St Francis Old Vine Zinfandel

St Francis Old Vine Zinfandel is a Sonoma County red wine blending fruit from vines at least 50 years old, bottled at 15.2% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 92 points by Wine Spectator and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, this bottling consistently ranks among California's most reliable old vine Zinfandels.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.2%  |  Origin: Sonoma County, North Coast, California  |  Style: Old Vine Red Blend  |  Winery: St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

Production & Heritage

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has long been associated with Sonoma County Zinfandel. For this Old Vine bottling, grapes are sourced from vineyards across Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley — all from ancient, head-pruned, dry-farmed vines, many reaching 100 years of age. The blend is 83% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Sirah, 5% Mixed Blacks, and 1% Primitivo. Fruit is handpicked, crushed, and fermented in stainless steel tanks before aging in a combination of French and American oak barrels. The lack of trellising and low yields from these gnarled old vines produce small quantities of exceptionally concentrated fruit, giving the wine a depth and complexity that younger-vine Zinfandels rarely achieve.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Wild blackberry bramble and red raspberry lead the nose, layered with cigar box, barrel spice, and a thread of black licorice. A subtle lead-pencil quality and hints of pomegranate emerge as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is bright with ripe black cherry and roasted plum, giving way at mid-palate to cinnamon, anise, and vanilla bean framed by stony minerality. Petite Sirah's structural contribution becomes apparent in the wine's firm tannin backbone, while cranberry-like acidity keeps the 15.2% ABV from feeling heavy.

Finish: Long and luscious, with lingering notes of earthy spice, oak, and dried cranberry. The barrel structure carries through cleanly, leaving a warm but balanced impression.

How to Drink St Francis Old Vine Zin

This Zinfandel drinks well at cellar temperature (60–65°F), where its fruit intensity and spice are most expressive. Decanting for 20–30 minutes can soften the tannins and open the aromatics further.

• Zin Sangria: The bold berry core and spice hold up beautifully against citrus, brandy, and fresh fruit.
• Zinfandel Smash: Muddled blackberries and a splash of this wine over crushed ice play directly into its bramble character.
• Red Wine Spritzer: A lighter warm-weather option where the wine's natural fruit sweetness balances soda water without going thin.

Best For

• Weeknight grilling sessions with ribs, burgers, or sausages
• Introducing someone to the old vine Zinfandel category
• Bringing a crowd-pleasing bottle to a barbecue or potluck
• Building a California Zinfandel vertical or regional comparison tasting

Frequently Asked Questions

What does St Francis Old Vine Zin taste like? It delivers ripe black cherry, wild blackberry, and roasted plum layered with cinnamon, anise, and vanilla, finishing long with earthy barrel spice and dried cranberry.

How does St Francis Old Vine Zin compare to Bogle Old Vine Zinfandel? Both are widely available old vine Zinfandels at similar price points, but St Francis sources exclusively from Sonoma County's premium appellations and carries a higher ABV (15.2%), resulting in a fuller, more concentrated style. Bogle's Lodi-sourced fruit tends toward a softer, jammier profile with less tannic structure.

Is St Francis Old Vine Zin good for sipping neat? Yes — its concentrated fruit, balanced oak, and long finish make it a satisfying wine to drink on its own, especially with 20 minutes of decanting time.

Where is St Francis Old Vine Zin made? It is produced by St. Francis Winery & Vineyards in Sonoma County, California, using grapes sourced from old vine sites across Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley.

What foods pair well with St Francis Old Vine Zin? Smoked baby back ribs complement the wine's barrel spice. Aged cheddar or Gouda mirrors its richness. Grilled lamb chops match its tannic structure. Pepperoni or sausage pizza echoes its peppery notes. Dark chocolate with dried cherries ties into its fruit and earthy finish.

What sizes does St Francis Old Vine Zin come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is St Francis Old Vine Zin worth the price? It positions as a mid-range Sonoma County Zinfandel that punches above its weight — the 92-point Wine Spectator score and Double Gold from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition suggest strong value relative to single-vineyard bottlings costing considerably more.

Why St Francis Old Vine Zin?

What separates this wine from the crowded California Zinfandel field is its sourcing discipline: every vine must be at least 50 years old, dry farmed, and head trained without trellising. That commitment to old vine integrity, drawn from four of Sonoma County's top appellations, produces a concentration and complexity that earned it 92 points from Wine Spectator and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The Petite Sirah component adds structural backbone without masking the Zinfandel's characteristic bright berry and spice. For drinkers who want serious old vine character without a boutique price tag, this remains one of Sonoma County's most dependable bottlings.