From Gloria Ferrer Wines

Owned by the Ferrer family, whose wine experience is rooted in 19th century Spain, our winery is a vibrant blend of Catalan and California mission design. We cultivate fruit for our premium quality sparkling and still wines in our 335 acres of estate vineyards distinguished by warm days, cool nights, summer fog and a long growing season that coaxes grapes to maturity slowly and consistently, with balanced sugar and acidity. Our Vineyard Manager Mike Crumly and Winemaker Bob Iantosca, both of whom have worked for Gloria Ferrer from its inception, have devoted more than two decades to identifying the diverse soil types, microclimates and specific needs of every vine in their care.

In 1991, inspired by the quality and character of our estate fruit, we began crafting still wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In subsequent years, our winegrowing team meticulously matched dozens of clones to the diverse growing conditions in our estate vineyards with their sights on the highest quality grapes with more intense flavors and characteristics. As pioneers of sparkling wine-based clonal research, we have studied more than 40 different clones to date. Today, this longtime and dynamic relationship of discovery with the land is revealed in balanced wines of earth and opulence.

Gloria Ferrer is located in the picturesque Sonoma Carneros region, 40 miles northwest of San Francisco. Our winery’s sun-drenched Vista Terrace overlooks breathtaking estate vineyards—providing the perfect place to enjoy a glass of sparkling or still wine with the savory Spanish and local cheeses, meats, almonds and other delicacies that are available from our tasting room.

Our tasting room is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with wine service available until 4:45 pm. For more information, please call us at (707) 933-1917.

Gloria Ferrer Wines
23555 Carneros Hwy. 121 (also called Arnold Drive)
Sonoma, Ca. 95476
(707) 996-7256
Gloria Ferrer Wines

Submitted by:
Paul Shad
Travel Destinations from Information Resource Network

From Artesia Vinyards & Winery

Artesa is dedicated to handcrafting small lots of ultra-premium still wines. From the finest vineyards and foremost appellations for each variety, Artesa creates several stylistically distinct bottlings. Style by appellation is central to our winemaking philosophy.

We handcraft wines from single vineyard blocks, treating them individually and keeping them separate throughout the winemaking process. Only the best lots become Artesa wines.

In addition to our Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc) and Burgundy (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir) programs, Artesa has exciting "experimental" wines in the works. We're constantly exploring winemaking techniques and different wines, including Albariño, Tempranillo, Syrah, Pinot Blanc, Garnacha Rosado, late harvest Gewürztraminer and high-end bubbly.

At Artesa Vineyards & Winery, everything begins in the vineyards. Our winemaker realizes the value of meticulous farming practices.

Much as a chef is limited by the quality, freshness and diversity of raw ingredients, winemakers can never improve the quality of the grapes brought to the winery. They can only strive to maintain it.

With that in mind, our winemaker applies his experience to secure the most outstanding vineyards in the foremost appellations for each variety we produce. Our sources include California's best – the Alexander Valley, Carneros, Foss Valley, Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley.

Central to our winemaking philosophy is that "our roots are in Carneros, but our reach is long." Sure, our winery and estate vineyards are located in one of the best places on earth to grow (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; but that doesn't mean we have to limit ourselves to making two wines.

We have a multi-appellation strategy. We obtain grapes from the best appellations for growing each variety, and from some of the finest growers in California as well as our own estate vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Counties. And those vineyards and appellations give us wines with unique and distinctive styles.

So the odds are great that you will like at least one of our four Pinot Noirs, for example. Or you may like them all. Be assured each wine will be well-made, just different.

Artesa Vinyards & Winery
1345 Henry Road
Napa, CA 94559
707.224.1668
http://www.artesawinery.com/index1.html

Submitted by:
Paul Shad
Travel Destinations from the Information Resource Network