Visiting Frank Family Vineyards

The story of Frank Family Vineyards began in Rutherford in Napa Valley, where Rich Frank bought a house on a hillside vineyard. He used it as a weekend retreat for years before deciding to make Napa his permanent home with his wife Leslie, who is an Emmy-award-winning journalist from Canada. Since then, they have expanded their portfolio of world-class wines and gained a loyal following across the country.

At the wine-tasting event, I had the pleasure of sitting next to Rich Frank, who added his unique touch to the story told by the Wine Ambassador. The tasting featured four exquisite wines, showcasing the quality and diversity of the Frank Family’s wine portfolio.

We started with the Lady Edythe Brut Rosé, a 2015 vintage, which was a perfect apéritif to prepare our palates for the wines. While working our way from Chardonnay to Vintage Reds, Winemaker Todd, who grew up in Northern California, shared his winemaking philosophy with us. He emphasized the importance of staying true to the region and grape variety, and his passion for winemaking shone through his words. We learned about the different methods used to produce sparkling wines, including the method campaignoise, which is used to make Frank Family’s award-winning sparkling wines. The still wines we tasted are sourced from different vineyards, including the 2019 Winston Hill, which is Frank Family Vineyard’s flagship wine sourced in Rutherford. We learned about the different vineyards where the grapes were sourced and how the terroir influenced the final product. Each wine had its distinct personality and charm, from the bold and complex reds to the lush and complex Chardonnays.

One particularly touching moment was when we tried the RHF Cabernet Sauvignon, a tribute to Frank Family Founder, Richard Harvey Frank. He talked about his parents’ values and how they inspired him. Growing up in Bayside, New York, Rich was raised by hardworking first-generation Americans. His father, Hy Frank, was a World War II veteran who landed on Omaha Beach four days after D-Day. Rich’s mother, Edythe, worked at Macy’s to make ends meet. Upon returning to the United States in 1947, Edythe and Hy embarked on their version of the American Dream. Hy founded his own meatpacking business, where he worked for over 30 years to make enough money to send Rich to college. When talking about his parents, you could see the gratitude and thankfulness in Frank’s eyes and hear it in his voice. It was an inspiring, grateful, and admirable moment that I still think about when I remember the dinner.

Overall, the Frank Family wine portfolio represents the best of Napa Valley winemaking. Their commitment to quality and their passion for winemaking is evident in every bottle, and it’s no wonder that they have gained such a loyal following among consumers and critics alike.