St. Francis Winery
100 Pythian Rd. at Highway 12, Santa Rosa, CA
Website: http://www.stfranciswinery.com/
There are times when I visit a winery that I immediately feel a connection to the place. There may not be one particular aspect of the winery that stands out above the rest, but the overall ambiance draws me in. St. Francis Winery is one of those places. The winery and vineyards are located in the southern end of Sonoma Valley on Highway 12 in the same vicinity as Kenwood, Chateau St. Jean, and Ledson. The backdrop of the winery provides a gorgeous view of Hood Mountain. From the parking lot, a stone walkway leads to the mission style Visitor Center. The most distinguishing feature is the bell tower located above the entryway. The winery has been around since 1979, but the winery facility was renovated in 1999 and the Visitor Center opened its doors in 2001. Although the name may suggest some kind of religious affiliation, owner Joe Martin was a San Francisco businessman prior to purchasing the former Behler Ranch Vineyard. The winery was named in recognition of St. Francis of Assisi, a Franciscan monk whose role was as a protector of the natural world. It is believed that he was the first to bring grape cultivation to America. To the right of the entryway to the Visitor Center is a small courtyard with a statue of St. Francis.
Statue of St. Francis of Assisi
The view from inside the Visitor Center is just as stunning as the view from outside. The tasting room is very spacious with a long, wooden wine bar that faces out toward the vineyard. The side of the room opposite the tasting bar is almost entirely windows that reach from ceiling to floor and provide a panoramic view of the vineyard and mountains behind the winery. There is also a patio outside where visitors can soak in the view. The combination of the windows and white walls inside the tasting room make it look like a wide open space. There are a few tables and displays set up around the room with wine bottles and other accessories for purchase. There’s also a stone fireplace at the far end of the tasting bar. The first time I visited there was a table set up with a fun sensory test that allowed me to check my knowledge of different wine scents.
St. Francis produces a wide selection of wines. The tasting menu is long and guests are permitted to choose several wines to sample. I thought the staff was very friendly and willing to make suggestions on what to try based on my personal preferences. I have been to the winery twice and had the same level of customer service each time I visited. Between the two visits, I tried quite a few different wines and thought they were all good quality. The wines that really stood out to me were the old vine Zinfandels, both Wild Oak and Behler Sonoma County Merlots, and Rockpile Red. There were quite a few others that I enjoyed as well. For visitors who want a more personalized experience, St. Francis offers daily food and wine pairings. I signed up for the mailing list and receive announcements about the many events at the winery throughout the year, as well as sales on wine. I certainly would recommend this winery to anyone visiting this part of Sonoma Valley.