Paula Kornell

California sparkling wine made by the traditional Méthode Champenoise.

Paula Kornell produces sparkling wine in California using the traditional Méthode Champenoise. The winery's Blanc de Noir Méthode Champenoise, crafted from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, demonstrates the precision required of the method: a wine of structure and refinement that has earned recognition from Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, and Wine Advocate. The blend captures the tension between Pinot Noir's red-fruit character and Chardonnay's acidity and minerality—a pairing fundamental to sparkling winemaking. California's cool regions provide the conditions necessary for this style: high acidity and moderate alcohol that allow extended aging on the lees, the hallmark of méthode champenoise production. The result is a wine marked by complexity and fine bubbles rather than immediate fruit expression.