Leo Steen 'Rose Ranch Vineyard' Grenache Rosé, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma, California 2024
Leo Hansen grew up in Denmark as the son of a chef and hotelier, which set him on a path through Europe's wine regions before he landed in Sonoma County in the mid-1990s as a sommelier. He founded Leo Steen Wines in 2004, building the label's identity around Chenin Blanc at a time when the variety had been largely written off in California — and around the idea that a wine should let a distinctive vineyard site speak for itself. That same philosophy now carries across a small, natural-leaning portfolio sourced from sustainable, biodynamic, and organic sites up and down the California coast.
- WINEMAKER: Leo Hansen
- FARMING: Certified Biodynamic (Rose Ranch has held certification since the 1990s)
- VARIETY: 100% Grenache
- TERROIR: Sonoma Valley AVA, Sonoma County. Rose Ranch, owned by chef and farmer Steve Rose, sits in the Kenwood district at the base of Sugarloaf, an extinct volcano — old-vine Grenache planted in well-drained, lava-influenced volcanic soils.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested and pressed directly to stainless steel, fermented on native yeast.
- AGING: Aged in neutral barrels for several months prior to bottling.
- TASTING NOTES: Lifted aromas of rhubarb, strawberry, blood orange, and purple basil carry through to the palate alongside red fruit, rose petal, and white pepper. A lightly creamy texture is balanced by lively acidity and a dry, refreshing finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled seafood, herb-roasted chicken, or a summer salad with stone fruit.
Leo Steen 'Rose Ranch Vineyard' Grenache Rosé, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma, California 2024
Leo Hansen grew up in Denmark as the son of a chef and hotelier, which set him on a path through Europe's wine regions before he landed in Sonoma County in the mid-1990s as a sommelier. He founded Leo Steen Wines in 2004, building the label's identity around Chenin Blanc at a time when the variety had been largely written off in California — and around the idea that a wine should let a distinctive vineyard site speak for itself. That same philosophy now carries across a small, natural-leaning portfolio sourced from sustainable, biodynamic, and organic sites up and down the California coast.
- WINEMAKER: Leo Hansen
- FARMING: Certified Biodynamic (Rose Ranch has held certification since the 1990s)
- VARIETY: 100% Grenache
- TERROIR: Sonoma Valley AVA, Sonoma County. Rose Ranch, owned by chef and farmer Steve Rose, sits in the Kenwood district at the base of Sugarloaf, an extinct volcano — old-vine Grenache planted in well-drained, lava-influenced volcanic soils.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested and pressed directly to stainless steel, fermented on native yeast.
- AGING: Aged in neutral barrels for several months prior to bottling.
- TASTING NOTES: Lifted aromas of rhubarb, strawberry, blood orange, and purple basil carry through to the palate alongside red fruit, rose petal, and white pepper. A lightly creamy texture is balanced by lively acidity and a dry, refreshing finish.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled seafood, herb-roasted chicken, or a summer salad with stone fruit.