Wine Interview: Katie Madigan Winemaker at St. Frances Winery | Making Great Wine at Great Scale

About this episode

Katie Madigan discusses her journey from chemistry to winemaking and the importance of sustainability in producing quality wines at scale.

This week, a behind-the-scenes look at how great Sonoma wine actually gets made. Katie Madigan of St. Francis Winery shares how she went from chemistry student to winemaker, why sustainability is more than farming, and how to keep soul and quality in wines priced around $15–$18. Katie breaks down St. Francis Winery’s approach to balance, aromatics, and vintage expression, plus what it takes to produce accessible wines at scale without losing identity. We taste and discuss: • 2023 Sonoma County Chardonnay – St. Francis Winery – Sonoma County – $15–$18 – 14% ABV • 2023 Old Vine Zinfandel – St. Francis Winery – Sonoma County – $15–$18 If you care about sustainability, value-driven California wine, or how winemakers think during harvest, this one’s for you. Subscribe for weekly wine conversations. Support the show and help keep the wine flowing! Buy us a glass! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/cheers3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the show. We would love to hear from you! Stop Wasting Your Wine on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/stopwastingyourwine/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stop Wasting Your Wine on YouTube…

People in this episode

Guest: Katie Madigan

Topics covered

• winemaking
• sustainability
• Sonoma wine
• wine tasting
• chemistry in winemaking

Keywords

• winemaker
• Sonoma County
• sustainability
• affordable wine
• wine production

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: St. Francis Winery, UC Davis

Products: 2023 Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2023 Old Vine Zinfandel

Places: Sonoma County

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