Steven Kent Mirassou – Focused Vision for Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Steven, winemaker and owner of Steven Kent Winery, along with his wife Beth has had a focus for many years on raising the bar for Livermore Valley wines. He has for the last two decades focused on wanting Livermore Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to be on even par with Napa Valley. He has successfully launched his Lineage label achieving a score of 100 points and is considered one, if not the best Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced in Livermore Valley.
While he continues his quest with Cabernet Sauvignon, he has always had a spotlight on Cabernet Franc. More recently with his launch of L’Autre Côte and CabFranc-A-Palooza he has turned up the focus for Cabernet Franc. Not only for his winery, but on various boards of the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association, he has established key marks for quality excellence for wineries. Today sixteen wineries are part of this group.
Steven feels that Cabernet Franc is “truly magical” due to the “purity of fruit, balance of acidity and overt sexiness”. His goal is to showcase these traits with different ageing vessels, vineyards and blending.
Cabernet Franc
Steven’s history with this grape goes back many years and more recently his laser focus on the varietal has been rewarding. For the last few years at the International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition his record is unmatched. Here is just a partial listing of his recent awards against many of the best Cabernet Franc wines in the world:
2026
Photo ©Michael Kelly
In the California category $111 and up: Gold and Best of Category; California Overall Category – Best of Show by the Professional Judges for 2023 L’Autre Côte. They also won Grand Sweepstakes of the entire competition from the Professional Judges.
2025
Photo ©Michael Kelly
In the California category $100 and up: People’s Choice Judges – Double Gold Medal and Professional Judges – Double Gold Medal. Also, Best of Category and Best of Show for California by People’s Choice Judges for the 2022 L’Autre Côte.
Steven’s Cabernet Franc wines have always scored amongst the best year after year with wines coming from all over the state of California, the rest of the United States and against various countries. No small feat!
Photo from Steven Kent Winery
His L’Autre Côte is and will remain the flagship Cabernet Franc, but he is now working diligently to capture the mid and lower tier markets, introducing Cabernet Franc as the premier grape of choice for consumers. His Cab Franc Blanc and Rock labels by Steven Kent Winery have increased production exponentially, gathering momentum at the wine club and commercially at retail outlets like Costco. Having a dual approach DTC and a commercial outlet will allow him to continue to raise the bar for Steven Kent Winery and Livermore Valley.
Steven introduced his “Elements” line up a few years ago. Using the same grapes and exploring the effect of unique ageing methods in different vessels. Each are aged 12 months. They are called Rock, Cab Franc aged in concrete vats, Wood aged in barrel, Steel aged in stainless steel tanks and Elements a blend of the three wines. By using different methods, he allows each to provide key influences on the wine.
In addition to different vessel aging, he also has broadened his vineyard selection. Today, he offers a 2022 Cabernet Franc from the Santa Cruz Mountains, one from Ghielmetti Vineyard, and one from Sachau Vineyard both in Livermore Valley. He has worked with each vineyard for years and has a detailed and in depth understanding of the grape production from selected vines throughout the vineyards.
His 2023 L’Autre Côte besides being Cab Franc dominant, is striving for a Right Bank character of St Emilion with 10% Merlot and 5% being Cabernet Sauvignon.
Changes Coming
It was announced that Steven Kent Winery is moving back to the historic Home Ranch Vineyard on Tesla Road in the fall of 2026. They will have separate tasting room on the property where Shanti Winery is now located.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
In July sat down with Steven and Beth at their current facility on South Vasco Road and tasted some of the wines previously discussed. We also tasted one of the most exquisite wines, the 2004 Home Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2023 Premier. The 2023 Premier is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with 60% coming from Ghielmetti clone 30 and 40% Home Ranch clone 7. It was aged in 80% in new French oak for 24 months. This is truly a phenomenal wine with only 118 cases produced.
Concluding a two-hour discussion ranging from Livermore’s quest to be on the world stage with Cabernet Franc & Sauvignon Blanc as their “go to” wines of distinction, holding wineries accountable for quality, the wine industry market in general, attracting the next generations of wine drinkers, etc., the conversation could have lasted for many more hours! Between insights, laughter and serious insights we both had to call the meeting to end. Until our next discussion.
In the meantime, should you wish to acquire some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines, you know where to find them.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly