Frankie Williams

President

Frankie (aka Francine) was born on Bastille Day in New London, Connecticut. She graduated from Bay Path College in Massachusetts in 1968, and then moved to Washington, D.C to work for the CIA (and we are not talking about the Culinary Institute of America). In 1973, she relocated to California with a long-time boyfriend. The relationship did not survive, but she loved the California lifestyle and settled in for the long haul. While living in San Francisco, she met Todd Williams, who would become her husband in 1978. Together they owned Toad Manner, a bar in San Francisco, then moved to Arnold in the Sierra Foothills and opened the Whisky River Inn. They moved back to the Bay Area in 1985 and settled in Sonoma County. Todd bartended and eventually got into the wine business - while Frankie managed a law firm for several years before joining Todd at his new venture - Toad Hollow Vineyards. Together they would grow the business from an annual production of 3000 cases of Francine's Selection Chardonnay to over 100,000 cases of several different varietals. Sadly, Todd passed away in 2007, but his inspiration and vision continues on with Frankie at the helm. A bottle of Toad Hollow Chardonnay on every table - that is our goal!