2022 · Merlot, Appellation Collection

Founded by Joe Martin and Lloyd Canton in 1971, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards opened its winery in 1979 and is based in California’s Sonoma and Russian River Valleys. It farms certified sustainable estate vineyards and received the Certified California Sustainable Winegrower designation in 2013, with vineyard practices overseen by green viticulture expert Jake Terrell. Today, a new generation of winemakers—Katie Madigan and Chris Louton—leads production, following the long tenure of former winemaker Tom Mackey. The estate’s history, sustainability focus, and continuity of winemaking leadership distinguish its Sonoma identity.