Schramsberg Vineyards

Schramsberg Vineyards is a winery on Diamond Mountain in Calistoga, defined by underground caves carved from volcanic rock. These cellars maintain constant conditions where sparkling wines age through traditional methods, while the facility also produces red wine selections.

The winery was founded in 1965 as the first American producer to create premium sparkling wines using traditional French fermentation methods. This achievement shifted the direction of American wine production and positioned the facility as a pioneer in quality sparkling wine making.

The winery has supplied sparkling wines to White House state dinners and diplomatic events, making it a symbol of American excellence in wine production. This prestigious role shapes how visitors experience and understand the place.

Visitors must book tours in advance through CellarPass to explore the caves and participate in tastings of sparkling and red wine selections. The underground environment requires good footing and comfortable clothing since cave temperatures stay cool year-round.

Inside the caves, bottles undergo a labor-intensive hand process called riddling, where workers rotate each one precisely to consolidate sediment. This manual technique is a rare practice in today's wine production.

Location: Calistoga

Inception: 1965

Website: http://schramsberg.com

GPS coordinates: 38.55064,-122.53965

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:44