Gloria Ferrer -  Sonoma, California

History

Opened to the public in 1986, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards in Sonoma, California, has produced some of the world's most honored and acclaimed sparkling wines, winning over 100 gold medals in the last five years.

The search began on the East Coast in the 1930s where José Ferrer's father, Pedro, had an import company in New Jersey. But the Spanish Civil War came and the dream was delayed. Finally, in the 1980s, José took up the search. He found that back East wasn't the best place to grow grapes. He looked to California, where the climate is more Mediterranean.

He visited the wineries that were already here and made friends. He gathered a lot of information and finally found this place— a cow pasture. A young bull charged José and his son as they set foot on the property.

This was in the early 1980s, before the Carneros had become famous for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards. But even then, José knew he had found it, the place he had been searching for.

His would be the first sparkling winery established in the Carneros and the first that visitors coming from San Francisco would see upon entering the wine country.

He also wanted to build a winery that would remind him of his home in Catalonia, Spain. That's why we have red tiles on our roof, thick walls the color of the Spanish plains and the same hacienda-style archways one finds in every town and village in Spain.

He named the wine and winery as a tribute to his wife.

In the Ferrer family, women have always played an important role. José's mother, Dolores, ran their winery in Spain for many years after her husband died in the Spanish Civil War. It's no surprise that José named this winery for Gloria.