Director of Winemaking Steve Leveque Has Revealed New Details For Technical Innovations At HALL Wines
Since joining HALL Wines in 2008, one of the premier set of luxury wineries based in Napa Valley, Director of Winemaking Steve Leveque has been strategically creating a technical blueprint for HALL Wines in St. Helena and HALL Wines in Rutherford that has paved the way for technical innovation in winemaking.
Directing winemaking for approximately 500 acres of land and five certified organic vineyards, Steve’s technical implementation and execution at HALL Wines has allowed for the creation of spectacular classic Bordeaux varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc that has garnered critical acclaim. This portfolio recognition includes over 75 wines rated 90 points and above. Most notably, Robert Parker rated 2010 HALL “Exzellenz” from the historic Sacrashe Vineyard at the HALL Rutherford site 100 points in 2013.
Under Steve’s winemaking direction at HALL Wines, the following technology has been implemented as part of the annual winemaking operations:
- Addition of the Optical Sorter Technology that helps identify and maintain grape quality
- HVAC Control System (by EMCOR) where winemaking can control humidity, heating, cooling, air and ventilation from a single button, winery wide;
- State of the Art Pond Variation System turning the irrigation system from ‘anaerobic’ into an ‘aerobic’ that drastically reduces energy
- Gravity Flow Production System that combines new age technology with old world winemaking practices;
- Tank Cooling System (Glycol System by Tankor) that can heat and cool fermentation at the touch of a button from an iPhone or lap top.
This in particular is in other industries but not a standard in winemaking productions and operations;
- State of the art automated spectrophotometer that runs enzymatic analysis, acetic, yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN), malic, glucose fructose in the Lab;
- Solar panels to monitor energy production and greenhouse gasses that are avoided;
Born and raised in Napa Valley, Steve has earned a reputation for finely crafting wines that reflect the purity of the land. The 20-year veteran of the industry honed his winemaking techniques during his 11-year tenure as a winemaker at Robert Mondavi Winery also in Napa Valley. Steve is not only a winemaker but also a lifelong viticulturist, spending considerable time working with HALL Wines director of vineyards, Don Munk, President and former winemaker Mike Reynolds, and his winemaking teams to produce fruit at a level of quality necessary for world-class wines. Steve is dedicated to creating organic grape growing environments and practices environmental sustainability with all winemaking efforts.
Steve is scheduled to speak on various upcoming engagements including an elite panel titled “Head for the Hills” during Flavor! Napa Valley this November.
Owners Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall are also prominent business and public figures. Craig is a serial entrepreneur and author of five books (owns HALL Financial in Dallas), and Kathryn is our former United States Ambassador to Austria under the Bill Clinton Administration. Additionally, Kathryn comes from a family of vintners and both are actively involved in the day-to-day operations of HALL Wines and WALT Wines in Sonoma. For more information on HALL Wines, please visit www.hallwines.com.