Francoise Peschon

Coming Up

Formal study at University of California, Davis gave Francoise Peschon a technical base before her work moved into some of the field’s most exacting settings. That training matters in the glass: the throughline here is not improvisation but discipline, with each cellar posting adding another layer of control, calibration, and repeatable judgment. At Château Haut-Brion in France, Francoise Peschon worked within a house whose standards demand precision at every step. The international range continues through Araujo Estate, Accendo Cellars, and Heimark Vineyard, where the work depends on close reading of fruit, site, and cellar detail. Across those appointments, the craft is consistent: select carefully, intervene sparingly, and let the material set the terms. Since 2008, Francoise Peschon has been winemaker of Vine Hill Ranch. That long tenure points to a different kind of expertise, one built through continuity rather than constant change. Over time, a single ranch can become its own training ground, and the wine can sharpen as the understanding of the place deepens.

Where They Are Now

At Accendo Cellars in St. Helena, Francoise Peschon works in a format that favors selection over volume. The signature release, Accendo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, is a small-production Napa Valley Cabernet made from selected top barrels, and that choice defines the style: fewer components, tighter control, and a final blend shaped by exclusion as much as inclusion. The stated aim is direct: “I just want to make something that captures the entire ranch.” That line frames the work as site translation, not decoration. The accompanying description is equally specific in its terms—“There is a purity and sophistication in this wine that balances the old world with the new world – great balance and tension, strong core tannins, yet very refined, with a long, lingering finish that begs for another sip.” Read as craft language, it points to structure, balance, and finish as the markers of the house style.

Signature

Francoise's signature wines include Block 6M, Accendo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2023 Sauvignon Blanc. Together they sketch a range that is Cabernet and yet attentive to nuance, with each named bottling reflecting a different facet of her precision-driven approach.

In Their Words “There is a purity and sophistication in this wine that balances the old world with the new world – great balance and tension, strong core tannins, yet very refined, with a long, lingering finish that begs for another sip.” “I just want to make something that captures the entire ranch.”

Honors

Francoise's honors include Winemaker of the Year (2019).