We invite you to visit our beautiful mission style Visitor Center surrounded by majestic mountains and breathtaking vineyard views. St. Francis' outstanding wines and knowledgeable, gracious staff further enhance the ambiance of this lovely setting. Whether it’s your first time wine tasting or you’re an avid collector, you’ll find an experience to suit your taste!
CLASSIC WINE TASTING
Daily 10:00 am - 5:00 pm ~ 20-30 minutes ~ $10
Choose four wines from a selection that may include wines that are only available here at the Winery as well as our popular nationally known brands.

WINE & FOOD PAIRING
Daily 11:00 am - 4:00 pm ~ 40-50 minutes ~ $25
WINE & FOOD FLIGHT (November thru April)
A flight of four St. Francis wines perfectly paired with hors d' oeuvres created seasonally by our Executive Chef. This exclusive Sonoma County tasting experience is served daily by our friendly and knowledgeable hospitality associates.*

WINE & CHARCUTERIE (May thru October)
A flight of four St. Francis wines paired with a selection of artisan cheeses, salumis, along with charcuterie bites created by our Executive Chef. This al fresco experience offers views of majestic mountains & breathtaking vineyards. * Weather permitting

WINE DINING
Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11:00 am - 3:00 pm ~ 60-90 minutes ~ $45 (May thru October)
Winemaker Tom Mackey and Executive Chef Dave Bush have collaborated to create an exceptional small plate tasting menu that showcases the repertoire of St. Francis wines and the range of Chef Bush’s culinary talents. Enjoy four plated pairings while seated in our elegant dining room with views of Hood Mountain.*

St. Francis Visitors Center is open daily from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM except for New Year's Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. New Year's Eve the Tasting Room will close at 2:00. Tours are available for groups of 10 or more with advance reservations.

St. Francis Visitors Center & Tasting Room
100 Pythian Road at Highway 12
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
1-888-675-WINE (9463)
http://www.stfranciswine.com/

Submitted by:
George Snedrow
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From St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, produces big, bold, full-bodied wines that deliver on flavor. Each wine is produced from 100% hand-picked Sonoma County fruit and is a direct expression of our winemaking philosophy of “maximum extraction, minimal intervention."

St. Francis Winery’s commitment to intensely flavored and complex wines begins in the vineyard. It is for that reason that Sonoma County, with it rich variety of interwoven soils, elevations and microclimates was chosen as home to St. Francis Winery & Vineyards. Sonoma County has provided a “terroir tapestry” of rich soils and amazing wine growing capabilities. Each of the estate vineyards has a different microclimate, all part of the Sonoma County macroclimate that is so superbly suited to the growing of wine grapes. St. Francis firmly believes in the power of terroir and is committed to nurturing superlative grapes in the right place to let their natural qualities shine.

Our Winemaking Team is a group of extremely talented and dedicated people who have brought a passion for the craft of winemaking as well as knowledge and finely honed skills to St. Francis Winery. Those combined skills and experience of working together make for an impressive team.

St. Francis Winery was established and christened after St. Francis of Assisi, in recognition of the Saint’s role as a protector of the natural world and as acknowledgement of the Franciscan order, believed to have been the first to bring European grape cultivation to the new world.

St. Francis Visitors Center & Tasting Room
100 Pythian Road at Highway 12
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
1-888-675-WINE (9463)
http://www.stfranciswine.com/

Submitted by:
George Snedrow
Free Reverse Address Directory

California is the world's second largest grower of Cabernet Sauvignon. In California most Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown in the Napa Valley and Sonoma County.

Cabernet Sauvignon is of the species Vitis vinifera, and genetic studies in 1997 indicated it is the result of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.

Cabernet Sauvignon has a well defined aroma. In Old World wines, particularly those made in Bordeaux, this is characterised by a smell of violets, blackcurrant, cedar and spice. New World wines of this grape can often share the aromas of their Old World counterparts, but are more often dominated by aromas of chocolate, ripe jammy berries, oak, pepper and earth.

The particularly thick skin of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape results in wines that can be high in tannin which provides both structure and ageability. As a group, Cabernet Sauvignon wines are generally full-flavored, with a stronger flavor than Merlot for instance, and with a smooth and lingering "finish".

Cabernet Sauvignon makes the most dependable candidate for aging, more often improving into a truly great wine than any other single varietal. With age, its distinctive black currant aroma can develop bouquet nuances of cedar, violets, leather, or cigar box and its typically tannic edge may soften and smooth considerably.

