Congratulations "Max" St. Francis' 2011 Winery Dog of the Year
St. Francis Winery is pleased to present our 2011 Winery Dog of the Year award winner, Max. Max is a beautiful 7 year old Goldendoodle, owned by Peter Hirschfeld. We are happy to congratulate Max and welcome him to the St. Francis Winery family as the 2011 Winery Dog of the Year!
MAX - 2011Winery Dog of the Year
Hundreds of animals and devoted pet owners attended our 11th annual Blessing of the Animals on October 2, 2011. The event raised over $2,500 for the Sonoma Humane Society, making it our most successful Animal Blessing event ever! View photos from this years' event HERE.
August, 2011
Congratulations St. Francis Employees! St. Francis Honored as One of the
"Best Places to Work in the North Bay"
July, 2011
St. Francis Featured on "The Food Show" Segment Features St. Francis' "Farm-to-Table" Wine & Food Pairings
Our culinary programs and Sustainable Vegetable Garden were recently featured on The Food Show, with host Clark Wolf. Learn more about our popular "farm-to-table" Wine & Food Pairings HERE.
July, 2011
St. Francis Bottles Specialty Old Vines Zinfandel for LMU Commemorative Zin Celebrates University's Centennial
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) alumnus and St. Francis Winery CEO Christopher Silva recently bottled a limited-edition Sonoma County "Old Vines" Zinfandel to honor the University's 100th anniversary.
Learn more about the LMU Centennial celebration HERE.
Purchase the limited-production LMU Centennial Zinfandel HERE
And be on the lookout for our LMU Centennial Merlot -- COMING SOON!
March 4, 2011
St. Francis Among Best Wine Clubs in U.S. Luxist Investigates the Benefits of Club Membership
The best wine clubs in the U.S. include several award-winning wineries that produce some of the best wine this country has to offer. Luxist examined the benefits of some of the best, most popular ones, including our very own St. Francis Patrons Society. Read the entire article HERE.
Click HERE to learn more about the St. Francis Patrons Society.
March 3, 2011
St. Francis Helps Raise
$50,000 for the American Heart Association Fundraiser Sets One-Night Record
Pictured: AHA Executive Director Craig Nelson (left), Former North Bay AHA President Alba Silva, and St. Francis Winery President Christopher Silva at last night’s St. Francis Winery Fundraiser for the American Heart Association (AHA)—where a record $50,000 was raised in one night.
Silva is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, and his grandmother Alba Silva, 97, was the first woman President of the Board of Directors of the North Bay AHA in Sonoma County back in 1964. She addressed a full house last night and spoke of the importance of supporting AHA programs.
October 3, 2010
Congratulations "Jackamoe" St. Francis' 2010 Winery Dog of the Year
St. Francis Winery & Vineyards is pleased to present our 2010 Winery Dog of the Year award winner, Jackamoe. Jackamoe, or "Jack" as he likes to be called, is a beautiful 1.5 year old Great Dane. His owner Amanda Barnett says he's a "big cuddle bug". We are happy to congratulate Jackamoe and welcome him to the St. Francis Winery family as the 2010 Winery Dog of the Year!
JACKAMOE - 2010Winery Dog of the Year
September 27, 2010
CRUSH 2010 Began Today at St. Francis Winery A Message from President & CEO Christopher Silva
The 2010 harvest began Monday, September 27th for St. Francis Winery -- the most delayed start in our 30-year history.
President & CEO Christopher Silva shares some thoughts about the 2010 vintage and this magical time of year in Sonoma Valley.
St. Francis Takes Home 13 Medals at Sonoma County Harvest Fair Honors Include "Best of Class" and 3 Gold Medals
St. Francis Winery was the proud recipient of 13 medals at the 2010 Sonoma County Harvest Fair, including "Best of Class" for our new Sangiovese-based Super Tuscan blend "Caro Santo".
