About the Winemaker
Frank Favalora’s winemaking experience had a humble beginning when he met his future Father-in-law, Stan Planchon. Stan was instrumental in teaching Frank about farming a vineyard and home winemaking. After several years of working alongside Stan, Frank bought his own property and planted his own estate vineyard in 1999.
Favalora Vineyards Winery was established in 2015 after many years of farming and continuous honing of his winemaking skills. Frank feels that although he has had success in his winemaking thus far, he feels that there is much more to learn and experience in winemaking and vineyard farming.
Being involved with wine has created many lifelong relationships and experiences. Frank is continually evolving as he gains new associations and understandings in winemaking. He feels he has increased his knowledge and perspective by making wine with his daughter, Giannina Favalora.
“I enjoy sharing my experiences in winemaking and life one on one while enjoying the wines” - Frank Favalora
“I always hear my dad say what matters most is what's in the bottle, we need to help the wine be what it wants to be, without manipulating it. We make real wine by helping wine present itself and all its natural complexities.” - Giannina Favalora
Frankie’s Perspective
As a boutique winery owner, I am usually pouring my wines for customers and getting to know them. I look forward to meeting and sharing the different wines that I make. All the wines I make have their own story to tell and it’s a great time during your tasting to tell that story.
Small Production
Only producing approximately 700 cases per year, each of our wines is the result of dedicated handcrafting from vine to bottle. You’ll be taking home a high-quality, unique wine.
Grape Source
Almost all of our grapes come from Oakley CA. We farm Barbera, Carignane, Muscat Canelli, and Zinfandel on our estate vineyard. We source old vine Carignane, Mataro, and Zinfandel from the Del Barba Vineyards as well as a St. Peters church clone Zinfandel from Madruga Vineyards, both located in Oakley CA. Besides the wines we make from Oakley grapes, we also source grapes from Sonoma, Alexander Valley, Carneros, and Russian River AVA’s. We source from trusted friends and family who are dedicated to their vineyards, they’re well-kept and produce quality grapes.
Sophia Favalora Vineyards
“A good wine starts in the Vineyard.”
Frank understands and believes that quality wine starts with quality vineyard practices. Frank has always put forth his best efforts to maintain his vineyard to ensure optimal quality and production. Frank's father-in-law always impressed in him that if he takes care of his vineyard then it would take care of him, just like anything in life. Another one of his famous sayings, “You can’t make honey out of horse shit.” Amen.
Oakley’s Terroir
Oakley is a hot weather climate and has a unique microclimate because it is along the San Joaquin and Stockton River confluence. Similar to the microclimate that areas of Napa get from the Napa River. Oakley has rolling dunes of sandy soil, hot summer days, and cool nights, creating a long extended growing season. All this combines to produce a distinct and unique wine, unlike that which you'll find anywhere else.
Terroir means "The combination of factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character." The important factor is the "distinctive taste". You may have tasted a Carignane before, or a Zinfandel, or a Barbera, but, unless you've tasted one from the Oakley area, then you haven't tasted the special and unique flavors of Favalora wines from Oakley.
