Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards

Founded in 1986 by the Ferrer family of Barcelona, the house behind Freixenet, Gloria Ferrer chose this fog-swept corner of Carneros because it reminded them of Penedès. Four decades later, the estate remains California's definitive expression of traditional method sparkling wine. The estate carries Gloria's name, and part of her collection of antique sparkling wine glassware is on display. The tasting experience is among the most civilized in Wine Country: Spanish-influenced architecture, a long terrace over the vineyards, and a food pairing program worth the drive.

The estate itself is one of the most architecturally distinctive in the appellation: a Catalan-influenced Spanish hacienda overlooking Carneros vineyards, with a sweeping terrace that fills every afternoon with visitors enjoying food pairings and the signature Sonoma Brut. The tasting program is genuinely serious: the Culinary Journey pairs estate wines with seasonal small plates designed for sparkling, while the Reserve Expedition is a tasting journey through vintage Gloria Ferrer wines. Kyle Altomare's sparkling program draws on 335 estate acres of Carneros Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, among the largest estate-farmed sparkling wine programs in California.