Many of the exceptional wines listed below are available at your local wine retailer, or order directly from the winery at: (800) 650-5437
2010 HARVEST FAIR Results:
Category: Sangiovese Award:Best of Class
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2008 Sangiovese, Caro Santo, Sonoma Valley
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon ($35 to $44.99) Award:Gold Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lagomarsino, Russian River
Category: Syrah/Shiraz ($25 and over) Award:Gold Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2007 Syrah, Wild Oak, Sonoma County
Category: Zinfandel ($35 and over) Award:Gold Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2007 Old Vines Zinfandel, Rowe Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
Category: Zinfandel ($35 and over) Award:Silver Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2007 Zinfandel, Tres Viejos, Sonoma County
Category: Bordeaux Blends (up to $29.99) Award:Silver Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2007 Claret, Sonoma County
Category: Zinfandel (up to $24.99) Award:Silver Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2008 Old Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma County
Category: Sauvignon Blanc ($17 and over) Award:Silver Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
Category: Zinfandel ($35 and over) Award:Bronze Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2008 Zinfandel, Montecillo Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
Category: Bordeaux Blends ($30 and over) Award:Bronze Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2007 Meritage, Anthem, Sonoma Valley
Category: Port Award:Bronze Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2007 Port, Sonoma County
Category: Chardonnay ($20 - $29.99) Award:Bronze Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2009 Chardonnay, Wild Oak, Sonoma County
Category: Chardonnay (up to $19.99) Award:Bronze Medal
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2009 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
August, 2010
St. Francis President Christopher Silva Featured in New York Times
A recent New York Times article titled "From Lawyer to Vintner" featured an exclusive interview with St. Francis President Christopher Silva.
St. Francis Receives Gold Medal in
25th Annual North Bay Biz "Best of the North Bay" Reader's Poll
St. Francis was honored with a Gold Medal in the "Best Tasting Room" category of North Bay Biz magazine's 25th annual "Best of the North Bay" Reader's Poll! A big thank you to everybody who voted for us.
May, 2010
St. Francis Receives 12 Medals at 2010 West Coast Wine Competition
St. Francis Winery was honored with 12 medals at the 28th annual West Coast Wine Competition, including "Best of Class" and Double Gold awards for our 2006 Wild Oak Cabernet Sauvignon.
The field of entries was approximately 1,500 from wineries located in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, Baja California, British Columbia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Judges were comprised of the most experienced pool of wine industry professionals in North America.
Many of the exceptional wines listed below are available at your local wine retailer, or order directly from the winery at: (800) 650-5437
2010 Results:
Category: Chardonnay ($10.01-$20) Award:Silver
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2008 CHARDONNAY, Sonoma County
Category: Chardonnay ($20.01 & over) Award:Silver
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2008 CHARDONNAY, WILD OAK, Sonoma County
Category: Syrah/Shiraz (>$20) Award:Bronze
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 SYRAH, WILD OAK, Sonoma County
Category: Zinfandel (>$20.00) Award:Gold
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2007 ZINFANDEL, ROWE VINEYARD, Sonoma Valley Award:Silver
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 ZINFANDEL, BACCHI VINEYARD, Russian River Valley
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 ZINFANDEL, WILD OAK, Sonoma County Category: Cabernet Franc Award:Silver
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 CABERNET FRANC, McCOY VINEYARD, Sonoma County
Category: Cabernet Sauvignon ($20.01 & over) Award:Double Gold
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, WILD OAK, Sonoma County Award:Silver
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, LAGOMARSINO, Russian River Valley
Category: Red Bordeaux Blends ($20.01 & over) Award:Silver
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 RED WINE, ROCKPILE RED, Rockpile Award:Bronze
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2007 CLARET, Sonoma County
Category: Petite Sirah Award:Bronze
- ST. FRANCIS WINERY, 2006 PETITE SIRAH, Dry Creek Valley
March, 2010
St. Francis - American Heart Association Fundraiser Raises $47,000 & Honors its First Woman President
St. Francis Winery hosted a fundraising reception in our Tasting Room for the North Bay Division of the American Heart Association. The event generated $47,000 for heart disease awareness, research and caregiver support. The event also honored St. Francis Winery President Christopher Silva’s 96 year-old grandmother, Alba Silva. Mrs. Silva, who addressed the group that evening, was the first woman elected President of the Board of that same local Heart Association in 1964.
St. Francis Winery President Christopher Silva and Grandmother Alba Silva, 96, the local Heart Association’s First Woman President.
