酒莊巡禮:加州 聖方濟酒莊
St. Francis Winery Description

我們的創辦人喬·馬丁(Joe Martin)愛上了索諾瑪谷(Sonoma Valley),並於1971年創立了聖方濟酒莊(St. Francis Vineyard),種植了22英畝的夏多內(Chardonnay)以及索諾瑪谷第一批60英畝的梅洛(Merlot)。在成為成功的葡萄種植者後,喬於1979年創立了聖方濟酒莊(St. Francis Winery)。

我們的首位釀酒師湯姆·馬基(Tom Mackey)於1983年加入聖方濟,他以將索諾瑪的梅洛和夏多內提升為超高品質、可獨立表現的單一品種葡萄酒而聞名。《葡萄酒觀察家》(Wine Spectator)更稱他為「梅洛之王」(The Master of Merlot),著名酒評家羅伯特·帕克(Robert Parker Jr.)也給予了高度評價。

1988年,聖方濟酒莊與科夫家族(Kopf family)展開合作。該家族因其在葡萄酒與烈酒產業中的歷史傳承與對品質的堅持而廣受尊敬。科夫家族的傳奇始於1933年禁酒令解除後,魯迪·科夫(Rudy Kopf)在紐約創立了梅西百貨(Macy’s)葡萄酒與烈酒部門,該部門後來成為全美最優秀的酒類零售商之一。

環境與社會責任

我們在索諾瑪谷與俄羅斯河谷(Russian River Valley)擁有超過400英畝的「永續農業認證」葡萄園。我們堅守永續發展的「三個E」原則:環境(Environment)、經濟(Economics)與社會公平(Social Equity)

  • 太陽能板提供我們高達40%的能源需求
  • 我們的農業實踐(包括種植覆蓋作物與堆肥)有助於減少灌溉與除草劑的使用
  • 我們的水資源與材料回收計畫有效節省資源——酒瓶中有45%使用回收玻璃
太陽能板提供我們高達40%的能源需求

太陽能板提供我們高達40%的能源需求

材料回收計畫

材料回收計畫

聖方濟酒莊積極參與索諾瑪社區服務,也因此獲得多項榮譽,包括:

  • 每售出一瓶酒,就捐贈1美元給「Canine Companions」,為身心障礙者提供服務犬
  • 每年十月舉辦「動物祝福儀式」,延續聖方濟的精神
  • 主導節日衣物與玩具募集活動,幫助弱勢族群
  • 積極參與創辦人紀念日的社區志工服務
每售出一瓶酒,就捐贈1美元給「Canine Companions」,為身心障礙者提供服務犬

每售出一瓶酒,就捐贈1美元給「Canine Companions」,為身心障礙者提供服務犬

動物祝福儀式

動物祝福儀式

衣物與玩具募集活動

衣物與玩具募集活動

創辦人紀念日的社區志工服務

創辦人紀念日的社區志工服務

 

優良品種與獲獎紀錄

我們也與索諾瑪郡的頂尖葡萄農建立長期合作關係,這讓我們得以取得該地區最受讚譽的老藤金粉黛(Zinfandel)與其他優質葡萄品種。

聖方濟酒莊獲得全球葡萄酒愛好者的高度評價,並於2013與2015年被OpenTable用戶票選為「全美第一」。2024年,我們也獲《舊金山紀事報》選為舊金山灣區最佳酒莊。我們的葡萄酒多次榮獲業界大獎!

我們的酒莊與優雅的傳教風格(mission-style)訪客中心坐落於索諾瑪谷核心地帶,四周環繞著我們自家的葡萄園。

 

 

 

   —— 聖方濟酒莊暨葡萄園總裁兼執行長:Rick Bonatati

Our founder, Joe Martin, fell in love with Sonoma Valley & established St. Francis Vineyard in 1971, planting 22 acres of Chardonnay and the first 60 acres of Merlot in Sonoma Valley.  After achieving great success as a grower, Joe opened St. Francis Winery in 1979.

Our first winemaker, Tom Mackey, joined St. Francis in 1983 and was renowned for elevating both the quality and style of Sonoma Merlot and Sonoma Chardonnay as ultra-premium, stand-alone varietals.   Wine Spectator named the St. Francis Winemaker at the time, Tom Mackey, “ The Master of Merlot”.   The esteemed Robert Parker, Jr. provided positive acclaim as well!

