to explore the grounds on our way out. Definitely not a small town feel, more of a corporate conglomerate….but the Pinot is amazing and it’s worth a look.
Lauren Brasington
2 months agoThis was a highly recommended spot to attend a wine tasting and I can see why! Not only is the property itself stunning, there are lots of tasty options to choose from. We both ordered the sparkling wine sampler ($40 per person) and I loved the Brut (which we purchased a bottle of to take home). We also ordered the cheese pairing ($25 for the table), which was well worth it. Customer service was outstanding. I felt we got a good education of the wine and pairings without feeling overwhelmed or “intruded” upon. Our server/wine expert also was a huge help in us getting our wine home with us. The winery sells travel/shipping/flying crates/boxes for your wine. We purchased a box that fit 6 bottles and everything flew home great; I believe the shipper box was only $7. Great experience! Definitely worth a stop!
Victoria S
2 months agoI came across Domaine Carneros on TikTok and I immediately cancelled another reservation we had and book them. I was blown away by how beautiful the location was. When we walked in the hostesses were talking and didn’t really acknowledge us right away which I wasn’t really bothered by because it was busy. They took us to a table outside with such a spectacular view but when I went to sit down my chair was completely wet and I was soaked. You would think at such a beautiful place they would know the chairs are wet and have them wiped down. We asked the waitress if we could be moved inside because everything was wet and she looked bothered and told us to go back up to the front and ask ourselves. We did and we were moved inside with only two menus when there was three of us but again not a huge deal. Our server was okay. He seemed to not care too much until we ordered 3 tastings and the caviar platter then he gave us more attention. Sparking wine was good as well as caviar.