Charles Smith

A MAN AND A PASSION

There are few winemakers with a story like Charles Smith. Although he was born and raised an hour's drive from Napa Valley, CA, Charles didn't discover his love for wine until he moved to Europe. While living abroad, he led a number of rock bands, including the famous Danish duo The Raveonettes. It was the food and drink of a rock 'n' roll life along the way that sparked Charles' passion for fine wine.

In 1999, on a road trip to Walla Walla, WA, Charles met a winemaker who convinced him to start making his own wine, true to his own story and vision. And in 2001, Charles released 330 cases of his first vintage. Eight years later, he was named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine magazine and again in 2014 by Wine Enthusiast.

 LAND AT HAND. VINEYARD TO BOTTLE.

Charles' knowledge of and respect for old-world winemaking techniques, combined with his dedication to how people actually drink wine, is what makes his wines so unique. His red wines undergo a prolonged maceration on the skin, without stretching after malolactic fermentation is complete. This allows for a longer time on the lees, increasing the mouthfeel. For whites, he waives battonage, and they are fined and filtered for stability. And as soon as they're ready to drink, Charles says, drink it the way you want it.

In 2008, Charles Smith Wines was recognized by Wine & Spirits magazine as one of the "Best New Wineries of the Last Ten Years" and as "Winery of the Year" in its annual buying guide. In 2009, Charles was named "Winemaker of the Year" by Food & Wine magazine; in 2010, Seattle Magazine recognized Charles as "Winemaker of the Year"; and in 2014, Wine Enthusiast also named him "Winemaker of the Year."