In 1988, St. Francis partnered with the Kopf family, long admired for their historic family legacy in the wine and spirits industry & their commitment to quality.  The Kopf legacy began in 1933 upon the repeal of prohibition, when Rudy Kopf founded the Wine & Spirits Dept. of Macy’s in New York, which became one of the finest wine and spirits retailers in America.

We farm more than 400 acres of Certified Sustainable estate vineyards in Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley. We are committed to the “3 E’s” of Sustainability – Environment, Economics, and Social Equity

  • Solar panels provide up to 40% of our energy needs
  • Farming practices – including cover crops and composting – reduce the need for irrigation and herbicides
  • Water and materials recycling program in place to save resources – 45% recycled glass is used in our wine bottles

St. Francis Winery is heavily involved with our Sonoma Community, and has received accolades for community service, including:

  • For every bottle of wine sold, we contribute US$1 to Canine Companions, providing service dogs for the disabled
  • Conducting a Blessing of the Animals every October in keeping with St. Francis
  • Leading a Holiday Clothing and Toy Drive for the Less Fortunate
  • Participating in a Founder’s Day Community Service activities

We also nurture long-term relationships with top Sonoma County grape growers, giving the Winery access to some of the region’s most coveted old vines Zinfandel and other varietals from acclaimed vineyards.

St. Francis has earned worldwide praise from legions of fans and was voted “#1 in America” in 2013 and 2015 by “OpenTable” diners, and the Best Winery of the Sanfrancisco Bay Area for 2024 from the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.  Our wines have received many industry accolades!  Our Winery and beautiful mission-style Visitor Center are located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, surrounded by our estate vineyards.

酒莊巡禮:Cline Family Cellars克萊恩家族酒莊
Introduction to Cline Family Cellars

酒莊背景

弗雷德(Fred)和南希·克萊恩(Nancy Cline)於1982年在加利福尼亞州奧克利創立了克萊恩家族酒莊,並使用穆維爾德(Mourvèdre),仙粉黛(Jinfandel)和卡里尼亞娜(Carignane)的原始種,其中一些葡萄樹甚至可追溯到1880年代。 1989年,為了擴大自己的生意,Fred和Nancy Cline在Carneros購置了一個350英畝的馬場,並將酒廠遷至索諾瑪縣。他們選擇的地點以豐富悠久的歷史,以及從未種植過葡萄樹的美麗起伏的丘陵吸引了他們。他們不斷成長的家庭終於有足夠的空間,如今有七個有才華,獨立自主和創造力的孩子。弗雷德·克萊恩(Fred Cline)是最早在加利福尼亞種植法國羅納(Rhône)葡萄品種的葡萄酒商之一,也是最早的“羅納別動隊(Rhone Rangers)”之一。 Cline的外祖父Valeriano Jacuzzi是發明Jacuzzi漩渦浴的7個Jacuzzi兄弟之一。

綠色產線認證

克萊恩酒莊在葡萄園和釀酒廠中均獲得“加利福尼亞可持續發展認證”以及“索諾瑪縣可持續發展認證”。它安裝了34,625平方英尺的太陽能電池板後,成為加利福尼亞第二大完全依靠太陽能供電的釀酒廠。克萊恩(Cline)稱他的耕作方式為“綠色產線認證”,因為他使用天然的農作物來滋養土壤,使用綿羊除掉葡萄園中的雜草,並使用堆肥茶代替化肥來替代肥料。
弗雷德和鮑比(Fred and Bobby)開發的綠繩農耕方法是一種促進和增強生物多樣性,生物循環和土壤生物活動的系統。這些方法最大程度地減少了來自空氣,土壤和水的污染,並優化了土壤,植物,動物,以及人的健康和生產力。我們盡一切努力減少水土流失和其他有害的生態足跡。我們的自我滋養系統僅需最少的人工干預,便可以生產出優質的農作物。

