Freixenet -  Sant Sadurni d'Anoia, Spain

History

The most oft-popped corks in the world say “Freixenet” and it all began with a wedding. Through the marriage of Dolores Sala Vivé of Casa Sala and Pedro Ferrer Bosch of La Freixeneda, two winemaking families merged to lay the groundwork for this famous cava house in the early twentieth century.

By the 1920s, the family’s flagship sparkling wines were experiencing great success domestically and internationally as Spain’s cava industry got off the ground. Business was booming until the start of Spain’s Civil War, during which time the family suffered the loss of both patriarch Pedro Ferrer and his oldest son. With great determination the widowed Dolores Sala Vivé took over Freixenet in order to provide for her four young children.

As Dolores used her enological prowess to nurture the fledgling company, her children grew with it, working in the family business while living in a small apartment above the winery. In 1978, her oldest living son, José Ferrer, became CEO. A sharp, savy marketer, José’s direction took the company to new heights. Now semi-retired, José’s son Pedro, a fourth generation Ferrer, now runs the multi-national operation. Under his guidance, the Freixenet company continues to expand by purchasing wine estates in some of the world’s most prominent appellations.