Some of the best Finger Lakes sparkling wines to make the holidays sparkle

Oct 06, 2023

December 11, 2022 by Marina Copeland in 14850 Magazine

Bubbles. Bubbly. Fizz. Call sparkling wine what you like, it's still a treat on the tongue. Thankfully, with the Finger Lakes on our doorstep, you don't need to look too far for some of the best bubbles in New York State. Plus, you can have them delivered at home, making them easier to enjoy.

The American Viticultural Area's winemaking history is a proud one, dating back to 1829 when Episcopal minister William Warner Bostwick planted Vitis labrusca shoots in his Hammondsport rectory garden. In 1862, commercial viticulture officially began with the founding of the Hammondsport and Pleasant Valley Wine Companies. Two more companies were founded three years later, and within a few years, wineries in the region started winning awards for their sparkling wines.

Harsh winters, growing competition from other states, a vine-destroying virus, and Prohibition presented significant challenges to Finger Lakes winemakers over the years, but they bounced back. Almost a century later, the region is once again home to numerous wineries, many of which continue to grow their historical reputation for producing incredible sparkling wines.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the sparkling wines from this region that you can buy online.

One of the oldest U.S. wineries, the family-owned Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery on Keuka Lake produces outstanding wines from high-quality fruit grown on the estate. Every bottle contains four generations of history.

You can taste this for yourself in the Dr. Konstantin Frank 2018 Blanc de Noirs Méthode Champenoise Sparkling wine. Produced from hand-harvested and lightly pressed 100% Pinot Noir grapes, the wine underwent secondary fermentation in the bottle for at least 36 months in the winery's historic underground cellar.

The result is one the Finger Lakes area can be proud of. This wine offers delicate freshly baked bread aromas alongside those of Asian pear, fresh strawberries, baked red apples, and white flowers. The tense, profound mouthfeel leads with a fine mousse and creamy lees, strawberry, and red cherry. The elegant finish's acidity is balanced with a smidgen of tannin.

Dr. Konstantin Frank 2018 Blanc de Noirs Méthode Champenoise Sparkling pairs beautifully with lobster, oysters, smoked salmon, egg dishes, and fried foods. Purchase yours for $39.99 online from the winery.

Damiani vineyard's first harvest took place in 2004. Yet despite being a relatively new kid on the Finger Lakes block, the winery near Seneca Lake has an artisanal, old-world approach to the art of winemaking. Headed up by winemaker Lou Damiani, the team turns Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and other grapes grown with minimal intervention into wines they enjoy drinking and sharing.

The approach and ethos of Damiani Wine Cellars obviously work because the estate is responsible for one of the best sparkling wines from the Finger Lakes, namely the Damiani 2014 Brut Méthode Champenoise. We’re talking about luxurious boulangerie aromas of fresh dough and baking bread underscored by tart Bramley apples and a bright, vibrant palate that brings more tart apples and hints of lemon zest to the fore.

A blend of 77 % Pinot Noir & 13% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier, the Damiani 2014 Brut Méthode Champenoise pairs gorgeously well with crab, lobster, and other shellfish. You can order this wine from Damiani Wine Cellars for $44.99.

Situated on the western shore of Cayuga Lake, Sheldrake Point Winery was founded by a group of wine enthusiasts in 1997. Named in honor of the prominent point of land on which this and other wineries are located, Sheldrake Point arguably is best known for its Dry Rosé and German-style ice wines. That said, you don't want to miss out on one of the best Finger Lakes sparkling wines, which is Sheldrake Point 2020 Riesling Bubbles.

The first thing you’ll likely notice about this vegan-friendly wine is delicate apple blossom and peach aromas. Next come the palate-prickling bubbles, which give way to the entrancing flavors of wildflower honey, green apple, and grapefruit.

This wine pairs well with beef, cheese, game birds, lobster, pork, and Thai dishes. Sheldrake Point 2020 Riesling Bubbles certainly deserved its Finger Lakes International Wine Competition gold medal. Purchase yours for $20.00online from the winery.

After acquiring Buttonwood Grove on the shore of Cayuga Lake in 2014, David and Melissa Pittard have expanded the vineyards, built a new winemaking building, and produced some of the Finger Lakes’ finest wines. Within a few short years, the couple was the proud recipient of the 2017 Governor's Cup, which recognized the winery's 2016 Riesling as the state's best wine.

As good as the Pittards’ standard Riesling is, we want to steer you toward the Buttonwood Grove 2021 Pét-Nat Riesling. One of the best Finger Lakes sparkling wines, this one opens with faint yeasty aromas layered with ripe pink grapefruit, pineapple, and subtle herbs. The palate leads with tropical starfruit and lemon curd flavors.

Unfiltered, bottle-fermented, and delightfully bubbly, Buttonwood Grove 2021 Pét-Nat Riesling pairs fantastically well with creamy white sauces, seafood, and spicy dishes. Order yours online from Buttonwood Grove for $19.99.

Owned by Hans Peter Weis, a winemaker from Germany who decided to pursue his passion in the U.S., Weis Vineyards celebrated its first grape harvest in the fall of 2016. The first vintage was released the following year. Since then, the Weis team has poured time, energy, and effort into handcrafting German-style wines on the shores of Keuka Lake.

A party-friendly offering, Weis Vineyards 2020 Perle Sparkling Wine more than deserves mention among the best Finger Lakes sparkling wines. With a delicate sparkle and subtle hints of pineapple, mango, and other tropical fruit aromas carried through to a beautifully balanced palate with light acidity, this is a wine made for sharing at fun gatherings with friends and family – and at only $19.99 a bottle, it's an absolute steal. Order yours from Weis Vineyards online.

There's still time to have a selection of wine shipped from wineries in the area, and many of them have holiday shipping specials, offering free or discounted shipping if you buy enough wine.

If you’re on your way to a party, though, there's no time like the present! Local wine shops like Judd Falls Wine & Spirits and Triphammer Wines have great selections of Finger Lakes wines, and we love the lineup of sparkling wines from our region at Red Feet Wine Market.

Local sparkling wines are among the features at shops like Red Feet Wine Market on Ithaca's northside. 14850 file photo by Mark H. Anbinder.

These Finger Lake bubbles are a real treat and readily rival some of the world's most premium wines. While the proof of the sparkling wine lies in the tasting, the best way to enjoy what the Finger Lakes area offers is to visit the wineries yourself. Until then, grab a few of these excellent bottles of bubbly.

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