NV Cruse Wine Co Cruse Tradition Sparkling Wine California 750 ml

If you want to see the future of California sparkling wine, look no further than Michael Cruse. 

The winemaker is making “some of the most compelling and distinctive sparkling wines in California, and beyond, for that matter,” according to Vinous. That’s in part because Cruse has absolutely nailed the balance between historic méthode champenoise techniques and California’s innovative spirit—and his complex, aromatic Tradition bottling captures both sides in a sophisticated sparkler. 

Made from reserve wines going back to the 2015 vintage, this bottle is at once joyful and serious, its dinner-table charm corroborated by Cruse wines’ regular inclusion on lists at Michelin-starred restaurants. Comprising 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, its fine mousse brings forth aromas of golden apple, lemon marmalade, and apricot, while its fruit core harbors subtle savory notes that play out over a long finish. 

Cruse’s other label, Ultramarine, has a waitlist of around two years. Yet he applies the same passion and meticulous winemaking to Cruse Wine Co., where his more experimental bottlings have racked up their own critical acclaim.

The 2016 SF Chronicle Winemaker of the Year has become practically synonymous with sophisticated bubbly. He’s applied his extensive knowledge about traditional sparkling-wine techniques, alongside his biochemistry background, to prime vineyard sites across Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and the Sierra Foothills—regions that all appear in the Cruse Tradition. 

That studious introspection shows why Vinous called Michael “one of the most thoughtful producers in California.” And a taste of his Cruse Tradition demonstrates the refinement, balance, and trailblazing ambition that has made Cruse Wine Co. a must for any lover of sparkling wine.