Tom Mackey Chats with Portland Wine Bloggers Over Lunch
Director of Winemaking Tom Mackey recently met with five prominent wine bloggers over lunch at Urban Farmer in downtown Portland. The blogging crew consisted of Jim Eastman of The Wine Cyclist, Tamara Belgard of Sip With Me!, Bernard Gehret & Eva Schmole of PortlandOregonWine.com, and Mary of Vindulge. The group enjoyed delicious food, memorable conversation...and stellar wine, of course!
Prominent California Wineries St. Francis and Sequoia Grove Join Global Fundraising Efforts for Urgently Needed Relief Services in Haiti
SANTA ROSA and NAPA, Ca. - January 15th, 2010 - In response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti Tuesday, St. Francis Winery and Sequoia Grove Wineryannounce that they will donate all proceeds from tasting fees at their tasting room this Saturday, January 16th, Sunday, January 17th, and Monday, January 18th, to the American Red Cross.
The effort will raise funds urgently needed to provide Haiti with emergency services. “We're thousands of miles away in the safety and serenity of Sonoma while others are suffering,” said CEO Christopher Silva. “We know there is more we can do. By raising funds immediately St. Francis Winery supports those who are on the front line.”
2005 Wild Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Receives 90 Points
St. Francis Winery's 2005 Wild Oak Cabernet Sauvignon scored 90 Points in Wine Enthusiast's Dec. 1st Buying Guide...
90 Points Wild Oak by St. Francis 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County):
A good Cab, dry and balanced, whose tannins are richly impressive and sweet. Shows a good tension between the oak and the ripe black currants. Easy to like, and should develop for a few years.
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This deep, rich Cabernet also received a "5 STAR" rating by QRW earlier this year.
Area-Daily.com Interview with Christopher Silva Lisa Loverro Chats with CEO and President of St. Francis Winery
POWER LUNCH Lisa Loverro, Area-Daily.com 10.22.09 - New York, NY
There are times when it’s nice to be home in New York City. Although I love jetting around the world, I relish the times I get to spend strolling the streets of the city, running in Central Park, and sitting down to a delicious meal at a New York institution.
Such was the case last week when I met with Christopher Silva, President and CEO of St. Francis Winery in Sonoma for a hearty lunch at Smith & Wollensky to sample some of his finest wines. The conversation flowed, as did the wine, for almost three hours as we discussed his passion and thoughts on the winemaking industry.
LL: What are your favorite wines from St Francis, both red and white, and what do you suggest pairing them with?
CS: I like to start an event or evening with a Chardonnay. Our St. Francis Sonoma County Chardonnay works well because it has both the acid and creaminess to make it rich and flavorful without overwhelming the food. We handpick our Chardonnay at night so that the grapes arrive cold (about 45 degrees) at our crush pad before sunrise, allowing us to preserve those enticing flavors and aromas of apple, pear, and honeysuckle that show so well with fish, poultry, and yellow, nutty or soft cheeses.
As for red wine, I am all about Sonoma County and therefore a huge fan of Zinfandel, my all time favorite being our St. Francis Sonoma County “Old Vines" Zinfandel. The dark red, peppery, spicy flavors are perfect with barbeque, pizzas, pastas with rich sauces—anything that has spice. The wine is rich and concentrated, in part because our vines—some over 120 years old—are dry farmed, meaning we don’t water them.
LL: What advice would you give to someone looking to open their own small winery?
CS: The same advice that Robert Mondavi gave me when I asked for an hour of his time and advice in December 2000: “Interest is not enough. You have to be passionate.”
I would tell people that wine requires an incomparable level of patience, so one must genuinely love the entire process—grape growing, winemaking, marketing and sales, and everything in between—in order to be successful. I am not a winemaker, but I do know that tasting a great wine that you had some role in the process of creating is a thrill like no other…therein lies the real profit.
LL: What is your bubbly of choice for ringing in the New Year?
CS: Domaine Carneros Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine. It is a delightful sparkling wine made almost entirely of Chardonnay grapes.
LL: You seem to be in great shape! What's your secret to staying healthy and fit while you're traveling the country wining and dining?
CS: Thank you. Being at the top of your game includes being healthy. I try to eat sensibly and always find time to exercise. Hotels that don’t have fitness centers do have a floor for pushups and crunches and a street or sidewalk I can run on—even 20 minutes and I feel energetic the entire day. Oh, and always take the stairs at the airport, not the escalator—our bodies are meant to move!
Thanks Chris for a lovely and informative afternoon!
