Korbel Sec Sparkling Wine
Korbel Sec Sparkling Wine is a 12% ABV sparkling wine in a 750mL bottle — a slightly sweet California sparkler made by the traditional méthode champenoise at F. Korbel & Bros. in Guerneville, Sonoma County, the first 'champagne' the Korbel family created over a century ago, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 750mL
- Sweetness: slightly sweet — NOT dry (despite the name 'Sec')
- Method: méthode champenoise — secondary fermentation, riddling and disgorging in-bottle
- Origin: Guerneville, Sonoma County, California — F. Korbel & Bros., founded 1882
- Grapes: a blend of California-grown grapes, multiple varieties and vintages
California's Original Celebration Wine
Long before 'sparkling wine' was the American term of art, the Korbel brothers were making champagne-method wine in the Russian River Valley — and Sec was their first, a slightly sweet style that predates the house's famous Brut by decades. The method is the real French one: secondary fermentation in the bottle, hand-riddling, disgorging — with grapes picked about two weeks early for crisp, bright fruit. Shop our sparkling wines, browse the Korbel range, or explore other California wines for the table.
Tasting Notes
Delicate and fruit-forward: white peach, pear, and citrus blossom with a soft, creamy mousse from the bottle fermentation. The slight sweetness rounds the acidity rather than dominating it — an easy, crowd-pleasing profile with a clean, bright finish.
How to Enjoy
Well chilled, in flutes, for toasts, brunches, and celebrations — the slight sweetness makes it a natural with fruit, pastries, and spicy food. It's also the friendliest base for mimosas and bellinis on the shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Korbel Sec dry or sweet?
Slightly sweet. Despite the name — 'sec' means medium-dry in French champagne terminology — Korbel's Sec is the family's original slightly sweet style.
Is Korbel champagne?
No — it's a California sparkling wine made by the champagne method. True champagne comes only from France's Champagne region.
How is Korbel made?
By méthode champenoise: the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, followed by riddling and disgorging — the same labor-intensive process as French champagne.
What grapes are in Korbel Sec?
Korbel blends multiple California-grown varieties and vintages for consistency; the exact Sec blend isn't published, so it's best described as a California grape blend.
Pop something historic — order Korbel Sec Sparkling Wine online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.