Winemaker Interview Series – Stephen Cruzan of Lasseter – April 2026

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, we had the opportunity to interview Stephen Cruzan again. Stephen is at a new winery! We interviewed Stephen in July of 2023 when he was the winemaker at Titus. Now, Stephen is the winemaker for Lasseter. During the interview, we covered three white wines: a 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, a 2023 Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon blend, and a 2023 Chardonnay. On the red side, we covered a 2021 Merlot, a 2023 Malbec, a 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, and, finally, the winery’s 2021 and 2023 Syrahs from Moon Mountain. We will be covering a few other wines from them in future tastings, so you will be able to read all about those wines as well. In this post, you will learn more about Stephen and the history of the Lasseter winery and read our reviews of all of these terrific Lasseter wines.

Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Stephen shared in the interview.

• Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to Lasseter?
  • Stephen graduated North Carolina State University in 2004 with a B.S. in Biochemistry. His plan was to be a researcher.
  • While working at a North Carolina restaurant, after graduation he had a chance meeting with a Sonoma winemaker that resulted in a lightbulb moment for him. He realized that winemaking would allow him to merge his love of fine wine and science. So, he moved to California.
  • He worked harvests in New Zealand, Burgundy, and Germany’s Mosel River Valley along the way.
  • In California he started off at Kathryn Hall Vineyards in St. Helena.
  • Stephen met Phillip Titus at Chappellet in 2009. In 2012 he moved over to Cade. When the Titus Winery facility was built in 2015, Stephen took over the winemaking at Titus for 10 years.
  • He was hired at Lasseter in June of 2025. He is excited to lead the winemaking program at Lasseter, with the focus on organic farming and the estate-driven wines.
• Stephen was fully involved with finishing the 2024 wines upon his arrival, so he did not make any of the wine covered in this session. Those wines were made by former winemaker, Danielle Langlois who we interviewed in September of 2025 covering her own brand Jambe de Bois.
• Tony Biagi has been Lasseter’s consulting winemaker historically. What is his role going to be with you?
  • Tony will remain as the consultant. He is a great sounding board for me.
  • Stephen noted that he has never made a Grenache/Mourvedre blend. So, Tony’s deep knowledge of making Rhône and Bordeaux styled wines along with his great experience over many vintages of consulting on Lasseter wines, makes him an invaluable asset to Stephen and Lasseter.
• We also briefly talked about vineyard management at Lasseter.
  • With Phil Coturri retiring, what was the plan?
  • Phil planted all of their organic vineyards.
  • In 2026, they will be transitioning to a new vineyard management company.
• Stephen told us a little bit of history about the Lasseter’s and how the winery started.
  • John began his career as an animator with the Walt Disney Company.
    • After being fired from Disney for promoting computer animation, he joined Lucasfilm, where he collaborated on the then-groundbreaking usage of CGI animation.
    • The Graphics Group of the Computer Division of Lucasfilm was sold to Steve Jobs and became Pixar in 1986.
    • John Lasseter oversaw all of Pixar’s films and associated projects.
      • He personally directed several successful animated films such as Toy Story 1 & 2, A Bug’s Life, and Cars 1 & 2.
      • He was the executive-producer for all other Pixar films through 2018.
      • His films have grossed more than $19 billion, making him one of the most financially successful filmmakers of all time.
  • John and Nancy first met at a computer graphics conference in San Francisco in 1985.
    • They would escape to wine country for romantic getaways, and they ultimately chose Sonoma County for their honeymoon.
    • They fell so much in love with wine country, that they moved to Sonoma Valley in 1993.
    • They quickly caught the wine bug from vintner friends and Nancy got involved in wine as an amateur winemaker.
    • By 1997 they were bottling up their own Bordeaux blend to give out as Christmas gifts.
      • Passage was the original wine made. Then they added a Rose, and then a CDP inspired Grenache blend.
    • In 1999-2001, They bought a historic winery and vineyard. Their first wines were made in the old ghost winery.
    • In 2005 they bought the property in Glen Ellen.
    • In 2005 they started making Lasseter Family wine in the new facility.
    • In 2007 they hired a full-time winemaker.
• Stephen shared come details about their Estate Vineyards
  • All the vineyards are organically farmed with a deep commitment to water conservation.
  • The Justi Creek Vineyard in Glen Ellen.
    • It has been restored and reimagined with varietals and clones that are tailored to the diverse microclimates throughout the property.
    • The site benefits from being in the narrowest section of the valley, which is effectively a funnel for cool ocean breezes. That provides cold nights to balance the warm days. That allows for full flavor ripeness to develop and good acid retention.
    • The Upper Bench Blocks are situated above the valley floor. They feature the red Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec.
    • The Heritage Blocks are in the warmest location on the estate. These blocks include a century-old Zinfandel block.
      • The Zinfandel block was planted in 1919, it is a classic field blend of Zinfandel with eight other varieties in the mix.
    • The Creekside Blocks along the east side of Calabazas Creek hold the original planting of red Rhône varieties on the property: Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre.
      • More recent plantings in the Train Block and Crescent Oaks Block, include Semillon along with additional Mourvèdre and Grenache vines.
  • The Stone’s Throw Vineyard is the most recently acquired vineyard.
    • It is named for its proximity to Justi Creek Vineyards. It is just a stone’s throw from our original vineyards.
    • It is being developed for red Rhône varieties. Particularly Grenache and Syrah.
  • Trinity Ridge Vineyard is in the Moon Mountain district.
    • This high-elevation vineyard was purchased in 2017.
    • It opened a whole new chapter for the winery.
    • There are 9 acres of vines planted and carved out of a 52-acre site.
    • There is Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc on west side.
    • There is Chardonnay and Syrah that thrive in the cooler “bowl” southern section of the vineyard.
  • Los Guilicos Vineyard is another recent vineyard. It is located just north of the winery
    • This location is an ideal microclimate for white wine varieties, especially Sauvignon Blanc.
    • The 50% of the Sauvignon Blanc was replanted in 2016. The remaining 50% was replanted in 2021.
    • The fruit grown here makes for a perfect complement to the Semillon grown at our Justi Creek Vineyards.
• Stephen shared some thoughts on recent vintages.
  • 2023 was rainy and cold. Everything was delayed and came in late.
    • The 2023 reds have more age ability.
  • The 2024 vintage is a lusher style. They will display more fruit.
• Some tidbits on the wines.
  • The Sauvignon Blanc was aged in 41% new French oak for 10 months.
  • They didn’t make a white wine for quite a long time.
    • Then they finally found the style of wine they wanted to produce. Hence “Viola”!
    • “Viola” was inspired by the white wines of Bordeaux.
  • The Chardonnay is made from Wente clones and Miller clones.
    • This vineyard is bird netted because the birds really like to eat these grapes.
    • The wine gets 50% new oak with a medium plus toast.
  • The Merlot based wine called “Paysage” means “View or Vista” or view from the winery.
  • The “Reminiscence” Cabernet is named after “their travels in France.”
    • The vineyard was planted in 1999-2001.
    • The big press on the label, actually still exists on the property.
  • The Malbec base wine called “Amoureux” means the “the lovers.”
    • Inspired and named after one of their anniversary trips.
    • Stephen feels Malbec is by far the sturdiest Bordeaux grape. It is very flexible.

