Smith Madrone Winery Turns 35

Is 35 old? That's the question asked by the Smith-Madrone winery which is celebrating their 35th year. In 1971, Stuart Smith was just 22 when he bought the land for the Napa winery. The winery is set on on hills with elevations between 1,300 and 2,000 feet and the vineyards are in red, rocky volcanic soil. Different slopes were chosen for different varietals (eastern exposure for the Reisling, southern and western for the Cabernet Sauvignon and the chillier northern slopes for the Chardonnay).

The winery produces a small amount of wine each year, less than 5,000 cases a year which it sells prices from $22 to $40 for the current releases. Brothers Stuart and Charles Smith are the vineyard managers and winemakers of Smith-Madrone Winery. The winery has created a new website Smith-Madrone is 35, to celebrate. The website includes information on the history of the property, background of the brothers and the winery's achievement. There is also an interactive area to type in comments. For an excellent tour of the winery check out Courney Cochran's post on her visit this summer. It's enough to make you want to run off to Napa.