Long before she helped shape the hospitality and brand strategy of a prominent Napa Valley winery, Leslie Frank spent 25 years working as a broadcast journalist across Seattle and Los Angeles. A chance meeting at a Napa bar with her now-husband, Rich Frank—the former president of Disney Studios who founded Frank Family Vineyards in 1993—shifted her career trajectory entirely. After splitting time between Southern California and wine country for years, she joined the family business full-time in 2011. Under her guidance, the winery expanded its portfolio and hospitality footprint until its acquisition by Treasury Wine Estates in 2021. Despite the multi-million-dollar sale, the couple remains deeply involved, particularly in philanthropic efforts. This September, that commitment led the brand to New York Fashion Week for a collaborative partnership with designer Jonathan Simkhai.
“We poured wine at both Simkhai’s runway show and at the after-party, so that’s a new place for Frank Family,” Frank says. In October, the winery hosted a fashion show and luncheon with Simkhai, who created a custom wine label for a collaborative cabernet sauvignon release. Proceeds from the event and ongoing wine sales benefit Dress for Success, a workforce empowerment organization for women. “I was introduced to Jonathan’s label through my good friend Elyse Walker,” she notes. “We were looking for a design partner for our philanthropic campaign benefitting Dress for Success, and she suggested Jonathan, so I give her credit for the introduction.”
When she is not traveling or managing winery events, Frank maintains a meticulous daily wellness and beauty regimen. Her morning begins unbendingly with a single cup of coffee mixed with half-and-half, alongside collagen and newly added creatine supplements. For skincare, she relies on a precise combination of brands: Sisley Lyslait cleansing milk with white lily and Floral Toning Lotion in the morning, paired with Chantecaille’s Bio Lifting Serum+ and 24 Karat Gold Firming Moisturizer for anti-aging and hydration. To combat under-eye dryness, she applies Sisley’s Eye and Lip Contour Cream during the day and a heavier cream at night, finishing with EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 sunscreen.
Frank travels extensively, identifying Vienna, Austria, as one of her most memorable recent international destinations. She and her husband arrived via the Orient Express train from Paris, staying at the Rosewood Vienna in the historic First District. During their stay, they dined at Edvard, a Michelin-starred restaurant inside the Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna helmed by chef Paul Gamauf, whose seasonal, ingredient-driven menu features modern Austrian dishes with subtle Mediterranean influences. Cultural excursions included visiting The Belvedere to view Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss, touring the Habsburg summer residence Schönbrunn Palace, and attending a performance of Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma at the Vienna State Opera House. A 90-minute trip outside the city to the Wachau Valley provided tastings of local grüner veltliner and riesling wines.
Her travel bag invariably contains AirPods, a phone charger, an extra pair of sunglasses—favoring Oliver Peoples Stilson frames with blue lenses and Laedin sunglasses from the brand’s collaboration with Khaite—alongside a Louis Vuitton black wrap, Blue Mercury M-61 Hydraboost Lip Treatment, Sisley restorative hand cream, and Chantecaille Pure Rosewater face mist. Her reading list includes Allen Levi’s bestselling novel Theo of Golden, gifted by a friend, though her daily media intake remains rooted in journalism through subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal, , The L.A. Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Napa Valley Register, and The Press Democrat. On screen, she is watching the Apple TV psychological thriller series Cape Fear, starring Amy Adams and Javier Bardem, on which her stepson, Darryl Frank, serves as an executive producer as president of Amblin Television alongside executive producers Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Closer to home in Napa Valley, Frank’s preferred luxury retreat is Auberge du Soleil in Rutherford, praised for its valley views and casual deck dining featuring Margherita pizza from the Bar at Auberge. For spa treatments, she highlights Meadowood Spa for its exceptional massage therapists. Dining preferences in the valley include Bottega Napa Valley in Yountville, acquired by Rich Frank and business partner John Hansen roughly a year and a half ago. Featuring executive chef Alex Espinoza, the restaurant serves soulful Italian cuisine where Frank recommends the Australian wagyu steak, cacio e pepe, and Brussels sprout salad. For a more casual dinner, she points to Charlie’s in St. Helena, owned by chef Elliot Bell, known for fried chicken and pretzel-wrapped kielbasa bites. Shopping recommendations center on Elyse Walker’s St. Helena boutique for curated apparel and Melissa Kaye needle earrings.
Concluding any Napa itinerary, Frank points visitors back to Frank Family Vineyards. Led by senior winemaker and general manager Todd Graff—who has directed production since 2003—the portfolio spans sparkling wine made via the champagne method, cabernet sauvignon from the Rutherford AVA, and her personal everyday favorite: the 2024 Frank Family Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay, valued for its balanced lemon, guava, and vanilla profile supported by crisp acidity.
