Why Cab Franc
Wines, like people, have a lifespan. They also have personalities. Some are imperious like Cabernet Sauvignon, some standoff-ish like Pinot Noir. Cab Franc, on the other hand, is your best friend…your confidant and wingman. Cab Franc wants the best for you and holds up a mirror showing only your best qualities. Other wines belittle and antagonize. Cab Franc Loves You!
Cab Franc is the most expressive grape in the world, full of the wonderful mystery of dark fruit and savory herbs and roasted chili aromas and flavors. Made right, this wine has no new oak to hide the glories of sensory complexity and deliciousness. It goes great with everything, accentuating – with its great acidity and freshness – all the nuances of fish, fowl, and meat.
Cab Franc is a wine for today. It shoots past those tired wines that are boring and ubiquitous, and leaves, instead, something exciting and delicious; new and abundantly beautiful.
The Family
The Mirassous have been growing grapes and making wine since the 1850s. Indeed, they are the oldest winemaking family in the US – now seven generations in the cellars and vineyards of California. It is a beautiful and exalted thing to be connected, like pearls on a string, one generation to another, working for the same outcome. The family is committed – like a lovestruck suitor – to the greatest of all grapes, and its mission is to help to create a world-class identity for Cab Franc in the Livermore Valley.
Steven Mirassou
Winemaker
Co-founder of The Steven Kent Winery in 1996 with his father, 2025 marks Steven’s 30th harvest in the Livermore Valley. Steven is a writer and a co-founder of the Cab Franc Guild of Livermore Valley and CabFranc-A-Palooza, the most diverse Cab Franc festival in the world. Steven & Beth Mirassou were married in 2023.
Beth Mirassou
Winemaker and Cellar Master
Raised in Oregon and a veteran of practically every job in the wine business, Beth was hired in 2018 as a Summer intern. Quickly, she became a full-time Winemaker and Cellarmaster for the family. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon and Las Positas College Viticulture & Enology program, and a co-founder of CabFranc-A-Palooza and of the Women’s Wine Collective of Livermore Valley.
Aidan Mirassou
Assistant Winemaker and Cellar Logistics
A 7th-generation winemaker, Aidan began working in the wine business in 2009 on the hospitality side: from polishing glasses to hosting a cellar full of wine lovers. In 2013, he joined the production team and is currently in charge of Cellar logistics as well as rounding out the family team of Winemakers. Aidan and his husband Damien were married in 2023.
Stories of Excellence from Our Wine Enthusiasts
Discover our winemaking journey, from vine to bottle, and learn how we uphold tradition and quality in every step.
The Art of Crafting Award-Winning Wines
See how dedication to heritage and meticulous craftsmanship has elevated our wines to acclaim and delighted our patrons worldwide.
Sustaining Quality Through Generations
Learn how our commitment to tradition and innovation has consistently produced exceptional vintages and memorable experiences.
Enhancing Flavor Profiles with Expert Techniques
Discover how precise vineyard management and expert blending create wines that captivate and inspire connoisseurs.
