Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves

Gloria Ferrer, the grande dame of Sonoma Valley's sparkling-wine producers, is named after José Ferrer's wife, whose family has made sparkling wine for 5 centuries. The family business, Freixenet, is the world's largest producer of sparkling wine. That legacy amounts to big bucks, and certainly a good chunk of change went into building this palatial estate. It glimmers like Oz, high atop a gently sloping hill, overlooking the verdant Carneros District. On a sunny day, enjoying a glass of dry brut while soaking in the magnificent views is a must.

If you're unfamiliar with the term méthode champenoise, take the $10 tasting and 30-minute tour of the fermenting tanks, bottling line, and caves brimming with racks of yeast-laden bottles. Afterward, retire to the elegant tasting room, order a glass of one of seven sparkling wines ($5-$10 a glass) or tastes of their eight still wines ($2-$3 per taste), find an empty chair on the veranda, and say, "Ahhh. This is the life." There are picnic tables, but it's usually too windy for comfort. You must buy a bottle (from around $20-$50) or glass of sparkling wine to reserve a table.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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