While Champagne, as with other Old World wine regions, has always been steeped in tradition when it comes to expected practices and required production methods, experimentation is not only common but encouraged in the New World. This is especially true when it comes to sparkling wines. Without rigid restrictions and adherence to ancient laws of production, United States vintners can take some liberty with their sparkling winemaking processes, resulting in unique wine expressions that often tell their own story.  

Winemakers like Joe Wright of Left Coast Cellars and Josh Hammerling of Berkeley-based sparkling wine house Hammerling Wines are pushing the envelope when it comes to creative techniques for producing their offbeat bubblies, using honey in tirage… Read the complete story here on The Vintner Project