Smith Madrone Winery: 50 Years of Winemaking
If you’ve never been to Napa Valley, the crisp air and stunning landscapes, coupled with award-winning wines make for an unforgettable experience. We are always on the lookout for a winery that knows how to captivate all possible senses in a wine-tasting experience. Smith-Madrone Winery, in the Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley takes this testament to heart, providing 50 years of carefully cultivated wines with brilliant depths of flavor in their signature Old World meets New World style.
Background
When Stuart “Stu” Smith first walked the overgrown pine-covered trails of California’s Spring Mountain in 1970, he knew the land was extraordinary. He realized this stunning hillside escape – full of charm, character, and Aiken Stoney Clay loam (this type of soil is typically found alongside volcanic ridges and is well-draining, providing an ideal situation for growing grapes) – would make for the perfect place to grow grapes.
Image Courtesy of Smith-Madrone Winery
Stu recruited his brother Charlie and began hand-cultivating the land that would become Smith-Madrone Winery. The name combines “Smith,” their last name, and “Madrone,” based on the flowering evergreen tree prominently located throughout the property.
It turns out Stu’s vision was right – Spring Mountain’s fertile slopes became a fertile ground for grapes to use in their Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and more. Their first released Riesling was a 1977 vintage and won Best Riesling in the World in the Gault Millau “Wine Olympics” in Paris via a blind tasting, setting the Smiths up for success at their now 200-acre winery.
Since then, Smith-Madrone has grown tremendously in both popularity and expertise. In 2010, Stu expanded the family business by recruiting his son Sam to join the family team of winemakers. They now produce approximately 3,000-4,000 cases of wine each year.
Left to Right: Sam, Stu and Charlie Smith. Image courtesy Smith-Madrone Winery by Meg Smith
Stu himself still hand-selects the specific hills on which the estate grapes will grow. For example, the wide-reaching southern and western slopes are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, whereas the cooler northern hills are better suited for Chardonnay. Their authentic family-focused approach has earned Stu a reputation as one of the wine industry’s most inspirational people in January 2018.
While there have been many advancements in both viticulture and enology technology in the past three decades, Stu’s approach to growing world-class wine remains the same.
“The fundamental of great wine remain the same: climate, soil, site and a sound understanding of science,” he said.
With over 50 years of success in the wine industry, this is sage wisdom for aspiring winemakers.
The Wine
We received as an introduction to Smith-Madrone the Terrific Threesome. This includes the three most well known labels produced by the winery: the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Chardonnay and the 2017 Riesling.
As an homage to their 50th anniversary, Smith-Madrone is releasing a few limited-edition wine selections. Last month, they offered Two For The Ages, two 750 ml bottles of rich and fruity 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon. In a signature wooden box, they also released Mountain Magnum II, a 1.5 L bottle of smooth 2012’s Cook’s Flat Reserve.
In addition to the monthly specials, Stu’s son Sam Smith released his own brand of wine in honor of the winery’s anniversary. His brand, Curly St. James, introduces a stellar 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc blend that has been eight years in the making.
Smith-Madrone 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
If you’re looking for a wine that is a stellar year-round choice, make sure to try Smith-Madrone’s iconic Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is made completely from estate fruit grown at a steep 1,800 feet of elevation.
This wine is demure and sophisticated and is deep garnet in color. The blend is 89.7% Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Merlot and Cab Franc. Both red and black fruits are present in the aroma and flavor but they are subtle and balanced by a bit of leather, tobacco, clove and a hint of green pepper.
This wine is neither too bold (like many Napa Valley Cabs) or too light. Its perfectly medium-bodied, rich yet acidic and the mountainous tannins frame a full mouthful and lingering finish.
You can enjoy this production equally with or without food. It paired perfectly with a jalapeño venison sausage that Cheryl’s dad made but it would also be great with a smoked brisket or a pungent Taleggio cheese.
Smith-Madrone 2017 Chardonnay
Smith-Madrone’s 2017 Chardonnay is a true example of what this grape is supposed to taste like! It is a mineral driven wine with layers of golden apple, stone fruit, butterscotch, vanilla and lemon curd and it finishes with a toasted nuttiness.
These elements work together, none overwhelming the others. The rich flavors are restrained by the acidic bite by which it pays homage to the grapes French origins.
Take a bottle of this on your next picnic date and thank us later, its an absolute stunner! Suggested food pairings for this wine are rich, semi-soft cheeses, grilled chicken dishes and a Pasta Carbonara.
Smith-Madrone 2017 Riesling
You can’t think of Smith-Madrone without thinking of their award-winning Riesling. The fact that a cold weather loving grape is thriving in what we typically think of as a very warm climate in Napa Valley is surprising in itself but the Spring Mountain District has the steep mountain terroir and temperate weather necessary for success.
Smith-Madrone was actually the premier American producer of Riesling in the market, and in our opinion it ranks right up there with the best of them from Alsace France and Germany.
We found the 2017 Riesling to be sexy, silky and full of honeysuckle, bright citrus, lychee fruit and the ever present component of petrol that is characteristic of this varietal. It is zesty, mineral driven and lusciously-textured, all while being dry on the palate.
This riesling is classy enough for a special occasion but you really don’t have to wait for one. You could enjoy a bottle on a hot summer night with a juicy cedar-plank salmon or in the middle of the winter with an order of your favorite spicy Thai take out dish. We recently cracked ours open while relaxing on a staycation at a local boutique hotel at dusk.
Partnership With Cowgirl Creamery
In honor of their 50th anniversary, Smith-Madrone partnered with Cowgirl Creamery, an artisanal cheese company based in Point Reyes, California, and one of our all-time favorite cheesemakers. We actually visited them in 2019 while checking out some of the creameries on the California Cheese Trail!
Charcuterie boards have always been a crowd pleaser but recently exploded in popularity due to their aestheticism and customization options. What better pairing to a tasteful display of cheese than some artisanal wine! Here’s an easy tutorial on how to create your own sexy cheese board.
There are many tasty options to choose from, but Smith-Madrone recommends pairing the “Cowgirl Classic” – a combination of Mount Tam, Pierce Point, and Wagon Wheel cheeses – with their wines. In honor of their anniversary, anyone who purchases any Smith-Madrone wine will get a discount code for Cowgirl Classic’s cheeses.
Cheeses carried at the Cowgirl Creamery Point Reyes Location
Try Their Wines
Discovering a delicious wine is special, but finding a winemaker that offers a full sensory experience is straight up fabulous. You can tell how much compassion and care goes into every bottle, so it’s no surprise that Smith-Madrone has been exceeding expectations for the last 50 years.
Check out the impressive mountain views and even more impressive wines at Smith-Madrone Winery in Napa Valley. After being closed to the public during the pandemic and following the Glass fire in fall of 2020, the winery finally reopens its doors for tastings and tours this week on August 14, 2021!
Image courtesy of Smith-Madrone Winery by Matthew Denny
Get in Touch
Visit the Smith-Madrone Winery online store to purchase a bottle for your next special occasion.
Learn more about Smith-Madrone on their website.
Follow Smith-Madrone on Instagram to stay up-to-date with the brand.