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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Hayley
a week agoDomaine Carneros is known for their bubbly, but they also have fantastic Pinot Noirs. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous and the perfect single stop before hitting DT Napa so my parents from out of town could experience the beauty of Napa Vineyards. The service was wonderful and we were so happy with how tastings were executed: they bring all the glasses and wines out together, pour each glass one at a time and give their spiel for each one as they are pouring, and then they leave you to enjoy each one at your own pace (as opposed to pouring them one at a time and constantly interrupting your group convo/not allowing you to tasting each one to decide which is your favorite) highly recommend if you like bubbly or pinot noir!
Stu Schulman
3 months agoVery nice winery but the tasting was a little commercialized compared to others. The location is located near a highway but the grounds were beautiful. The views were nice as well. The tasting was average as we shared a waiter who explained the wines but would end up having to leave to help other tables. We sat with many others. The wine was pretty good and the Charcuterie we ordered was good.
Reese
5 months agoMy visit to Domaine Carneros was absolutely lovely. The staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable—they took their time explaining each wine in our tasting flight, which made the experience both fun and informative. The tasting room had a calm and elegant atmosphere with beautiful vineyard views through the windows. It felt peaceful and relaxing the entire time. The wines were excellent, especially the sparkling ones, and the small cheese and snack platter was a nice surprise (I honestly can’t remember if I ordered it or not!). The place was clearly popular, but it never felt crowded. I’ll definitely come back again—and yes, I’m including a video because pictures alone can’t capture how nice it was!
Katelyn
3 months agoThis was the first winery i visited on my Napa trip and it was a great way to start, i think if i ended with it i may have been underwhelmed. The location is gorgeous and perfect for photos, the lighting is perfect. The pours are generous and i enjoyed all of the wine we got to try. They have food available to add on, we got their charcuterie board and it was pretty overpriced but it paired well with the wine. The service was okay, it took a while for anyone to help us and our waiter spilled wine and water while pouring a few times. Overall, this was a fun time and it was on the cheaper side for a wine tasting so it was definitely worth it!
Tugce Erenler
4 months agoDomaine Carneros was a highlight of our road trip! Our server was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about his job, making our experience even more enjoyable. The atmosphere was peaceful and inviting, perfect for sipping wine. The wines were absolutely delicious, and the sparkling rosé stole the show—it was simply delightful! We visited with friends, and everyone had a wonderful time. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!