Leo Francis Hummer Jr.

Leo Francis Hummer Jr.
February 28, 1950 - October 12, 2025

Leo Hummer passed on the morning of October 12, 2025 in his home in Sonoma Valley with family by his side. He was born on February 28, 1950 in Long Beach, Ca to his parents Nomah and Leo Hummer. He was raised in San Diego by his parents along with three sisters, where he fell in love with swimming and body surfing in the ocean.

His interest in wine production brought him to France in the early 1970s where he learned the art of making wine in the cellar of Paul Jaboulet in the Rhône Valley. During his year abroad in France he not only found his passion for making wine, but the love of his life, his wife, Nicole. Soon after returning from abroad he came to Sonoma Valley to start his career in wine production and to find a place to call home for him and Nicole. As the story goes, after spending an afternoon in the Sonoma plaza rose garden, he decided that Sonoma Valley was where he would spend his life and raise his family. Leo got his first start at Chateau St Jean before dedicating the majority of his career at Buena Vista Winery.  He ended his long and accomplished career in wine production at Folio and then Mondavi Family Winery.

He shared his love for swimming in the ocean in Southern California with his children. He enjoyed sharing good food and wine with family and friends, he loved every changing season in the Sonoma Valley, the San Francisco Giants, and riding his bike to Bartholomew Park.  He was a true Film Noir fan and loved travling the world through reading his National Geographic magazines.  Leo loved a witty sense of humor and he got the greatest kick out of his own wit and jokes. He loved jazz and classical music and always had it playing in the background at home.  Leo’s pure joy and happiness was being around his grandchildren. He was a story teller and he loved nothing more than reading his favorite stories or making them up on the fly to his grandchildren.

Leo leaves behind his beautiful wife, Nicole, his loving children, Remy and Charlotte, his caring daughter-in-law Christina, and his three little adoring grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Wood, Nomah Cronk and Monica Wilga along with and his nieces and nephews who all cherished him. 

A gathering to honor and celebrate Leo will be in held in the spring of 2026.  Leo’s family will let family and friends know a date and destination. Please reach out to family if you wish to attend his celebration of life.

The family asks to share a favorite memory of Leo on the tribute wall and/or share it in person with them at the celebration of life in lieu of sending flowers, planting a tree, or making a donation through the website. We also ask to refrain from sharing the obituary on any social media platform, but to send directly via email or text to any friends or family instead.

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