Frank Family Vineyards sits on Larkmead Lane in Calistoga on a property with winemaking roots going back to 1884. Rich Frank, former president of Walt Disney Studios, purchased the estate in 1992 and built it into one of Napa’s most visited and celebrated wineries.

History of Frank Family Vineyards

The Larkmead Lane property in Calistoga has a long winemaking history. The original stone building dates to 1884. For decades in the mid-20th century it operated as Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars, one of the first dedicated sparkling wine producers in Napa Valley.

Rich Frank, who had served as president of Walt Disney Studios, purchased the estate in 1992. He brought in winemaker Todd Graff and began focusing on still wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel sourced from Napa Valley and neighboring regions. The winery grew steadily and became known as much for its warm, inclusive hospitality as for its wines. It was acquired by The Wine Group in 2021.

The original stone winery on the property was built in 1884 and later became a Hanns Kornell Champagne Cellars facility before Rich Frank transformed it into Frank Family Vineyards in 1992.

Calistoga and the northern Napa terroir

Calistoga sits at the warm northern end of Napa Valley, sheltered from marine influence by the mountains to the west and south. Volcanic soils from ancient eruptions of Mount Saint Helena and the Mayacamas range give the area distinctive minerality. Days are warm, nights cool, and the diurnal temperature swing builds complexity in Cabernet Sauvignon.

Frank Family sources fruit from both the Calistoga estate and vineyard sites across Napa Valley. The Rutherford Reserve Cabernet draws on the celebrated Rutherford dust terroir. The Lewis Vineyard Chardonnay comes from Carneros, where cooler conditions produce naturally high acidity and elegant stone-fruit character.

The wines of Frank Family Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon is the cornerstone. The Napa Valley Cabernet is the entry point, rich and approachable with dark fruit, vanilla, and soft tannins. The Rutherford Reserve steps up in intensity and structure, showing the gravel and dust terroir of that celebrated sub-appellation. The Winston Hill Red is the flagship red blend, named for the family’s dog.

Chardonnay from the Lewis Vineyard in Carneros is the white flagship, fermented and aged in French oak with full malolactic fermentation for a rich, layered style. The winery also produces Zinfandel and late-harvest dessert wines. Sparkling wines under the Frank Family label honor the property’s Champagne Cellars history.

Food pairings for Frank Family wines

The Napa Valley Cabernet and Rutherford Reserve are built for the table. Rich red meats are the natural match: prime rib with au jus, braised short ribs, lamb rack with herb crust. The tannin structure in these wines grips the protein in the meat and releases, letting the dark fruit and cedar come forward. Fat in the meat softens tannin perception the same way cream rounds out coffee.

The Carneros Chardonnay with its full malolactic influence pairs beautifully with roasted chicken, lobster with drawn butter, or a rich mushroom risotto. The buttery texture in the wine echoes and amplifies cream-based preparations. Avoid pairing the Chardonnay with very acidic dishes, which will flatten the wine’s rich texture.

Frank Family Vineyards: common questions