What’s Happening in the Vineyard This Winter & Spring?

Welcome to vintage 2026, and thank you for being part of the St. Francis family! As we transition from the quiet of winter into the energy of early spring, our vineyard team has been hard at work preparing our estates for what we hope will be another exceptional growing season. We wanted to pull back the curtain and share a personal look at what’s been going on — and what’s just around the corner — across our vineyards, especially out at Wild Oak in the heart of Sonoma Valley.

Budbreak and Blooms – The Vines Are Beginning to Wake Up

It’s been a tale of two seasons so far. January was relatively dry and warm — a welcome window that allowed our team to get a head start on weed management work that would normally have to wait. February brought cooler temperatures and steady rainfall. We’re currently sitting just above average for the season, with Santa Rosa recording 18.9 inches of rainfall through January, compared to a seasonal average of 17.5 inches. Now, as we move into March and the first whispers of spring arrive, all eyes are on budbreak — the magical moment when the vines wake from dormancy and the new growing season truly begins. We’re anticipating most varieties will start breaking in mid-March. It’s one of our favorite times of year in the vineyard, and a sure sign that the best is yet to come.

Pruning Season Is in Full Swing

Walk through Wild Oak right now and you’ll find our crew in the rows, clippers in hand. Pruning is one of the most important things we do all year — it shapes the vine, determines the season’s crop load, and sets us up for the best possible fruit quality come harvest. Wild Oak has already completed pruning this season, and we’re proud of the pace and precision our team has brought to the work. After pruning, we don’t simply walk away. The brush is shredded right in place between the rows, returning organic matter back to the soil — a small but meaningful step that compounds in value over time.

Cordon Training at Wild Oak – Growing With Intention

One of the things that makes Wild Oak so special is the care and craft that goes into every vine — and cordon training is a perfect example of that philosophy in action. If you spot some freshly shaped vines on your next visit, that’s our team hard at work giving each plant the best possible foundation for a long, productive life.
So why cordon training? Unlike head training — where the vine is pruned back to a single central point each year — cordon training involves extending permanent “arms” along the trellis wire, creating a consistent, open structure that works beautifully in our Sonoma Valley climate. This method gives us greater control over canopy management, ensuring optimal sunlight exposure and airflow to each cluster. The result? More even ripening, better fruit quality, and ultimately, more expressive wines in your glass.

Cordon training also allows our team to work more efficiently and precisely throughout the growing season — from shoot thinning in spring to harvest in the fall. It’s a long-term investment in the health and productivity of our vines, and one we’re proud to make at Wild Oak.

The Importance of Cover Crops

Sustainability isn’t just a word we use — it’s woven into every decision we make at Wild Oak. If you’ve walked our vineyard rows in winter, you’ve seen it firsthand: the lush green carpet growing between the vines. Those are cover crops — a carefully chosen mix of grasses, legumes, and flowering plants like clover, fava beans, and mustard that we seed each fall while the vines are dormant. As they grow, they build organic matter in the soil, fix nitrogen naturally, prevent erosion from winter rains, and retain moisture that sustains the vines through our dry summers. We rotate the mix each year based on what the soil needs, and pair it with expanded mechanical weed control under the vine rows — all part of our commitment to farming with intention and keeping Wild Oak healthy for generations to come.

Exciting News: Our First Port Variety Harvest Is Coming!

We’re absolutely thrilled to share that 2026 marks the first harvest of our Portuguese Port varieties, planted just in front of the Tasting Room. These vines — including Touriga Nacional, Souzão, and Tinto Cão — have been patiently maturing, and this is the year they finally deliver fruit. It has been a true labor of love, and we can’t wait to discover what these remarkable grapes bring to our Port program.

Not yet enrolled in the Ruby Allocation? Reach out to your St. Francis Wine Concierge — it’s your inside track to some of the most exciting and exclusive wines we produce.

Come Experience Spring in Sonoma Valley

There is truly no better time to visit St. Francis than spring. The vines are waking up, the hillsides are green, and the energy in the vineyard is electric. We’d love for you to come experience it with us in person. Join us for Secrets of Sonoma — our immersive journey through the stories, people, and places that make this wine country so extraordinary — or settle in for one of our beloved Wine & Food Pairings, where each pour is thoughtfully matched to complement the season’s freshest flavors. And mark your calendars: our Trolley Experience returns in May, offering a one-of-a-kind tour through our estate vineyards. Spots are limited, so we encourage you to book now.

Be sure to check out our Winery Events calendar for everything happening on the estate this season — there’s always something special in the works.

As always, thank you for your loyalty, your curiosity, and your love of St. Francis wines!