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Home / Winemakers

Our Story

Leo Steen Wines is the upshot of my enchantment with exceptional, food-friendly wines that express integrity and restraint. My journey here began while working as a sommelier in Denmark, immersed in the interplay between food and wine. The more I cultivated my palate; the more my love of the grape shaped my path. Ultimately, I realized that becoming a winemaker was a natural and irresistible destination.

Beginning with my first vintage, my goal has been to make interesting wines with a sense of place and a purpose. For me, the “purpose” of my wines is a quintessential element in my winemaking philosophy. I look back to my experience as a sommelier, guiding people through an exploration of the timeless relationship between wine and food. I loved thinking about how food and wine worked together and offering people choices beyond the obvious. The satisfaction of introducing people to new varieties from exciting undiscovered vineyards, and showing how these wines enhanced great food, was and continues to be thrilling for me.

My wines are made by my own hands in small lots using gentle, traditional winemaking techniques. In the spectrum of California winemaking, they are crafted at lower alcohols, with very modest oak or none at all. While my wines offer lovely fruit, I strive to express the purity of flavors as part of a balanced and harmonious whole. Finally, to ensure that every barrel of wine receives the attention it deserves, I make less than 1,000 cases each vintage.

— Leo Hansen

Winery Image or Video

Founded with the desire to make interesting wines with a sense of place and purpose

Winemaker Leo Hansen’s enchantment with remarkable, food-friendly wines began during his time as a sommelier in Denmark and has grown into a small production of hand-crafted, traditional wines. He is a champion of Chenin Blanc and encourages everyone to “Drink Chenin.”

Minimal Intervention Black Dot Sustainable Black Dot Vegan-friendly Black Dot Family-owned Black Dot California

Our Story

Leo Steen Wines is the upshot of my enchantment with exceptional, food-friendly wines that express integrity and restraint. My journey here began while working as a sommelier in Denmark, immersed in the interplay between food and wine. The more I cultivated my palate; the more my love of the grape shaped my path. Ultimately, I realized that becoming a winemaker was a natural and irresistible destination.

Beginning with my first vintage, my goal has been to make interesting wines with a sense of place and a purpose. For me, the “purpose” of my wines is a quintessential element in my winemaking philosophy. I look back to my experience as a sommelier, guiding people through an exploration of the timeless relationship between wine and food. I loved thinking about how food and wine worked together and offering people choices beyond the obvious. The satisfaction of introducing people to new varieties from exciting undiscovered vineyards, and showing how these wines enhanced great food, was and continues to be thrilling for me.

My wines are made by my own hands in small lots using gentle, traditional winemaking techniques. In the spectrum of California winemaking, they are crafted at lower alcohols, with very modest oak or none at all. While my wines offer lovely fruit, I strive to express the purity of flavors as part of a balanced and harmonious whole. Finally, to ensure that every barrel of wine receives the attention it deserves, I make less than 1,000 cases each vintage.

— Leo Hansen

From the Winery

Leo Hansen hard at work raking grapes out of a bin and wearing his Drink Chenin t-shirt

Leo Hansen works during the harvest of Chenin Blanc. Even his famous "Drink Chenin" tee has captured the attention of the Wall Street Journal.

Shop Leo Steen

Natural

 
Leo Steen

2020 Chenin Blanc

$24.00
Chenin Blanc Black Dot California Black Dot Mendocino County Black Dot

Unique Find

 
Leo Steen

2018 Bruzzone Vineyard Chardonnay

$36.00
Chardonnay Black Dot California Black Dot Santa Cruz Mountains Black Dot

Bruzzone Vineyard

This cool site vineyard, planted in 1998, is surrounded by forests and the fog line that follows along the coast is a central factor in determining the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA designation. The dry-farmed Chardonnay vines yield small, tiny-berried clusters that achieve excellent acidity and a lovely ripeness at low sugar levels.

AVA

Santa Cruz Mountains

Near Santa Cruz and the Pacific Ocean

Soil

Sandy soils, rich marine deposits

Elevation

160 - 550 ft