Iron Horse Vineyards is in Green Valley, a part of Sonoma County. The estate was founded in 1976 by Audrey and Barry Sterling, a husband-and-wife team with extensive legal and political careers in Washington D.C., California and Europe. In 1976 the couple decided to turn their love of wine into a family project. They bought the estate, which today includes 160 acres of vineyards planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Iron Horse remains a family affair, with daughter Joy Sterling and son Laurence Sterling running the company. Given the years the family spent living in France, it is perhaps no surprise that Iron Horse is best known for its sparkling wines, which have been served at numerous historic events at the White House. Iron Horse usually makes up to 10 sparkling wines, which frequently earn ratings in the mid-to-high 90s from wine reviewers including Robert M. Parker Jr. and Wine Enthusiast.