Our Heritage
Fulfilling The Dream of Generations
It began with a dream passed from father to son — and the love of a woman who believed in both.
José Ferrer grew up surrounded by the rhythm of harvest and the legacy of his family’s winemaking tradition in Spain. But his heart was set on something bold: bringing the art of traditional method sparkling wine to the New World. He knew this wouldn’t be a journey he could take alone.
When José met Gloria, he found not just a partner, but a true match — a woman of strength, grace, and curiosity. Gloria shared his love of wine, his sense of adventure, and the conviction that tradition could find new expression in California’s rugged beauty.
Together, they crossed oceans and planted roots in Carneros, where the cool breezes and rolling hills reminded them of home. What began as a shared dream became a pioneering legacy — one that lives on in every bottle of Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine.
A Leap of Faith
In the early 1980s, José and Gloria ventured from Barcelona, Spain to Sonoma, California in search of the ultimate region to make sparkling wine. At that time the Northern California wine “business” was early in its history, having only been put on the map with the infamous Judgement of Paris in 1976. For José and Gloria to venture to Sonoma was a leap of faith, especially given their desire to establish what would be the first sparkling wine estate in the region.
They settled upon Carneros and began to build the estate and prepare the land for planting. This process would take over 5 years. In 1984, the first 50 acres were planted and the winery building was completed and opened in 1986. Today, the estate boasts over 300 planted acres.
What’s In A Name?
In the 80’s it was a commonplace practice to name wine estates and wineries after “the man of the household”. However, in recognition of their partnership and love for each other and life’s adventures, José dismissed this tradition, opting to name the estate and winery after Gloria.
Gloria’s influence can be seen throughout the property, particularly in the main winery buildings and gardens. Her elegance and gracefulness are represented in the art, as well as her passion for collecting antique sparkling glassware from around the world. A portion of her collection is on display at the estate. Gloria was also known for her approachability. Always ready to welcome people to the estate, she greatly influenced our approach to hospitality – treating everyone as they would want to be treated – as a good friend.
Respecting Tradition While Forging Innovation
Today, an integrated approach fuels everything we do with the intent to create sparkling wines as close to brilliant as humanly possible. We constantly ask ourselves, “what should we be doing for the health of our employees, the land, the air, the vines, the grapes, and the wines.”
Rooted in Our Estate
Everyone who cares for our estate is part of the Gloria Ferrer team—from the people who tend our vineyards and gardens to those who craft our wines and welcome guests. Many have been with us for decades, building an intimate knowledge of this land that can only come with time.
Across our estate vineyards, time-honored farming practices work alongside modern innovation. Livestock naturally supports weed control and soil health, insectary plantings encourage beneficial insects, and thoughtful pruning respects the natural rhythm of the vine. Precision irrigation, detailed aerial mapping, and spore monitoring allow us to farm with greater accuracy and a lighter touch.
That same sense of care continues in the cellar. Our winemaking team takes a thoughtful, gentle approach to revealing the distinctive character of Carneros, crafting Pinot Noir-driven sparkling wines defined by texture, complexity, and nuance. From vineyard to bottle, every decision is guided by the people who know our estate best—and by our responsibility to leave it even better for the generations that follow.