Korbel Champagne, California: Wine Styles, 10 Best Bottles, Prices (2024)

Korbel Champagne Cellars is a globally renowned winery that produces sizzling sparkling wines and brandy. 

Interestingly, its effervescent Korbel California Champagnes have been served at seven US presidential inaugurations.

No surprise, these “California Champagnes” have also scooped tonnes of awards at major wine competitions. For example, the Korbel Brut Rose was awarded 97 points and a double gold certification at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.  Check out a quick intro to the Korbel winery, the wine styles, the 10 best bottles to buy now, and food pairings.

A Quick Intro To The Korbel Winery

Korbel Champagne Cellars was founded in 1882 by three Korbel brothers. This winery is based in Guerneville, California, and is a division of the F Korbel Brothers, Inc.

Adolph Heck bought the winery in 1954 and ramped up its annual wine production. The winery went from selling 150,000 cases to around 1.3 million cases annually by 2011 - making it one of the USA’s largest wine producers.

The Korbel winery is well-known for its incredible sparkling wines made using the traditional Champagne method (méthode champenoise.) Interestingly, it also produces the Korbel Brandy, which is famous in Wisconsin, USA. 

Korbel Champagne Wine Styles

The famous Korbel Champagne Cellars produces these wine styles:

1. Korbel Sweet Cuvée
2. Korbel Brut
3. Korbel Extra Dry
4. Korbel Brut Rosé
5. Korbel Sweet Rosé
6. Korbel Brut Organic
7. Korbel Natural
8. Korbel Blanc de Noirs
9. Korbel Rouge
10. Korbel Prosecco

1. Korbel Sweet Cuvée

The Korbel Sweet Cuvée wines are made from Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, French Colombard and Muscat Canelli.

They boast a fruit-forward style, crisp sweetness, and a tropical fruit and citrus character.

2. Korbel Brut

The Korbel Brut California Champagne style is made from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, French Colombard, and Pinot Noir.

Korbel Brut wines shine with lively vanilla aromas, citrus fruit flavors, and a balanced, medium-dry finish.

3. Korbel Extra Dry

Korbel Extra Dry wines are made from Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, French Colombard, and Pinot Noir.

These fresh, off-dry wines have a light body and delightful vanilla, citrus, and spice flavors.

4. Korbel Brut Rosé

Korbel Brut Rose wines are made from Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Gamay, Zinfandel, and Chenin Blanc.

These delicate, medium-dry wines have subtle sweetness, red fruit aromas, and bright flavors of strawberry and citrus fruit.

5. Korbel Sweet Rosé

Korbel Sweet Rosé wines are made from Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Gamay, and Chenin Blanc.

They boast raspberry aromas, supple sugar levels, and bright red fruit flavors with vanilla notes.

6. Korbel Brut Organic

Korbel Brut Organic wines are the first California Chamapages made from organic French Colombard, Sangiovese, Chardonnay grapes.

These wines have crisp white peach aromas, a medium-dry finish, and apple flavors with pear notes.

7. Korbel Natural

The Korbel Natural wines are made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in the best vineyards of the Russian River Valley.

They’re very dry and have apple aromas and citrus flavors with red fruit notes.

8. Korbel Blanc de Noirs

These wines are produced from Pinot Noir, Gamay, Zinfandel, and Sangiovese. 

They have red berry aromas, tasting notes of strawberry and raspberry flavors, and a delicate finish.

9. Korbel Rouge

Korbel Rouge is a sparkling red wine style made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes picked from the best vineyards in the Russian River Valley.

These medium-dry wines have intense black fruit aromas, bright tannins, cherry and strawberry flavors, and a herbal character.

10. Korbel Prosecco

Korbel Prosecco wines are made exclusively from Glera grapes.

These alcoholic beverages have subtle sweetness, citrus fruit aromas, and flavors of apple and spice.

10 Best Korbel Champagne Bottles To Buy In 2024

Here are the 10 best Korbel Champagne bottles and their tasting notes:

1. 2011 Korbel Cellars Natural Méthode Champenoise
2. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Organic Brut
3. NV Korbel Cellars Prosecco
4. NV Korbel Cellars Sonoma County California Champagne Rouge
5. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Sweet Cuvee
6. NV Korbel Cellars Blanc de Noirs California Champagne
7. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Sweet Rose
8. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Brut Rose
9. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Brut
10. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Extra Dry

1. 2011 Korbel Cellars Natural Méthode Champenoise ($19)

This sparkling wine boasts lively bubbles, apple aromas, and a citrus flavor with raspberry notes.

2. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Organic Brut ($17)

This luscious Korbel California Champagne shines with incredible effervescence, cinnamon aromas, and crisp flavors of ginger, citrus, pear, and almond. 

3. NV Korbel Cellars Prosecco ($15)

This wine has subtle sweetness, lively aromas of citrus fruit, and an apple flavor with baking spice and lemon curd notes - a perfect treat for any wine enthusiast. 

4. NV Korbel Cellars Sonoma County California Champagne Rouge ($15)

This dry red wine has decent acidity, earthy minerality, strawberry aromas, and spicy fruit flavors. 

5. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Sweet Cuvee ($14)

This sparkling wine bottle from the Korbel winery opens with incredible sweetness, balanced acidity, floral aromas, and crisp flavors of peach and citrus fruit. 

6. NV Korbel Cellars Blanc de Noirs California Champagne ($14)

This Korbel California Champagne has a smooth texture, citrus fruit aromas, crisp acidity, and a vanilla flavor with lime notes.

7. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Sweet Rose ($14)

This pink wine boasts a soft texture, supple sugar levels, cherry aromas, and a sweet strawberry flavor with vanilla notes.

8. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Brut Rose ($13)

This light-bodied sparkling wine offers lively bubbles, red fruit aromas, and spicy fruit flavors with peach notes.

9. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Brut ($13)

This Korbel Brut California Champagne displays remarkable effervescence, medium-bodied richness, lively aromas of stone fruit, subtle sweetness, and citrus flavors. 

10. NV Korbel Cellars California Champagne Extra Dry ($12)

This crisp, light-bodied wine from the Korbel winery offers floral aromas, medium acidity, and a citrus flavor with melon and spice notes. 

Food Pairings With Korbel Champagne

Enjoy Korbel Sweet Cuvée and Extra Dry wines with spicy Asian cuisine, dried fruits, and fruit-based desserts.

Meanwhile, Korbel Brut, Brut Rose, Brut Organic, Brut Natural, and Prosecco complement seafood, cheese, salty snacks, and red meat. The Korbel Sweet Rose, Blanc de Noirs, and Rouge wines match mushrooms, strawberries, pasta, and grilled meat.

Korbel Champagne: A Classy California Sparkling Wine

The lively and vibrant Korbel Champagnes are delicious treats to serve at your New Years celebrations and any special occasion.

However, these alcoholic beverages are meant to be enjoyed young!

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