92pts Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of ginger and white flowers lift from the glass, followed by flavors of crisp apples and sweet peaches. Built from a unique blend of the highly aromatic grape Flora combined with the more traditional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it is a crisp, lengthy and pleasing sparkling wine.

90pts James Suckling

An old standby from Schramsberg that is lightly sweet, quite delicate and fruity in flavor. White peaches, lemon meringue and pistachio notes, with a soft, fine mousse that coats the palate. Drink now.

Tasting Notes

This 2020 Crémant Demi-sec features inviting aromas of white peach, lychee, apricot, clementine, and orange zest, complemented with notes of baked pear, sugar cookie, honeysuckle, and ginger. The palate sustains a round and full coating of juicy citrus, caramelized grapefruit, peach cobbler, ripe mango, and honey, that lingers with a flavorful and lengthy finish.

The sweetness in Crémant is subtle, providing a fine balance with desserts, such as fruit tarts, poached fruits, light cakes, custards, exotic sorbets, gingerbread, and crème brûlée. It also compliments a wide range of spicy Asian foods, blue cheeses, and matches especially well with foie gras.

About the Wine

The Schramsberg Crémant Demi-sec is a delicate, off-dry sparkling wine: an American original. Crémant is French for creamy and traditionally refers to a wine with light effervescence. It has approximately two-thirds the pressure of our other sparkling wines and presents a creamier texture with vibrant fruit flavors. Schramsberg made its first Crémant in 1972. After rigorous study, Jack and Jamie Davies chose a unique California grape named Flora (a cross of Sémillon and Gewürztraminer developed at UC Davis) to be the core component of this sparkling wine. Flora unites the fruitful spice of Gewürztraminer with the strength, depth and minerality of Sémillon. Aging on the yeast for 2.5 years prior to disgorgement adds complexity, yet the wine will retain its youthful appeal for 20 years or more.

Schramsberg Crémant Demi-sec has been served at many U.S. State events, including President Reagans Second Inaugural Luncheon and President Obamas White House Dinner for Chinas President Jinping. Most recently, the Crémant Demi-sec was served at President Bidens White House dinner honoring the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

Winery Notes

In 1965, Jack and Jamie Davies founded Schramsberg and set out to make world-class sparkling wine in the true méthode traditionelle style on the property originally established in 1862 by German immigrant Jacob Schram. There were only 22 bonded wineries in Napa Valley and fewer than 100 acres of California vineyards planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Schramsberg was the first California winery to provide a Blanc de Blancs in 1965 followed by a Blanc de Noirs in 1967. Now their son, Hugh Davies, leads the winery’s management and winemaking team.

The Schramsberg estate in Napa Valley’s famed Diamond Mountain District is a registered historic landmark with Napa’s first caves, hand-dug in the 1880s, and its first hillside vineyards. Quality focus drives all aspects of wine production starting with access to over 120 cool-climate sites in Carneros, Marin, Mendocino and Sonoma, which result in over 200 separate lots. Unique among California sparkling wine houses, Schramsberg ferments about 25 percent of its juice in oak barrels to produce rich, flavorful, complex wines.

Blend: 51% Flora, 32% Pinot Noir, & 17% Chardonnay