Founded in 1982, Roederer Estate is nestled in Mendocino County’s cool, fog-shrouded Anderson Valley. As the California property of Champagne Louis Roederer, Roederer Estate builds upon a centuries-old tradition of fine winemaking. Among the very few California sparkling wine houses that only sources estate-grown fruit, Roederer Estate is also meticulous about all its farming decisions. The winemaking process begins with in-depth knowledge of the Estate soils to introduce open lyre trellis system or high density plantation, extends to the decision to farm vineyards organically and biodynamically, and finishes by painstakingly tracking grape maturity to achieve perfect balance at harvest.

Apple Alley Vineyard, along with our Clark Road Vineyard bottling, is intended to reflect what lies at the core of Roederer Estate philosophy: deep knowledge of our family owned vineyards and careful craftmanship of site-specific wines. These single-vineyard releases showcase an important sense of place and the full expression of the fruit in its terroir.

Apple Alley is the nickname given to the dirt road that winds up from the winery deep into the vineyard situated above Roederer Estate. The land formerly contained a large apple orchard, and the trees along the dirt road are the last remnants of the original plantings, with some nearing 100 years in age. The 2021 Apple Alley Vineyard was partially fermented in casks (22%) and with a small amount of reserve wine aged in casks (3%) to give the Roederer Estate family touch. It was disgorged in March 2025, after 36 months on the yeast.

Delicate oak and pastry crust aromatics are highlights of the cask-fermented fraction of the wine. Taut on entry, this vintage displays green apple flavors, textured oak aromatics and vibrant acidity. The wine feels bright for a Blanc de Blancs style, showing purity and a long, focused finish. The Extra Brut dosage will help the 2021 Apple Alley Vineyard Sparkling age beautifully.

The 2021 growing season was a repeat of the previous year, with drought conditions affecting the entire valley. There was a frost in the spring, but fortunately fruit losses were limited. Our usual Anderson Valley summer fog was often absent. Berry size was below average, and the overall yield was one of the lowest on record. Small berries led to the concentration of flavors and high acidity at the onset of harvest. The drought conditions and lack of fog led to elevated sugar levels and ripeness in grapes picked near the end of harvest. Overall, the resulting wines are of high quality and have excellent aging potential.