For over 35 years, St. Francis Winery has produced top quality varietal wines from superior mountain and valley vineyards in Sonoma County's best appellations and earned a reputation for bold-flavored, fruit-forward wines that showcase the terroir and varied microclimates unique to Sonoma.

Since its founding in 1971, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has carried on a constant search for vineyards with unique soil and climate characteristics. Winemaker Tom Mackey, who has been with St. Francis for over 25 years, has cultivated an in-depth understanding of every Sonoma appellation, which he has used to acquire and develop the very best vineyards for the winery over the last several decades.

St. Francis owns 600 acres of prime Sonoma County vineyards - carefully chosen, diverse vineyard sites with varying soil compositions of loam, clay and volcanic soils. St. Francis' estate vineyards give the winery complete control over growing and production; a cornerstone to the winery's quality philosophy.

In addition to owning vineyards in Sonoma's highest quality appellations, St. Francis has carefully nurtured long-term relationships with superlative Sonoma County grape growers that gives the winery access to some of the region's most coveted old vines Zinfandel grapes and other varietals from acclaimed vineyards including Rockpile Vineyard, Amman Ranch, Leras Ranch and the famous Pagani Ranch.

When Mackey began at St. Francis in 1983, there were a handful of wineries in Sonoma and the region struggled to find its identity. St. Francis quickly changed that, pioneering a Sonoma Valley style and leading the way in pinpointing the varietals that were ideally suited to Sonoma soils. Mackey introduced Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel wines, and strengthened St. Francis' commitment to the already-thriving Chardonnay and Merlot wines. The St. Francis moniker quickly became associated with intense, boldly structured red wines.

While most renowned for its red wines-Zinfandel (all from old vines between 60 and 110 years old), Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon-St. Francis also produces a noteworthy Chardonnay. In 2005, St. Francis introduced RED a Sonoma County blend of Merlot, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Syrah and Grenache. The winery recently launched a new ultra premium line of varietal wines, Wild Oak; limited production varietal blends sourced from the best fruit from top vineyard sources in Sonoma County. The Wild Oak wines are hand-crafted in the small winery within the St. Francis Winery (a.k.a. Tom's Winery) and demonstrate St. Francis' most recent quality initiatives.

St. Francis' 35-year history has been one of constant evolution in pursuit of quality and innovation. A new, state-of-the-art winery and barrel building were built recently which along with the estate vineyards have dramatically enhanced St. Francis' winemaking capabilities as well as ensured its longstanding commitment to, and investment in, Sonoma County.


ST. FRANCIS ZINFANDELS

St. Francis released its first "Old Vines" Zinfandel in 1989. The grapes were hand-picked from a 75 year old vineyard in Sonoma County. From what was then a lark to now, we have included Zinfandel into our family of Big Red wines. Twenty-two growers throughout Sonoma County contribute to our Zinfandels. Zinfandel vineyards from Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and Sonoma Valley contribute to our Old Vine Zinfandel program.

Typically, these old vine vineyards are from 50 to 114 years old and extremely labor intensive. Their yields are small, typically from 3 tons down to 1/2 ton per acre. They are head-trained, non-irrigated and from the original Zinfandel clone. Most of the vineyards have some Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grenache and Carignan planted among the Zin vines which add color and texture of the "field blend" wine. Harvest is timed so that when the grapes are picked, some of the clusters have become raisins, resulting in intensified varietal flavors.

St. Francis "Old Vines" Zinfandel
Fruit is sourced from over fourteen vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley and Sonoma Valley. Grapes are hand-picked late in the season, crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks for twelve to eighteen days. The wine is aged in American Oak barrels for fourteen months before bottling. This intensely flavored Zinfandel has ripe black cherries, dense licorice and rich, spicy and toasty oak aromas and flavors that last into a long finish.

Wild Oak Old Vine Zinfandel
A field blend of Zinfandel, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet from six vineyards in three Sonoma County AVAs, including the heralded Pagani Vineyard. The wine is aged in American oak for fourteen months before bottling. A dark hued, full-bodied and intensely flavored Zinfandel with ripe berry fruit aromas, juicy acidity and a long finish.

Pagani Vineyard Zinfandel
A single vineyard Zinfandel made with 100% Pagani Vineyard fruit. Pagani Vineyard is one of the oldest and most acclaimed Zinfandel vineyards in Sonoma County, still owned and managed by decendants of Felice Pagani who purchased the vineyard in 1880. Vines are head trained, dry farmed and hand-picked at the peak of ripeness. Pagani Vineyard Zinfandel is aged for fourteen months in American oak barrels and another year in the bottle before release. This wine displays rich aromas of black cherry and chocolate; with plush wood nuances and a long, full finish. Since its first release in 1994, St. Francis Pagani Vineyard Zinfandel has consistently received ratings of 90 points or higher by wine media.


ST. FRANCIS RED

St. Francis RED
FUN. FLAVOR. STLYE RED from St. Francis Winery & Vineyards blends superior Sonoma fruit, high-quality winemaking and a palatable price in a sophisticated wine. RED was first released in 2005 with the 2002 vintage and quickly gained recognition as a great valued wine for the price. The blend changes with each vintage and is showcased with high design, stylish packaging; 12 great labels, same great wine. 100% Sonoma County fruit with the final blend dependent upon the vintage. RED garners praise from wine press and has been named Best American Wines $15 and Under by Food & Wine Magazine. Full-bodied and full-flavored with ripe, red fruit flavors and spicy aromas on the nose, RED pairs easily with a variety of foods. A great everyday wine that compliments any occasion.


WILD OAK BY ST. FRANCIS

Wild Oak
Wild Oak is a line of limited production, hand-crafted, ultra-premium varietal wines from St. Francis Winery & Vineyards. Wild Oak is the site of St. Francis' Winery in Sonoma Valley, named to honor Sonoma's heritage Oak trees. They are made from grapes that have been hand-picked from small blocs of elite terroir in Sonoma County's most outstanding AVAs. These blocs are farmed for purity and concentration on flavors and are primarily hillside vineyards with very small yields. From these blocs we select the best barrels for potential components for our blending trials. Each vintage is different and so are the blends. St. Francis seeks varietal intensity, purity and an identifiable and consistent style to the wines while at the same time expressing each specific vintage.

Wild Oak Chardonnay is a crisp yet full-bodied Chardonnay that offers plush fruit in a clearly Burgundian context. This wine is 100% Chardonnay from outstanding sections of 5 vineyards in 3 AVAs

Wild Oak Merlot shows lush, rich, full-bodied Merlot character with classic Bordeaux structure. Merlot and small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot comprise the blend with fruit from 3 vineyards in 2 AVAs.

Wild Oak Cabernet Sauvignon shows the complementary qualities of mountainside vineyards in diverse locations. Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Merlot and Malbec to create the blend. Fruit is from 5 vineyards in 2 AVAs.

Wild Oak Syrah is sourced from two Sonoma Valley vineyards with a majority of the fruit coming from the Wild Oak Vineyard. This wine is 100% Syrah with deep purple color, ripe fruit aromas and cherries and plum on the palate.

Wild Oak Old Vine Zinfandel blends ancient fruit 75-110 years old from small family owned vineyards. A field blend of Zinfandel, Syrah and Alicante from 6 vineyards in 3 AVAs contribute intense flavors with ripe berry fruit aromas and juicy acidity to the wine.