Noble Ridge is in a mood to celebrate

Photo: Noble Ridge's Leslie and Jim D'Andrea

Jim and Leslie D’Andrea, the proprietors of Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery, remark that the last several months of the year feature many occasions to celebrate with sparkling wine. “Please help us get the Noble Ridge Sparkling story out there,” they write in a note accompanying their latest releases.

They have their own reasons for celebrating. This year has seen a recovery of wine touring as well as a revival of their Okanagan Falls vineyards. Benoit Gauthier, the winery’s chief winemaker, writes: “We’re thrilled to see that the vineyard bounced back beautifully this year. … It has been a picture-perfect growing season, with an early bud break, a warm and consistent summer and the beginning of a fall that feels more like a continuance of summer. … I now believe we will exceed our initial forecast of 50% of a typical crop, reaching closer to 65%.”

That has been a typical comment across the Okanagan. For example, Blue Mountain Vineyards, located just a stone’s throw from Noble Ridge, reported 80% of a normal harvest in the 2025 vintage. Vineyards have recovered from the 2024 freeze much better than expected, to the point that some growers have struggled to sell all their grapes this fall.

That is not the issue at Noble Ridge, which will need all of its own grapes to replenish its cellars. Noble Ridge used American grapes in 2024 just for white wines, apparently relying on red wines in its cellar from earlier vintages. If you would like to celebrate with Noble Ridge, here are three current sparkling wines.

Noble Ridge The Pink One 2020 ($34.99). This wine is made entirely with Pinot Noir (clones 114, 115 and 777). The berries are given four hours of skin contact, just enough to give the wine a delicate hue. A traditionally-made sparkling wine, it was en tirage for 42 months. There is just a hint of brioche in the aroma and on the palate, with flavours of wild strawberry. The active bubbles give the wine an especially festive appearance in the glass. 92.

Noble Ridge The One 2018 ($34.99 for 345 cases). This is 72% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Noir. The grapes were whole cluster pressed and fermented cool. The wine was en tirage for 47 months before being disgorged. The wine has aromas of citrus and brioche; on the palate, there are flavours of lemon, pear and brioche. The mousse gives the wine a creamy texture; the finish is dry and refreshing. 94.

Noble Ridge The One Grand Reserve 2017 ($49.99 for 165 cases). This wine is also 78% Chardonnay and 22% Pinot Noir, but with 66 months en tirage. The grapes were whole cluster pressed and the wine was fermented cool. Citrus and green apple mingle with brioche in the aroma. On the palate, there is a medley of complex flavours, including apple, pear, biscuit and almond. The mousse gives the wine a creamy texture but the finish is crisply dry. 96.