Schramsberg Vineyards is a pioneer in sparkling wines. But it wasn't always that way. The sparkling wines part at least.

Founded in 1862 when German immigrant barber Jacob Schram created the first hillside winery in Napa, Scramsberg in its early days produced prize winning Rieslings and Burgundies. Schram built a solid reputation and a lavish Victorian mansion, still lived in today, that hosted the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson, who immortalized the winery and the wine it produced in Silverado Squatters.

After changing hands several times and suffering decades of neglect, the old winery was discovered by Jack and Jamie Davies in 1965. The Victorian was abandoned, the buildings dilapidated, the gardens overgrown and the underground cellars just gaping holes in the ground. But it was love at first sight. Although the couple had never made wine before, in the true pioneer spirit that pervades the place, they were determined to succeed.

Not only did they bring the old winery back to life, but Jack and Jamie were committed to making superb sparkling wines superior to, and different from, anything else on the market. Schramsberg Vineyards produced the first commercial sparkling wine using chardonnay grapes in America and today searches 60 vineyards in four counties to find the best fruit for their Blanc de Blanc, Brut Rose, J. Schram, Querencia and other sparkling wines.

In 1972, Schramsberg wine was served in Beijing at the "Toast to Peace" between President Nixon and Chinese Premier Chou En-lai and has been enjoyed by every president since, as well as Prince Charles and Princess Diana and the Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg.

Mere mortals can taste the winery's best by joining the Cellar Club. Members receive a quarterly selection of one late release and one rare wine, are invited to club events, parties and have a chance to be a guest winemaker, joining the ranks of the pioneers who have made Schramsberg Vineyards the place it is today.

Schramsberg Vineyards
1400 Schramsberg Road
Calistoga, California 94515
707-942-4558
www.schramsberg.com
Email: info@schramsberg.com