Cabernet Sauvignon began to emerge as America's most popular varietal red wine in the mid-60s. By the late 1980s, it had replaced "burgundy" as a consumer's generic term for red wine. This popularity was based partly on the flavor appeal of the grape and partly on its status or snob-appeal as a "collector's" wine. Indeed Cabernet Sauvignon is the wine most subject to inflationary climb, as fans, collectors, and the Nouveau Riche bid the supply ever upward.

Submitted by:
Paul Shad
Travel Destinations from Information Resource Network

From Callaway Vineyards & Winery

Making wine is what we're really all about. And we take our jobs seriously. Whether you're into intense big red wines, dessert in a glass or something in between, Callaway has a wine that's sure to please. We rely on our winemaking team to do all of the really hard winemaker stuff, and rely on you for the really fun part; opening and enjoying a bottle of Callaway wine!

Our Special Selection wines are high quality, limited productions that best exemplify the Callaway legacy. They are easy to drink, food friendly, fun wines that are sure to please most everyone.

Our Winemaker's Reserve wines are for the more discerning palate. Chosen barrel by barrel for richness, depth and complexity these wines are typically bigger, meatier wines that take a bit longer to age.

Callaway Winery was founded in 1969 by Ely Callaway, who went on to gain fame and fortune in the world of golf. Extensive research led Mr. Callaway to Temecula, to veteran viticulturist John Moramarco, and to his belief that the area was ideal for growing premium wine grapes. In the rolling hills, he found what he believed to be the perfect spot to plant his vines; a 1600 foot plateau, located below the peaks of a foggy mountain range "where the sun shines through the mist". And the legacy began.

At Callaway, we believe we are merely stewards of our land. The vineyards are farmed with the philosophy that seeks to sustain, for the long term, the viability of the land. From the winery, one can see the many specially constructed nesting boxes and perches nestled throughout the vineyards, which encourage a stable population of hawks and owls. Cover crops are encouraged to grow between the vineyard rows to provide habitat for beneficial insects. These are but a few ways we encourage nature to be nature!

Approachable, flavorful and extremely well balanced wines are synonymous to the Callaway name. The time honored, Callaway tradition of using unusually cold temperatures during fermentation to slow and prolong the process, allows our wines to retain their natural fruit flavors and aromas. And the result? Wines that are fruit forward, food friendly and that are the perfect complement to today's eclectic lifestyles. Wines made to be enjoyed. From our vineyards to your table.

Callaway Vineyards & Winery
32720 Rancho California Road
Temecula, CA 92589
(951) 676-4001 - (800) 472-2377
http://www.callawaywinery.com/

Submitted by:
Paul Shad
Travel Destinations from Information Resource Network

From Gloria Ferrer Wines

Owned by the Ferrer family, whose wine experience is rooted in 19th century Spain, our winery is a vibrant blend of Catalan and California mission design. We cultivate fruit for our premium quality sparkling and still wines in our 335 acres of estate vineyards distinguished by warm days, cool nights, summer fog and a long growing season that coaxes grapes to maturity slowly and consistently, with balanced sugar and acidity. Our Vineyard Manager Mike Crumly and Winemaker Bob Iantosca, both of whom have worked for Gloria Ferrer from its inception, have devoted more than two decades to identifying the diverse soil types, microclimates and specific needs of every vine in their care.

In 1991, inspired by the quality and character of our estate fruit, we began crafting still wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In subsequent years, our winegrowing team meticulously matched dozens of clones to the diverse growing conditions in our estate vineyards with their sights on the highest quality grapes with more intense flavors and characteristics. As pioneers of sparkling wine-based clonal research, we have studied more than 40 different clones to date. Today, this longtime and dynamic relationship of discovery with the land is revealed in balanced wines of earth and opulence.

Gloria Ferrer is located in the picturesque Sonoma Carneros region, 40 miles northwest of San Francisco. Our winery’s sun-drenched Vista Terrace overlooks breathtaking estate vineyards—providing the perfect place to enjoy a glass of sparkling or still wine with the savory Spanish and local cheeses, meats, almonds and other delicacies that are available from our tasting room.

Our tasting room is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with wine service available until 4:45 pm. For more information, please call us at (707) 933-1917.

Gloria Ferrer Wines
23555 Carneros Hwy. 121 (also called Arnold Drive)
Sonoma, Ca. 95476
(707) 996-7256
Gloria Ferrer Wines

Submitted by:
Paul Shad
Travel Destinations from Information Resource Network