Sunce, established in 1991, is located just off of River Road on Olivet Road in the heart of the Russian River Valley.
A small ultra-premuim winery producing small lots of rare varietals, vineyard designates and classic blends. Quality is preferred over quantity; each release is limited, sometimes to 200 cases or less and many are pre-sold through barrel futures.
Sunce
pronounced soon-say
“Soon you will say the wines at Sunce are delectably fine.”
Sunce Winery, meaning “sun” in Croatian, is located on one of the oldest roads in Sonoma County. Where olive trees once dominated the landscape, century old head pruned vines now quietly assert their beauty. Nestled in this serene environment, Sunce Winery provides a tranquil, romantic, yet down-to-earth atmosphere. Enjoy a picnic on the deck and play a game or two of bocce ball. Stroll the estate Pinot Noir Vineyard and if you see Frane (the wine maker) hanging around ask him to take you to his barrels.
Frane Franicevic was born and raised on the eastern tip of the island Hvar in the village of Sucuraj, Croatia. After completing hotel school at 17, Frane and his parents immigrated to New Orleans, Louisiana. After spending a year working on a shrimp boat with his father, Frane began working as a waiter at Brennan’s and Commander’s Palace restaurant in the French quarter. To improve his English he enrolled in junior college and soon became interested in psychology. After completing two years, he transferred to West Georgia University in Carrollton, Georgia, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree and master’s in humanistic psychology. Armed with a master’s in psychology, he returned back to New Orleans and began teaching psychology at the same junior college where he began his American education.
Avid for more, Frane applied to several PhD programs that offered humanistic and transpersonal programs. He was soon admitted to The California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. In the Spring of 1980, he packed up everything and moved across the country to San Francisco, he started his PhD program in East West psychology soon after. Upon completion of his course work, he moved to Sonoma County to do research and write his dissertation. While working on his dissertation, he and his friends discovered a new hobby—home winemaking. In 1988, he completed his PhD and obtained a certification in hypnotherapy; Frane continued to make wine and practice hypnotherapy for a couple years, and soon enough, he’d made more wine than his friends and family could drink.
On the outskirts of Santa Rosa, in 1990, Frane opened a small winery called One World Winery. In 1994, he met his wife-to-be—Janae Franicevic— a natural born businesswoman with an impeccable knack for promotion, marketing, and everything it takes to build a successful business. In 1998, upon Janae’s recommendation, One World Winery became Sunce Winery (Sunce means Sun in Croatian); that same year, under Janae’s vision, they acquired their current property, planted the vineyard, and built the winery you visit today.
The Vineyard
Sunce Winery is known for its stellar single vineyard designate wines, including our own Zora’s Estate Pinot Noir. We are especially proud of our many vineyard partners, who provide us with exemplary fruit year after year. Our partners include growers in the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley, and the rising Clear Lake appellation.
