Celebrating All Things Catalan at Gloria Ferrer
Sadly a trip to Spain was not to be realized this summer. Fortunately, Gloria Ferrer transported me to Barcelona through their annual Catalan Festival. The two-day celebration had everything I needed to feel like I was in Spain: paella, flamenco, music and vino.
This was the 20th annual celebration of Spanish culture for Gloria Ferrer, a pioneer in Sonoma’s Carneros Region and producer of California sparkling wine for over 25 years. As we sat on the patio overlooking the vineyards, sipping champagne and dining on Spanish tapas, I couldn’t have been happier.
Wine-tasting workshops, Cava cocktail-making classes, cooking demonstrations, flamenco, and haunting Spanish guitar melodies were just a few of the activities. One of the traditions in Spain is the “Gegants” paraded through the crowd, in this case, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. As they made their way into the gathering, they floated, twirled, and added a measure of formality to the gathering.
Flamenco performances with singers, dancers and musicians entertained the guests who sipped sparkling wine under the tent, escaping the sun’s rays. Later teams competed in a grape-stomping competition. Giant pans of paella simmered in the courtyard while hungry guests lined up to get their fill of the spicy dish.
Meanwhile during the wine tasting, we learned about the traditional method for making champagne, wine regions of Spain, and sampled some of the family’s Spanish wines.
In addition to the sparkling wine, Gloria Ferrer also makes estate varietal wines. Tastings are held in the tasting room or on the terrace overlooking their estate vineyards. Being a wine club member has its privileges, with discounts on purchases, and on tickets to the Catalan Festival and special members-only events. They offer tours and tasting daily.
Details: Gloria Ferrer is located in Carneros Region of Sonoma at 23555 Carneros Hwy. 121. They are open daily for tours and tasting. They were recommended in National Geographic’s Best Trips of 2012 and featured in Wine Spectator Exploring Sonoma Guide.