生態循環耕種

借助蠕蟲進一步消化一些較粗的堆肥,然後在強制的有氧茶釀造機中進行生物增殖。這種“堆肥茶”通過滴灌系統引入葡萄園,從而將廣效的奇妙物質直接應用於我們的土壤。
將火山岩磨碎,然後將粉碎的煤渣撒到土壤上。這些煤渣具有廣泛的礦物學特徵,為我們的葡萄園提供了一系列複雜的營養物質和微量礦物質。採取了這些額外的步驟來確保葡萄藤具有所有必要的成分,以增強克萊恩葡萄酒的性格。
為了代替了有害的農藥,貓頭鷹和猛禽棲息地位於葡萄園中。晚上的貓頭鷹和白天的老鷹是地鼠和老鼠的捕食者。猛禽幫助維持生態控制。已經創造了一個棲息地,讓有益的昆蟲也可以這樣做。覆蓋作物的房子蜘蛛以蟎蟲和葉蟬為食。
2005年,克萊恩(Cline)是首批完全利用太陽能的釀酒廠之一。在2018年,Cline用最新技術升級了原始陣列,旨在抵消我們釀酒廠100%的用電量。每年生產586,000 kWh,我們的目標是實現能源獨立。我們對太陽能的承諾還每年節省空氣436公噸的二氧化碳,相當於每年減少超過一百萬英里的行駛。

克萊恩家庭酒莊致力於可持續發展,克萊恩酒莊透過農業和葡萄酒生產過程體現了這種奉獻精神。

Cline Family Cellars Background

Fred and Nancy Cline started Cline Family Cellars in 1982 in Oakley, California, making his first vintages from original plantings of Mourvèdre, Zinfandel, and Carignane, some of which dated back to the 1880s. In 1989, to expand their small business, Fred and Nancy Cline purchased a lovely 350-acre horse farm in Carneros and moved the winery to Sonoma County. The location they selected enticed them with a rich, historical past and beautiful rolling hills that had never been planted to grapevines. There was ample space for their growing family, which today includes seven talented, independent and creative children. Fred Cline was one of the first vintners to plant French Rhône varietals in California, and is one of the original “Rhone Rangers”. Cline’s maternal grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi, is one of the 7 Jacuzzi brothers, who invented the Jacuzzi whirlpool bath.

Cline Cellars is “Certified California Sustainable” as well as “Sonoma County Certified Sustainable” in the vineyard and in the winery. It became the second largest winery in California that is completely solar-powered, when it installed 34,625 square feet of solar panels. Cline calls his farming practices “Green String certified”, for his use of natural cover crops to nourish soils, practice of using sheep to eliminate weeds in the vineyards, and use of compost teas for fertilizer instead of petroleum-based equivalents.
The Green String farming method developed by Fred and Bobby is a system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. These methods minimize pollution from the air, soil, and water, and optimize the health and productivity of soil, plants, animals and people. We make every effort to reduce soil erosion, and other harmful ecological footprints. Our self-nourishing system of minimal human intervention yields excellent quality crops.

Instead of herbicides, 1500 sheep and 500 goats roam our vineyards, tasked with removing invasive weeds. In spring, they munch on new growth between the vine rows. During summer months, sheep clear the weeds from the vineyard floor while chomping on vine leaves, allowing more sunlight to stream into the canopy and ripen the grapes.
Cover crops feed the soil; a wide mix of plant types are chosen specifically to produce soil-enhancing organic material. Cover crops are folded back into the soil while providing nutrition to our wooly weeders. These practices stimulate a living soil, a rich system where our vines can form deep roots. We compost and reuse all digestible organic waste and materials from our winery including: 3000 tons of grape pomace per year, prunings from our trees and vines, plus chipped materials from the landscape. We turn this “waste stream” into biological stimulant and food for our soils.

Some rougher compost is further digested with the aid of worms, then biologically proliferated in a forced aerobic tea brewer. This “compost tea” is introduced to vineyards through the drip irrigation system, thereby applying the broad-spectrum indigenous matter directly to our soil.

Volcanic rock is ground, then the crushed cinder is spread onto the soil. Having a wide spectrum of mineralogy, these cinders provide our vineyards with a complex array of nutrients and trace minerals. These extra steps are taken to make sure the vines have all the necessary components to build fullness of character in Cline wine.