Below is a summary of the wine offerings from Lasseter that we covered with Stephen. The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find some of these wines via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wines lists. You can also purchase these wines on the Lasseter website.

1) Lasseter 2023 Sauvignon Blanc “Trinity Ridge” (Moon Mountain) $60 (KWGTP 93)
2) Lasseter 2023 White Blend “Voilà” (Sonoma Valley) $55 (KWGTP 92)
3) Lasseter 2023 Chardonnay “Trinity Ridge Vineyard” (Moon Mountain) $85 (KWGTP 93.5)
4) Lasseter 2021 Merlot “Paysage” (Sonoma Valley) $75 (KWGTP 93.5)
5) Lasseter 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon “Reminiscence” (Sonoma Valley) $125 (KWGTP 94.5)
6) Lasseter 2023 Malbec “Amoureux” (Sonoma Valley) $75 (KWGTP 94)
7) Lasseter 2021 Syrah “Trinity Ridge” (Moon Mountain) $125 (KWGTP 97)
8) Lasseter 2023 Syrah “Trinity Ridge” (Moon Mountain) $125 (KWGTP 95.5)

Additional Lasseter Wines Covered In Other Tastings
9) Lasseter 2024 Sauvignon Blanc “Trinity Ridge” (Moon Mountain) $60 (KWGTP 92.5)
10) Lasseter 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon “Reminiscence” (Sonoma Valley) $125 (KWGTP 95.5)
11) Lasseter 2023 Merlot “Paysage” $75 (Review to follow late summer)

You can find reviews of past and future Anarchy wines that we cover on the Lasseter KWG winery page on our website. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! – Ken