California Sparkling Wine Trends to Watch in 2025

For centuries, Champagne has reigned supreme as the sparkling wine of choice for both wine enthusiasts and casual consumers. In 2025, however, California sparkling wines trends might just be a force to be reckoned with thanks to their effervescent combination of versatility, innovation and accessibility.

2025’s Biggest California Sparkling Wine Trends

Sparkling wine from California has broken away from traditional rules and embraced bold, refreshing and market-savvy directions. According to Tastewise, social media conversations about California sparkling wines have increased by roughly 8% over the last year and sparkling wines as a whole are dominating discussions among millennials and GenZ consumers. 

Here are some more buzz-worthy trends contributing to the ever-increasing popularity of California sparkling wines in 2025:

1. Pet-Nat 

Short for pétillant naturel, this all-natural sparkling wine varietal is fermented directly in the bottle without added sugar. California winemakers are embracing the public’s growing interest in Pet-Nat to offer consumers new products that appeal to their desire for natural products with funky flavor profiles.

2. Sparkling Rosé 

As rosé has continued to dominate lists of wine trends, it’s no surprise that sparkling rosé wine trends, sparkling rosé wine has become a sought-after favorite of millennials and Gen Z consumers. California wine makers are subsequently embracing sparkling rosé trends to deliver Instagram-worthy pours that appeal to modern wine connoisseurs of all ages. 

3. Low-ABV and No-ABV Alternatives

One of the major Gen Z and millennial wine trends comes in the form of low and no ABV beverages. Market research indicates that the demand for non-alcoholic spirits has grown by roughly 113% in recent years, making non-alcoholic and low-ABV sparkling wines a high-value product offering for California vintners.  

4. Canned Wine

In light of recent canned wine trends, canned California sparkling wine is thriving. Canned products are transportable and fully recyclable, making them the ideal choice for on-the-go and eco-conscious drinkers looking to sip on something sparkly during events, concerts and social gatherings. 

5. Chardonnay-Dominant Blends

Echoing broader white wine trends, many sparkling winemakers are experimenting with 100% Chardonnay or Chardonnay-dominant cuvées for a cleaner, crisper style. Since California vineyards already have the infrastructure for producing high-quality Chardonnays, Chardonnay-dominant sparkling wines are an excellent leap for local vintners. 

6. Sustainability 

Sparkling winemakers are doubling down on calls for organic and regenerative farming methods that meet the sustainability expectations of younger consumers. Because California sparkling wine trends are innovative in and of themselves, there is more room for local vineyards to experiment with new, sustainable methods of production. 

7. Sparkling Red Wines

If you’ve visited a restaurant with a robust wine program over the last few years, you’ve probably seen Lambrusco on the menu. This popular varietal has propelled recent sparkling red wine trends, and California’s winemakers are well-positioned to divert existing resources into producing trendy Lambrusco-style blends. 

Stats and Facts: California Sparkling Wine by the Numbers  

California continues to be the leading U.S. producer of sparkling wine, with growing global recognition. Here’s a closer look at the current and future state of California sparkling wine production and sales, based on recent stats:

• California produces 81% of all U.S. wines and roughly 70% of all U.S. sparkling wines 
• The estimated retail value of California wine sales in the U.S. is over $43 million, with over $1 billion in export revenue 
• 29% of sparkling wine drinkers are innovators or early adopters of new products
• The California wine industry creates 786,000 jobs nationwide
• There were nearly 14 million bottles of California sparkling wine sold in 2022
• The number of Americans drinking sparkling rosé increased by 30% between 2019 and 2022 alone 
• By 2026, the U.S. is expected to account for nearly 15% of global sparkling wine sales by value
• By 2028, the total market value of sparkling wine is expected to exceed $55 billion

The increasing overlap between global wine trends and California production methods makes sparkling wine an exciting space for innovation and international appeal. All of these statistics make clear that sparkling wine might just be the saving grace of wine producers in California and around the world who have faced largely stalled markets over the last few years. 

Challenges Facing the California Sparkling Wine Market

Despite its upward trajectory, the sparkling category isn’t without its hurdles. Sparkling wine production in California can be heavily affected by periods of drought and other extreme weather events. Recent climate trends in California subsequently raise valid concerns about the potential impact on grape yield and quality, especially for varietals used in sparkling wines. 

Additionally, as more and more brands enter the sparkling wine space, California wine producers must take extra steps to differentiate themselves in a crowded market through flavor, story, packaging and other marketing techniques. Effective wine marketing can also help to offset seemingly contradictory consumer price expectations, as many consumers believe affordable sparkling wines will be poor quality, while others find their spending power adversely impacted by trends in inflation. 

Ultimately, true Champagne from France remains the category benchmark for sparkling wines, carrying a high degree of consumer confidence. Competing with this level of brand recognition can certainly pose a variety of challenges for California vintners who must also contend with consumer confusion about often complex terminology. Investing in marketing strategies that play to the unique strengths of California producers and appeal to the real-time interests of domestic consumers can help to offset these challenges and drum up excitement about the changing face of sparkling wine. 

Future Outlook: What Comes Next?

California sparkling wine is moving into its next chapter and rapidly gaining momentum thanks to a combination of creativity, consumer education and cultural shifts. In the years ahead, we can expect to see:

• A need for locally-produced wine products to offset the impact of inflation and new import tariffs 
• Deeper integration with wine tourism and tasting experiences
• An increase in influencer marketing to increase brand recognition and reshape wine trends for younger audiences
• Growth in sparkling wine subscription models, demand for canned wine products and interest in natural, sustainable alternatives 
• Exploration of lesser-known varietals like Chenin Blanc or Grüner Veltliner to help set vineyards apart in a crowded market 

As the sparkling wine market continues to explode, California wine-makers can keep their fingers on the pulse of consumer preferences and expectations to more effectively meet the moment and deliver more personalized, responsive wine experiences to wine enthusiasts of all ages. 

Final Thoughts

The California sparkling wine trend is more than a passing fad. Real-time data from Tastewise shows social media buzz around sparkling wine is at an all-time high and foodservice teams have an unprecedented opportunity to marry this demand with a cultural shift towards innovative, natural, and locally produced products. 

With its ability to balance tradition and experimentation, California sparkling wine is redefining what American wine can be and inviting new consumers into what previously felt like an inaccessible wine experience reserved for only elite wine drinkers. Whether you’re sipping a Pet-Nat from a can or savoring a vintage cuvée under the stars, one thing is clear: the future of sparkling wine is bright and bubbly, just like the state of California as a whole.