Napa Valley’s iconic Frank Family Vineyards has a profound passion for Pinot Noir, which they have grown and sourced to craft still and sparkling wines for the past three decades. Now, they continue their exploration of this beloved grape with a crisp, light, and elegant wine, deservedly named, Leslie Rosé.

Now in its second vintage, the Leslie Rosé is a touching tribute to former newscaster and Frank Family Co-Founder, Leslie Frank. Inspired by her love for Provençal rosé, this beautiful wine was a passion project for Frank, who wanted something she could sip in the summertime but held up to the Frank Family name as a world-class producer.
Rosé is a wine that brings joy to people. It has an undeniable power to transcend you to summertime, to time with friends, and to your favorite holiday destination. “For me, as I sip this wine, I’m reminded of some of my favorite travels,” says Frank. “Its lovely rose gold shade captures the essence of summer sunsets in Napa Valley and conjures memories of sun-kissed terraces in Bandol, France.”
From its beautiful hue to its refreshing acidity and lavish layers of strawberry, white peach, and orange blossom, it offers a brilliant expression of Carneros rosé that is the perfect package of pure quenchability. It’s a wine that is both serious yet whimsical – and that’s its charm.

YEARS IN THE MAKING

Behind the scenes, Frank Family’s Cellar Master, Armando Padilla has been experimenting with still rosé production for many years, even bottling several cases exclusively for employee and family enjoyment. When Leslie first tasted and fell in love with Armando’s rosé, she wanted to take it up a notch and bring Winemaker Todd Graff into the mix to create something special just for Frank Family members and friends. With her gentle nudge, Frank Family started to intentionally cultivate and vinify Pinot Noir for the purpose of making rosé from the start.
“Pinot Noir is one of my favorite grapes to work with,” says Graff. “It’s not exactly easy to grow and it can be challenging to make, which is part of its appeal for me as a winemaker.” The grape grows so beautifully in Napa’s Carneros region which is why it comes as no surprise that Carneros Pinot Noir is capable of also producing gorgeous rosés, demonstrated by Frank Family’s newest bottling.

VINEYARD SOURCING & WINEMAKING

The Leslie Rosé is sourced exclusively from parcels of the best vineyards in Napa’s acclaimed Carneros region, including Frank Family’s estate Lewis Vineyard located along the shores of the San Pablo Bay. The cooling influences of the Bay as well as the nearby Pacific Ocean allow for delicate maturation of the grapes and retention of bright flavors. This wine was crafted with Pinot Noir grapes that were grown specifically to showcase the attributes we desire most in rosé – fresh aromatics, vibrant flavors, and natural acidity.
Picked in the chill of the night, the grapes were brought to the winery and immediately pressed while the fruit was still cool to maintain its fruit-forward profile and to achieve its perfect light hue. Fermentation took place entirely in stainless steel tanks, preserving its fresh acidity and delicate aromas before bottling just a few hundred cases earlier this spring.

ROSÉ SOIRÉE

The Leslie Rosé quickly developed a devoted following in 2020, selling out within just two months of its inaugural release. To celebrate the highly anticipated return of Leslie Frank’s namesake wine this spring, she hosted a soirée at the winery as sophisticated and exclusive as the wine itself. The first annual Leslie Rosé Soirée took place on the estate lawn at Frank Family’s Calistoga-based winery and featured endless sips of rosé plus a selection of sparkling and still wines all paired with a delightful spring-inspired menu curated by celebrity Chef Christina Machamer. The fête also showcased hand-crafted wine cocktails like the “April Showers” and “Carneros Dove”, both created by Frank Family’s Director of Hospitality and bartender extraordinaire, Liam Gearity. To cap off the event, the Frank Family team ecstatically revealed their plans to launch a new hospitality space at the winery which they hope to open to the public in fall 2022.

The Leslie Rosé is available for purchase at the winery or at their online wine shop. Due to the limited nature of this small-batch wine, allocations are limited to six bottles.