Michael Cruse may have first risen to fame due to his über-cult Ultramarine sparkling wine — now recognised by many as the best sparkling wine from California — but behind the scenes, in various projects where he held winemaking responsibilities, he was already proving his talent beyond bubblies.

Eventually he could no longer resist the urge to launch his own project, so in 2013, Michael launched his eponymous Cruse Wine Co. winery to craft fruit-driven and satisfying wines that are pleasurable, affordable, balanced and unabashedly Californian.

That said, Michael knew he didn’t want to create another Pinot Noir or Cabernet. He did a little vineyard sleuthing and found inspiration in varieties such as Valdiguié, Tannat, Muscat, Carignan and Saint Laurent. He started making a range of single-vineyard still wines from these grapes, as well as several sparkling wines (pét-nats and traditional method) that are fresh, vibrant and racy. Coming from a family that has called California home for many generations, the roots of the Northern California Coast run deep within Michael. He pays homage to his heritage by focusing on sites within Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Contra Costa Counties to create these highly original wines.

Michael Cruse

As a person, Michael Cruse is a sincere, humble, kind-hearted geeky guy-next-door you want to hang out with. (The fact that he happens to make delicious wines you want to drink all the time only makes it easier to do so.) Little wonder that in a few short years, he has crafted a stellar reputation as one of the brightest new beacons coming out of California. And the accolades are still streaming in.

While California has secured its (well-deserved) fame with popular international varieties, we have always felt that these classical archetypes are more reserved than the exuberant voice of Cruse’s wines when it comes to expressing the quintessential California culture which prizes individuality, freedom, creativity and a neverending quest for progress.

At Cruse Wine Co., Michael makes highly aromatic whites and vibrant juicy reds that articulate their varieties and sites without pretense. They hark back to the original California wine, authentic and resplendent with the golden state’s sun-drenched fruit, but charged with an unrestrained vivacity rarely found in mainstream examples. Michael doesn’t believe in over-engineering things in the winery. He follows very basic processes in his winemaking, with no additives other than a smidgen of sulphur to protect the wine in transit. The goal is make honest wines which are just really good wines: expressive, lip-smacking and relatively affordable. In his own words, these wines are “Mom-approved”.

As always, Michael Cruse presents a set of highly original wines that really stand apart for their originality. — Antonio Galloni Michael Cruse, the enfant terrible of West Coast viticulture after winning Winemaker of the Year in 2016, has now turned his sights to champagne and lesser known grapes as he rounds the corner into a respectably long career. — “2018’s Wine Influencer”, Nob Hill Gazette

We greet the news of every new release from Cruse with great anticipation, and this is not simply because our Cruse shelf has usually been empty for months prior. Having had the privilege of representing Cruse Wine Co. since its debut vintage, we’ve witnessed how Michael’s wines have grown through the years in terms of finesse and clarity of expression, all without sacrificing their greatest virtue: instant likeability.

This new collection is especially exciting because it reintroduces a wine genre that showcases Michael’s most special talent: making traditional method (or méthode champenoise) sparkling wines.

Taste the Tradition or Blanc de Noirs blind and it’s almost impossible to feel that we are not in Champagne. This is not to heap blind praise on Champagne’s sparklers at the neglect of others; rather, it shows how much more room for growth there is in the quality of California sparkling winemaking. It also highlights that with these new releases, Michael single-handedly has shown that it is possible to make California sparkling wine that can rival the best grower Champagnes. To put it another way, with these sparkling wines, Michael has just brought the Ultramarine experience to the rest of us — though it’s worth bearing in mind that the production is still rather tiny.

I had the idea of taking grower Champagne techniques and applying them to California […] I became obsessive about that process and making the most terroir-driven, traditional sparkling wines in California… — Michael Cruse

These beauties are now in stock. The offer is valid until 24 December 2020. Orders will be processed subject to remaining availability and final written confirmation. Full payment is required no later than 7 days after confirmation invoice has been sent to confirm the order. No further discount. All terms and conditions apply.