Beyond the Boardroom Kyle Altomare, winemaker at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
What has surprised you the most about being a winemaker? The lessons it has taught me. You must be humble and patient. Wine is such a humbling substance to work with because you get to witness firsthand how Mother Nature is really the one in control, no matter what you think. You learn to work in harmony with what’s going on rather than fighting it. It’s what makes it so fun—you must always be on your toes. During the winemaking process, how do you decide on the flavor profile? There really is no recipe or set of rules that you must follow. We strive to make wines that show unique characteristics, a sense of place and an individual personality. In sparkling, we very rarely have a single wine that is whole; that’s the beauty created through blending and crafting wines with distinct personalities. You can bring several pieces and parts to the puzzle that on their own wouldn’t seem to fit and organize them in such a way that it creates something memorable. What characteristics can we expect from the 2025 harvest? Intensity. Now that things are starting to show their personalities as fermentation finishes, we’re seeing very densely flavored wines coming out of the fermenters. They strike this great balance between power and finesse, which is a rarity. Usually, wines exhibit one or the other, but this year we have been blessed with both. Do you have a favorite food and sparkling wine pairing? My first favorite is aged blanc de blancs with ribeye steak. A lot of people raise their eyebrows when I say that, but it’s such a harmonious pairing because the sparkling has enough acid to cut through the fat, and you get a touch of sweetness from the aged character of the wine—it keeps you coming back bite after bite. My second is sparkling wine and popcorn with truffle salt. The earthy notes coming from the truffle and the balance between the salty/sweet characteristics of sparkling truly make the flavors sing. What was your reaction when Gloria Ferrer was finally awarded full organic certification? Gratitude. So many hands went into making this possible, and it is great to have the recognition. For us, it’s important to continue to take care of this land and preserve it for generations to come so that everyone gets a chance to experience what makes this place so special. It starts with the land, and it’s elevated by the people. If you had to move across the country tomorrow, where would you go? Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes [New York]. It’s one of my favorite regions to visit, the wines are great and it’s so relaxing. Plus, there’s something oddly peaceful about being snowed in with a bottle of sparkling next to the fire. Who should play you in a movie about your life? Brett Goldstein. He’s such a great actor, I absolutely loved watching him [as Roy Kent] in Ted Lasso, with a gruff exterior, but underneath is someone so passionate about not only what he does, but also his team. W hen considering a career change from the world of education, Kyle Altomare thought to himself: “[I’ve] never heard anyone say, ‘I used to be a winemaker.’” And it absolutely helped that, growing up, Altomare’s parents would plan family trips to wine country. Altomare didn’t initially pursue the wine industry after graduating from Sonoma State University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts with a focus in history. He began his journey into the world of wine in 2012 as a Wine Club Coordinator for Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery and quickly moved up to Cellar Lead in 2013 at Westwood Winery. Flash forward to 2025, Altomare is the winemaker at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards. “I was so enamored [with the wine industry] and to see such a great sense of community and collaboration, it was something that felt right,” says Altomare. The team at Gloria Ferrer continues to put innovation at the forefront to preserve the legacy of excellence José and Gloria Ferrer established when the winery opened in 1986. This year, Gloria Ferrer was awarded its full organic certification—by the California Certified Organic Farmers—and celebrated by harvesting its first batch of certified organic grapes. To hear more about Gloria Ferrer and Altomare’s winemaking process, head to gloriaferrer.com. By Rosie Padilla
58 NorthBaybiz
October 2025
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