Lisa Loverro is an independent travel journalist exploring the world for new and exciting adventures. She shares her experiences with us every Thursday through her column, Boarding Pass. Have a comment or question? Email her at Lisa@area-daily.com.
Congratulations "Lucca" St. Francis Winery Dog of the Year
September 27, 2009 - St. Francis Winery & Vineyards is pleased to announce our 2009 "Winery Dog of the Year" award winner, Lucca. Lucca is a beautiful two year old Siberian Husky. An Italian word meaning "bringer of light," Lucca's name is especially appropriate given his important role as a working Therapy Dog in training. He and his owner Vicky Guillory visit local nursing homes and hospitals spreading warmth and good cheer. We are happy to congratulate Lucca and welcome him to the St. Francis Winery family as the 2009 Winery Dog of the Year!
LUCCA - Winery Dog of the Year
View photos from the Blessing of the Animals event HERE
Christopher Silva Talks Wine with Gary Fisch, September 2009
Winery President Christopher Silva visits Gary's Wine & Marketplace of Wayne, NJ and discusses St. Francis' Sonoma County wines with Gary Fisch.
Wine Spectator featured our 2005 Wild Oak Merlot and 2006 St. Francis RED in Tim Fish's August 10th listing of "12 California Merlots
:
A dozen wines that show the elegance and supple texture the Merlot grape can attain in the Golden State"
ST. FRANCIS Merlot Sonoma County Wild Oak (2005)
Shows good structure and focus, with plum and pencil lead aromas and sleek black currant, cedar and spicy dill flavors. Drink now through 2014. 2,300 cases made. —T.F.
ST. FRANCIS Red Sonoma County (2006)
Refined and easy to drink, with red currant and toasty dill aromas and sleek cherry, bittersweet chocolate and spice flavors. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel. Drink now through 2012. 60,000 cases made. —T.F.
The competition, hosted by the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and under the direction of Chris Sawyer, was held at The Lodge in Sonoma, July 27th, with 35 local Sonoma Valley wineries participating. The event showcased the quality of wines made from Sonoma Valley grapes.
"...the epitome of supercharged California Zinfandel..." 2006 St. Francis Sonoma County Old Vines Zinfandel
Read the whole story HERE
ST. FRANCIS WINES STAR IN "BEST OF THE BEST" Quarterly Review of Wines (QRW) Unveils Annual Best of the Best "Wines of extraordinary character and quality — in a class by themselves"
We are very pleased to announce that the Wild Oak Cabernet 2005 and Wild Oak Chardonnay 2007 have been named BEST OF THE BEST, 5 STARS in their respective varietal categories in Quarterly Review of Wines Summer 2009 issue.”
5-Star California Cabernet Sauvignons 2005 Wild Oak Cabernet Sauvignon
“Big, rich, black fruit flavors; deep chewy and well-concentrated with a long finish.”
5-Star California Chardonnays 2007 Wild Oak Chardonnay
“Rich, buttery, concentrated, nutty and elegant.”
30 Years of Winemaking at St. Francis Winery
2009 marks the 30th anniversary of St. Francis Vineyards becoming St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in 1979.
To make wine in Sonoma is to “stand in the presence of the past.” We still follow the traditions Joe Martin set upon planting our vineyard in 1971 and that he and business partner Lloyd Canton upheld after building our Winery in 1979. Use only Sonoma County grapes. Hand-pick every grape.
Treat each Winery visitor as an honored guest. Above all, hand-craft complex, dazzling world class wines that dare us to proclaim, “here’s what Sonoma is capable of.”
Word of mouth and stunning accolades would later follow: “Master of Merlot” (Wine Spectator), Tom Mackey as “Int’l Red Winemaker of the Year” (London Wine Fair), “Number One Zinfandel in the World” (Wine Spectator), “California’s Hottest Winery” (Robert Parker), and so on. Today, our wines are in some of the country’s best restaurants, and have been served at the White House by four American Presidents. Many of you tell us that St. Francis wines have become part of your own family, friendship, and holiday traditions. That pleases us greatly. You have our enduring thanks as we embark upon the next 30 years, with even more exciting wines ahead.
So far it’s been an incredible journey.
We hope to see you at 30th Anniversary celebrations we’ll be having throughout 2009.
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