Best in Sonoma. Best in the Bay. Best in the Nation.
St. Francis Sweeps the 2026 Awards!
Whether you’re planning a weekend escape from the Bay Area, searching for wineries near me, or exploring Sonoma wine country for the first time, one question always comes up:
Where should we go wine tasting?
With hundreds of incredible Sonoma and Napa wineries—and just as many across the California wine scene—choosing where to spend your time can feel overwhelming. Some are known for their views. Others for food. A few for unforgettable wines. But the places guests return to again and again tend to share something more:
They feel like an experience, not just a stop.
That’s exactly why guests continue to name St. Francis Winery & Vineyards among the best wineries in Sonoma County, the Bay Area, and beyond. This year, guests recognized St. Francis with top honors across three of the most celebrated readers’ choice awards programs in the country:
Best Tasting Room — SFGATE Best of the Bay Awards (2024, 2025, 2026)
Best Winery & Best Tasting Room — Press Democrat Best of Sonoma County Awards (2025, 2026)
Best Tasting Room & Best Wine Tour in the U.S. — Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards (2026)
While we’re deeply honored by these recognitions, what matters most isn’t the awards themselves. It’s what they represent: real guests who visited, shared a glass of wine with us, and felt compelled to vote.
So what keeps bringing people back?
It Always Starts With the Wine
At St. Francis, everything begins in the vineyard.For more than 50 years, we’ve been crafting expressive, fruit-driven Sonoma County wines that reflect the character of the land beneath our feet. From mountain ridges to valley floors, our wines are shaped by the diverse terroir that makes Sonoma County one of the most dynamic wine regions in the world.
Our story began in 1971, when founder Joe Martin fell in love with Sonoma Valley and planted the first vines at St. Francis—starting with 22 acres of Chardonnay and one of the earliest plantings of Merlot in the region. That same spirit of curiosity, respect for the land, and commitment to quality continues to guide us today.
Today, Winemakers Katie Madigan and Chris Louton, alongside Vineyard Director Jake Terrell, carry that legacy forward. Working closely with fruit from more than 400 acres of Certified Sustainable estate vineyards, they craft wines that are both expressive and true to place—wines that feel unmistakably Sonoma County.
Sustainability here is not a trend or a talking point—it is a way of life. Rooted in the philosophy of our namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology, we farm with intention and respect for the land, the people who care for it, and the generations who will come after us. Every decision in the vineyard is made with long-term stewardship in mind, from soil health to water conservation to thoughtful farming practices across all estate sites.
The result is wine that reflects something deeper than technique or style—it reflects place, purpose, and people. This is what we mean when we say Rooted in Real: real vineyards, real people, and real Sonoma County character in every bottle.
Whether enjoyed here in the heart of Sonoma Valley or shared at home, our wines are meant to feel honest, approachable, and connected to the land they come from.
Hospitality That’s Intentional, Welcoming, and Real
Great wine regions are full of beautiful tasting rooms—but what sets an experience apart is how consistently it delivers for guests over time. For us at St. Francis, hospitality is not scripted or performative. It’s thoughtful, attentive, and built around creating a welcoming experience that feels natural from the moment guests arrive.
That approach shows up in the details: taking time to understand a guest’s preferences before pouring, making Sonoma County wines approachable for first-time tasters, and ensuring every visit feels smooth, relaxed, and well cared for—whether it’s a spontaneous stop or a long-planned wine country weekend.
But perhaps the strongest reflection of this approach is our community of long-standing Wine Club members, many of whom have been with us for 20+ years. For them, St. Francis isn’t just a winery they visit—it’s a place they return to season after season, year after year, because the experience remains consistent, familiar, and worth coming back to.
That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by chance. It’s built through thousands of small, consistent moments where guests feel welcomed, remembered, and genuinely appreciated. It’s also one of the reasons guests continue to recognize St. Francis as one of the best tasting rooms in the Bay Area and Sonoma County—not just for a single visit, but for an experience that holds up over time.
The Best Winery Experiences Go Beyond the Glass
If you’re searching for the best winery with food in Sonoma, you’re in the right place. At St. Francis, food is never an afterthought—it’s an essential part of how we tell the story of our wines. Led by Executive Chef Peter Janiak, a 2026 Press Democrat finalist for Best Chef, our culinary experiences are designed around one guiding philosophy: The wine always comes first.
That means every dish is created not just to pair with a wine—but to highlight what makes it shine. Each bite becomes part of the conversation, revealing new layers in the glass and transforming the way guests experience Sonoma County wine. But what truly sets these experiences apart is how different they feel depending on how you want to enjoy wine country.
Our signature Wine & Food Pairing is a seated, multi-course experience that invites guests to slow down and fully immerse themselves in Sonoma Valley wine and cuisine. Each course is thoughtfully built around seasonal ingredients and estate wines, creating a guided journey through structure, balance, and flavor. It’s intimate, elevated, and perfect for guests looking to deepen their appreciation of how food and wine interact at a refined level.
The Secrets of Sonoma offers something completely different—and for many guests, it’s their first introduction to wine country in a way that feels relaxed, social, and approachable. Set outdoors in the heart of Sonoma Valley, this experience is designed for curiosity and discovery. Guests explore a curated selection of St. Francis wines alongside vibrant, shareable dishes inspired by the region’s seasonal flavors. It’s especially popular with younger wine drinkers and those newer to wine, because it removes any sense of formality and replaces it with conversation, connection, and fun. There’s no “right way” to taste wine here—just an invitation to explore what you like, at your own pace.
It’s wine tasting, reimagined for today’s guest: approachable, social, and genuinely memorable.
A Wine Tour You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
Looking for something truly unique? The Tour de St. Francis Trolley Vineyard Tour takes guests beyond the tasting room and into the heart of our Wild Oak Estate Vineyard. Recently named Best Wine Tour in the U.S. by Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards (2026), this immersive experience lets guests explore the vineyard by pedal trolley, surrounded by sweeping views of Sonoma Valley and Hood Mountain. Along the way, guests learn about our sustainable farming practices, the story of our estate vineyards, and what it takes to grow world-class Sonoma County wines. The experience concludes with a relaxed terrace tasting that brings everything full circle—from vine to glass. It’s part tour, part tasting, and part celebration—perfect for groups, milestone occasions, corporate outings, or anyone looking for a completely different way to experience wine country.
Come Experience What Guests Keep Voting For
Awards are an incredible honor—but they’re not the reason we do what we do. Behind every recognition is a guest who discovered a new favorite wine, shared a table with friends, celebrated something meaningful, or simply took time to slow down and enjoy the moment. That’s what defines St. Francis. Not just the wines. Not just the views. But the experiences shared along the way. So whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for another Sonoma wine country adventure, we invite you to discover what makes St. Francis one of the best wineries in Sonoma, the Bay Area, and beyond. We’ll be here, glass ready.
Come taste what everyone’s talking about! Plan your visit today!