California – Carneros

Overview

Some legacies begin with legends. In 1958, Hanns Kornell introduced the French champenoise method to California. He produced this famous sparkling wine from the historic Larkmead Winery, originally built in 1884. Years later, in 1992, Rich acquired the storied winery after the purchase of a classic Tudor home in Napa Valley’s Rutherford AVA and recognized the potential for something great—again. A continued preservation of history led to the unfolding of something new.

Frank Family has called Larkmead Lane our home for winemaking and hospitality since we opened to the public on 4th of July weekend in 1993. But our property has been grounds for winemaking well over 100 hundred years. First constructed in 1884, and refinished with native sandstone from the nearby hills in 1906, the iconic Larkmead building is now considered an archetype of California’s wine country—appearing on the National Register of Historical Places and listed as a Point of Historical Interest in the state of California. Like its earlier days, the building is filled with high-stacked barrels and a rich bouquet of aging wines, creating an ambience of days past with the promise of future vintages.

Though once home to only sparkling wines, Frank Family Vineyards honors the building’s history by continuing to hand-craft four sparkling wines using the traditional French champenoise method, in addition to producing superb still wines. It’s the third-oldest winery built in Napa Valley, and in many ways, still feels like it once was.

Tasting Notes

Rich yet balanced, the 2021 Carneros Pinot Noir begins with aromas of warm baked cherries, cinnamon, and pomegranate. This wine bursts with flavor on the palate, layered in delightful acidity and soft tannins, as notes of strawberry jam and toasted rosemary harmonize into a long finish.

92 Points, James Suckling