Franciscan Estate was established in 1973 and began producing wines of true character from our Oakville estate in 1975. Only grapes of the highest quality are deemed worthy to wear the Franciscan Estate crest. We strive to create wines of the highest character and excellence in every vintage. This is what devotion to wines of true character is all about. It is in every bottle and embodied in our crest that has been a sign of excellence on our wines for over 40 years.
Our home estate is located in Oakville, right in the heart of the Napa Valley. Our 240-acre parcel of prized land features loamy, gravely, well-draining soil which adds great structure to our wines. Our location in the center of the Napa Valley allows our Bordeaux varietals to enjoy the cooling marine influences while still receiving plenty of sun and heat. When you combine our location with dry-farming techniques, the vines produce smaller, concentrated fruit, which builds wine of good structure, body, and texture. This optimal blend gives our fruit the ability to maintain its vibrancy and ripen to its full potential.
With this unique balance of terroir and climate we knew Oakville was the ideal place to start our legacy; this was confirmed in 1975 when the very first vintage of our Napa Valley Cabernet was released. The results spoke for themselves – this was a distinctive wine of character and place. It was the first vintage to be released that included fruit from the Oakville estate. This was prior to our esteemed neighbors Opus One, Swanson, Silver Oak, and Groth. Oakville had officially landed on the map as a powerhouse district for Napa Valley Reds and Franciscan Estate had helped blaze the trail to make it happen.
High-Craft, high-touch meticulous winemaking is at the core of everything we do. We are dedicated to exploring, developing, and mastering artisanal techniques to create the perfect glass of wine in every vintage. This constant drive for perfection defines all that we do.
Founding winemaker Justin Meyer wanted to understand the nuance of vineyard sites and how wine matured over time. He diligently laid out our estate vineyard into small blocks to capture the unique microclimates and soil changes. Each block was separately fermented and cellared. The wine was only blended once it had properly evolved. This small lot approach resulted in wines of unmistakable character that highlighted the nuances of every vineyard block and vintage.
This intensely personal approach to winemaking has permeated our culture. It's an ongoing pursuit toward perfection that always has our master winemakers close to the fruit, re-examining techniques, exploring new methods, and finding better ways to bring out the ultimate expression of the vineyard. Each winemaker confidently builds on the foundations of those who came before, adding their own unique flavor to the Franciscan legacy. This spirit has inspired all that we produce, from introducing wild yeast fermentation to being a pioneer in the Napa Valley for Bordeaux style blends; our unwavering devotion to the craft and dedication to the details has driven all that we have done and continue to do.
"A full-bodied, dry, powerful and intense Cabernet Sauvignon with blackberry, cassis and dark cherry combined with mocha and sweet hints of toasty vanilla."~winery notes
10c
California
“Rich, ripe apple and pineapple, lemon zest, and honeysuckle meld with toasted marshmallow and caramel notes. Full-bodied with poached pear, crème brûlée, minerality, and marzipan
87xCalifornia » Napa Valley
Wine Review Online 90 "Winemaker Janet Myers is renowned for her bold Cabernet Sauvignons and the 2014 from Franciscan is no exception, delivering richness and weight,
Wine Enthusiast 91 “Beautifully oaked, this youthful, robustly expressive wine is lemony and salty, offering a high-toned minerality that plays out as stony texture. Pear and
“Bold and bright with notes of grapefruit, lime zest, and guava. Bright acidity with flavors of lime and pear with subtle minerality. A round palate
Tasting Panel 96 "The royal carmine hue makes this wine look all the more stately. First introduced in 1985, this Meritage blend continues to cast a
James Suckling 92 "A bright and balanced red with currant, plum, chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh
"A wine of tremendous resonance and presence, there’s a vibrant, delicious rush of ripe black cherry and plum at the entry that unfolds into a
Wine Advocate 90 "The 2013 Chardonnay Cuvée Sauvage is a beauty from Franciscan Estate. No doubt, based on the name, it was wild yeast fermented with
"Smooth entry, with lively ripe, fresh berries followed by vanilla and cocoa flavors that fill the palate. Smooth and textural, with generous body and supple
Wine Enthusiast 88 “This is a well-made approachable wine, aromatic in black cherry, cola and plum. Thick ripe flavors are highlighted in brick, black pepper and
“Rich, ripe apple and pineapple, lemon zest, and honeysuckle meld with toasted marshmallow and caramel notes. Full-bodied with poached pear, crème brûlée, minerality, and marzipan
"Our goal with Merlot is to showcase the best of this noble Bordeaux variety. We start by sourcing fruit from our Oakville Estate, which provides
"Flavors: Elegant, well-structured mouthfeel, with cherries, rich chocolate, black pepper and vibrant plum flavors filling the palate. Very supple, with fine texture and firm structure,
"Aroma: Aromas of ripe cherries and dark plum are interwoven with anise and peppercorn. Pretty and complex, the jammy fruit is complemented by the earthy
"Magnificat is one of the original Meritage blends in California, a wine Franciscan has proudly crafted since 1985. Named for J.S. Bach's masterpiece, it is
"Aromas of blackberry, plum, clove, coffee, and cassis with hints of toasty oak and sweet vanilla. Flavor Flavors of cassis, coffee and toasted
" With Chardonnay, Franciscan Estate looks for the sort of richness and opulence that malolactic fermentation and sur lie aging in oak barrels bring. They
"The wine is full bodied, yet elegantly structured with delicate mineral, honey, citrus and stone fruit characters from the Carneros lots, and classic pear and
"Flavors: Elegant, well-structured mouthfeel, with cherries, rich chocolate, black pepper and vibrant plum flavors filling the palate. Very supple, with fine texture and firm structure,
Wine Enthusiast 91 "Editors' Choice A solid Cabernet, dry and full bodied, showing classic flavors of blackberries, currants and oak, with hints of vanilla and toast. Feels
Wine Enthusiast 94 "A terrific wine that proves you don't have to spend a fortune for a top-flight Napa Valley Cabernet. It's a deeply flavored, brooding young
" Franciscan’s Merlot grows in the cooler half of Napa Valley, from the winery’s estate in the heart of the Oakville District on south to
"The wine is full bodied, yet elegantly structured with delicate mineral, honey, citrus and stone fruit characters from the Carneros lots, and classic pear and