Walter Hansel Winery

Walter Hansel Winery and Hansel Family Vineyards in the Russian River Valley has become well known for unique Burgundian-styled Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.
Walter Hansel was a lifelong wine lover who first planted vineyards in 1978 just down the road from Kistler and Dehlinger. Stephen Hansel, Walter’s son, planted additional acres in the late 1980s, founded the winery in 1996, and made the first commercial vintage, 1996, which produced just 350 cases of Chardonnay and 70 cases of Pinot Noir.
Today Walter Hansel Winery farms 75+ acres located at the southern tip of the Russian River Valley near the Sebastopol Hills. All of the fruit is hand-harvested in the early morning hours and carefully sorted. 100% of the fruit is de-stemmed and after a cold maceration of 5-7 days, is fermented with natural yeasts in open-top ferment tanks. Cooperage varies from year-to-year, cuvee-to-cuvee, and a mix of new, one- and two-year old barrels are utilized.
All of the Pinot Noirs produced vary to some degree in flavor, density, and acidity, but in general, the style is notably more lean and austere than many California Pinot Noirs. The Chardonnays are similarly Burgundian in style and highly-awarded. About 4,500 cases of Pinot Noir and 5,000 cases of Chardonnay are produced annually.
For more information or enquiries, please contact us.