It was a picture-perfect Sonoma evening for the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Gloria Ferrer Winery. The winery opened its doors to a vibrant gathering of wine club members and select media guests, and I was thrilled to be invited.
The celebration began in the tasting room lobby, where we were greeted with a crisp, refreshing glass of Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blancs or Rosé. Outside on the terrace, a stunning array of passed and station appetizers awaited us.
Gloria Ferrer Winery – Steeped in Romance
The winery’s history is steeped in both international heritage and romance. It was founded in 1986 by José Ferrer and his wife, Gloria, who immigrated from Barcelona, Spain, to Sonoma County. Enchanted by the beauty of the land, Gloria and José decided to start a winery focused on crafting premier California sparkling wine—a natural step given their family roots in Freixenet S.A., Spain’s famous Cava producer. José named the winery in honor of his wife, Gloria.
Today, the winery is part of the global Henkell-Freixenet Group. This international sparkling wine powerhouse encompasses everything from German Sekt and Italian Prosecco to Spanish Cava, alongside prestigious still wine estates such as Germany’s Schloss Johannisberg.
New Leadership with Melanie Schafer
Despite its global reach, the heart of Gloria Ferrer remains distinctly personal. As we took in sweeping views of the sunlit vineyards, General Manager Melanie Schafer warmly welcomed the crowd. Appointed GM two years ago, she has implemented many positive changes at the winery, placing a strong emphasis on innovation, customer experience, and employee development.
“In a testament to innovation, today, Gloria Ferrer crafts over 27 distinct sparkling wines,” she reported. “This evening, you will have an opportunity to taste some of our very best and most historic wines.”
Throughout the evening, Schafer emphasized the vital role of every team member, calling out several employees by name—a true testament to her inspiring leadership.
An Unforgettable Dinner in the Cellar
Following the reception, guests were invited down a winding staircase into the cellar, which had been transformed into an enchanting, candlelit space for the evening. Two long communal tables accommodated around 200 guests beneath glowing ceilings and delicate grapevine light projections.
The five-course pairing menu was a triumph, headlined by a truly rare treat: a pouring of the winery’s original premier vintage—the 1986 Carneros Cuvée.
- Amuse-Bouche: Ahi Tuna Poke with avocado and ponzu, paired with the Gloria Ferrer 40th Anniversary Blend. The pairing was light, vibrant, and perfectly lifted the rich tuna.
- Second Course: Plum Salad with Gorgonzola, toasted pecans, and a red onion vinaigrette, paired with the Gloria Ferrer 2022 Royal Cuvée Rosé. Named in honor of the visit of the King and Queen of Spain to Gloria Ferrer in 1987, this exquisite rosé’s bright red fruit danced against the tang of the Gorgonzola and onion, creating a harmonious symphony of flavor.
- Third Course (The Highlight): Miso-Glazed Black Cod with scallion butter and steamed bok choy, paired with the historic Gloria Ferrer 1986 Carneros Cuvée. This was a transcendent pairing—the rich, nutty, aged profile of the sparkling wine complemented the savory miso cod seamlessly.
- Main Course: Roasted Bistro Fillet served with squash and radish, paired with the Gloria Ferrer 2024 L-Block Pinot Noir. While the steak was cooked to perfection, the young Pinot Noir faced tough competition following the iconic 1986 Cuvée!
- Dessert: Vanilla Cream Puff with toffee sauce, paired with the Gloria Ferrer 2006 Royal Cuvée. The aged Royal Cuvée displayed incredible depth, structure, and complexity—proving that Sonoma County sparkling wines can age with grace.
Winemaker Kyle Altomare Describes the Magic of Autolysis
Later in the evening, Melanie introduced Director of Winemaking Kyle Altomare, whose path to the top role is as fascinating as it is impressive. Lacking a traditional degree in enology, Altomare worked his way up through cellar positions across various wineries before taking the helm at Gloria Ferrer in 2023.
Over dinner, he spoke passionately about the wines, grape blends, and bottle-aging techniques. When I spoke with him about extended autolysis, his eyes lit up with excitement.
Autolysis occurs while the wine ages in the bottle; it is the process in which dead yeast cells (lees) slowly break down over time. This imparts complex, toasted, nutty flavors and a creamier mouthfeel to the sparkling wine. Generally, the longer a wine stays on the lees, the more complex it becomes and the finer its bubbles are.
“Extended autolysis is instrumental to building complexity in our wines,” Kyle explained. “The microbiology that happens in the bottle—with the yeast slowly consuming the grape sugar and creating lees—is fascinating.”
An Evening of Connection and Celebration
Throughout the evening, the camaraderie was palpable. Guests shared stories of their long-standing connections to the winery, with many devoted Wine Club members traveling from Sacramento, San Francisco, and beyond to attend.
Representatives from the Fairmont Hotel Group were also in attendance, celebrating their ongoing partnership featuring Gloria Ferrer wines across their California properties.
Gloria Ferrer Wine Tasting Highlights
- Gloria Ferrer 1986 Carneros Cuvée: Given that this wine was 40 years old and the very first vintage crafted at Gloria Ferrer, tasting it was a rare privilege. The color was a deep golden yellow with delicate amber-orange reflections. On the nose, it was wonderfully complex and savory, showing notes of umami, toasted nuts, warm caramel, and a hint of aged Madeira or Oloroso sherry. On the palate, the wine remained surprisingly vibrant for its age. While the effervescence had softened into a gentle, silky prickle, the core acidity was remarkably fresh and alive, evocative of a mature white Burgundy with subtle nutty undertones. Paired with the Miso-Glazed Black Cod, the bright residual acidity cut through the fish’s richness while the savory umami notes melded together seamlessly. A truly historic tasting experience!
- Gloria Ferrer 40th Anniversary Cuvée: Crafted specifically for this milestone, this limited bottling is composed of 67% Chardonnay and 33% Pinot Noir sourced from their organically farmed vineyards and aged 18 months on the lees. It filled my flute with a vibrant green-gold color with an energetic bead of bubbles. The nose offered delicate floral aromas accompanied by fresh citrus zest and green apple. The palate was zippy, refreshing, and bright, filled with tart green apple and fresh lime zest framed by crisp, mouthwatering acidity—an invigorating sparkler that showcases both the heritage and the bright future of Gloria Ferrer.
