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Article by Mary Orlin with Mercury News

New Year's Eve: Pop a cork on Bay Area bubbly

By MARY ORLIN | morlin@bayareanewsgroup.com
PUBLISHED: December 13, 2016 at 8:00 am | UPDATED: December 13, 2016 at 8:38 pm

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, corks will be popping across the Bay Area. So instead of pouring pricey Champagne, or your go-to Napa or Sonoma sparkling wine, why not celebrate with local bubbly?

There’s never been a better time to sip homegrown festive sparklers. At least 18 Bay Area and Monterey County wineries are producing more than two dozen bubblies these days at prices that range from $15 to $80. Whether you prefer your sparkling wine bone dry, slightly sweet or almond-tinged, there’s an amazing array of local bubbles just right for toasting to a Happy New Year.

Here’s a sampling of possibilities in a handy list ready to take to the wine store. Cheers!

Monterey County...

- McIntyre Vineyards: A clown’s portrait graces this sparkler’s label, done by Santa Barbara artist James Jarvaise’s painting, “L’Homme Qui Ris,” or the man who laughs. McIntyre’s bubbly pinot noir ($36) will bring you joy and laughter, too, with its flavors of lime zest, lemon curd, baked apple and pear, its palate-cleansing acidity and flinty minerality. www.mcintyrevineyards.com"

Read the complete article here!