A Legacy to Share
For over 50-years, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has defined Sonoma County excellence by producing award-winning wines of the highest caliber from mountain and valley vineyards throughout the region. As a 100% Certified Sustainable winery, we are committed to nurturing and preserving the splendor of our natural environment for future generations to enjoy. We invite you to share in our legacy.
Our Roots Are in Sonoma
For over 50 years, the wines of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards have reflected the finest mountain and valley vineyards in Sonoma County. Our founder, Joe Martin, fell in love with Sonoma Valley and established St. Francis Vineyard in 1971, planting 22 acres of Chardonnay and the first 60 acres of Merlot in Sonoma Valley. After achieving great success as a grower, Joe opened his own winery in 1979 with his business partner Lloyd Canton.
Our first winemaker, Tom Mackey, joined St. Francis in 1983 and was renowned for elevating both the quality and style of Sonoma Merlot as an ultra-premium, stand-alone varietal. He also cultivated an in-depth understanding of every Sonoma appellation, enabling us to acquire and develop new vineyards and expand our wine portfolio.
In 1988 St. Francis partnered with the Kopf family, long admired for their historic family legacy in the wine and spirits industry and a commitment to quality. That legacy began in 1933 upon the repeal of prohibition when Rudy Kopf founded the wine and spirits department of Macy’s Department Store in New York, turning it into what was then one of the finest wine and spirits retailers in the country. He later established his own wine and spirits company, now owned by his three daughters.
Today, a new generation of winemakers, Katie Madigan and Chris Louton, continues our long tradition of luscious, elegant, fruit-driven wines from Sonoma County grapes. We farm more than 380 acres of Certified Sustainable estate vineyards in Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley, each with varying compositions of loam, clay and volcanic soils. We also nurture long-term relationships with top Sonoma County grape growers, giving the Winery access to some of the region’s most coveted old vines Zinfandel and other varietals from acclaimed vineyards.
St. Francis is a Certified Sustainable, family-owned Winery, and we have worked throughout our history to preserve Sonoma County’s natural resources. The state-of-the art Winery we built in 1999 includes a 457-kilowatt solar energy system, and we have been recognized for our work to conserve nearby creeks and waterways. Preserving Sonoma County for future generations is very much a part of who we are, what we do, and how we run our business.
Our Winery and stunning mission-style Tasting Room is in the heart of Sonoma Valley surrounded by estate vineyards. The bell tower houses a 1,000-pound bronze bell cast by the Marinelli Foundry in Italy. It chimes every hour and can be heard throughout the valley.
Our commitment to showcase the best of Sonoma extends to our Tasting Room, which pairs our award-winning wines with the most breathtaking view in Sonoma Valley, and to our ZAGAT-recommended Wine & Food Pairing, which has earned worldwide praise from legions of fans and was voted “#1 in America” in 2013 and 2015 by Open Table diners. In 2012, we planted a 2-acre Estate Garden, giving our chef access to fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs grown steps away from our kitchen, and giving our guests an unforgettable, farm-to-table Wine & Food Pairing experience in the heart of Sonoma Valley.
Meet the Team
Katie drives St. Francis’ long tradition of creating high quality wines from Sonoma County grapes. She oversees production of St. Francis Winery’s top selling Zinfandels, Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays as well as many of our other popular white wines.
Chris oversees production of our Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals, as well as our popular Sauvignon Blanc. His goal is to create wines that are approachable, yet compelling, and always a true expression of Sonoma County.
Jake farms our four Estate vineyards with a focus on fruit quality and sustainability. A recognized leader in “green” viticulture, Jake assisted in revising the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices, which sets standards for sustainable practices in the wine industry.
Peter proudly leads the culinary programs at St. Francis Winery including its illustrious Winemaker Dinners, seasonal Estate Pairings, and its ever-popular and Nationally acclaimed, multi-course Wine & Food Pairing. Peter’s culinary oversight also includes the Winery’s 2-acre organic vegetable and herb gardens, providing fresh and accessible ingredients to support these programs.
Rick believes it is imperative to “work hard and have fun doing it.” His strategic approach to business is to empower collaborative leadership and establish clear objectives and tactical action plans for constant improvement and growth. His team approach along with his pursuit of consistent development is perfectly aligned with the driving force behind St. Francis’ dedication to excellence.
Bob’s vast work experience has been a great asset to the St. Francis team. Bob drives the strategic business goals into clear tactical actions and runs the operating side of the business. Bob has always been on the forefront of cultivating a work culture defined as friendly and positive supported by ownership, teamwork and a drive for excellence. In 2011, Bob was named Leading CFO of the North Bay by the North Bay Business Journal.
