Domaine Ste. Michelle sparkling wines are crafted with great care.  Though our grapes are harvested in Washington and our wines are crafted in Washington, we use traditional terminology to identify our wines to reflect the tradition drawn on in their creation.

Extra Dry vs. Brut

Right below the words "Domaine Ste. Michelle" you'll find the style of the wine.  The style indicates whether the wine is dry or sweet.  But beware, history has made it so styles are not as they seem.  Our "Extra Dry" wine is actually the sweetest!  Legend has it that the French engaged in a bit of trickery in the mid-nineteenth century.  The British were known for their love of sweet wine.  Seeing potential, French winemakers began making their "Extra Dry" wines sweeter to catch the British palate and trick it into thinking they'd like their wines drier.  That bit of creative marketing became part of historical tradition.

Blanc de Blancs vs. Blanc de Noirs

If you see either our "Blanc de Blancs" or "Blanc de Noirs" wines, those names are referring to the type of grapes used.  Blanc de Blancs is generally made from Chardonnay grapes.  Blanc de Noirs is made from the red Pinot Noir grape, giving it a rosy color.