Sea Smoke Sparkling Wine: Sea Spray

Sea Smoke is renowned for their Pinot Noir… and I mean in a major cultish way. This winery has no tasting room, but sells out their beautiful, balanced Pinots to their list with each wine release. With that reputation for cool-climate Pinot Noir, we’re lucky they also make a sparkling wine, called Sea Spray.

This sparkling wine can be hard to come by as they sell wines exclusively to their allocation list and only some retail. I found a bottle in Santa Barbara, (and I totally justified the price since I really needed photos of the bottle) and kept it in a cooler that I took with me every time we went anywhere on the Central Coast. It was like my Bubbles Baby.

When we finally decided to open it, my fiancée warned me…after toting it around (and keeping it cooled) and shooting it in various locations, it probably would not live up to the hype.

But I was charmed when we finally tasted it. It has the smallest, finest bubbles and a wonderful yeasty, classic Champagne taste. Perfect for the Champagne snob you need to impress. (Or for a super-special wedding!)

Sea Smoke Sea Spray is a sparkling wine produced by Sea Smoke Estate, located in the Santa Rita Hills of California. This wine is crafted using traditional methods similar to those of Champagne, with a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown in the cool, coastal climate of the region. The estate is known for its commitment to sustainable farming practices, and its vineyards benefit from the unique influence of the Pacific Ocean, which creates ideal conditions for growing high-quality grapes.

Sea Spray is admired for its vibrant acidity and fine bubbles, offering delicate flavors of citrus, green apple, and brioche with a refreshing minerality. The wine’s balance of fruit and acidity makes it a versatile pairing with seafood, light appetizers, or even as a standalone celebratory drink. The sea breeze and mist that often cloak the vineyards provide a fitting name for this lively and elegant sparkling wine