Category: General Smith-Madrone

Smoking the turkey

Wine writer Anatoli Levine talks smoked turkey and Smith-Madrone:

Happy Thanksgiving!
Celebrating Thanksgiving with Smith-Madrone wines and smoked turkey.
It was very cold today (24F/-4C for the high, plus the strong wind), so it took about 6 hours for this turkey in @pitbarrelsmoker – but the result was spectacular – I wish I will be able to share the smell one day here.
The wines were spectacular too – beautiful, succulent Riesling with a distant hint of petrol, classic California Chardonnay with a touch of butter, and delicious, lean, perfectly structured, classic Cabernet Sauvignon.
Happy Holidays to all! .
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqgCIdiHafc/

Congrats to Roberson!

Congratulations to our UK importer for being recognized by Decanter in their Retailer of the Year Awards as the best USA specialist:

Decanter Retailer Awards winners 2018

By Bella Callaghan, October 2018

Find out which UK supermarkets, wine merchants and independent retailers won prizes at this year’s Decanter Retailer of the Year Awards…

Winning retailers were announced during a special ceremony held at the OXO2 Tower Wharf on Thursday 20 September.

Who were the judges?

  • Peter Richards MW, Awards Chairman – Wine Writer and TV Presenter
  • Peter Ranscombe – Wine columnist and drinks blogger for the Scottish Field
  • Matt Walls – Contributing editor, Decanter
  • Andy Howard MW – Decanter contributor and wine writer
  • Fiona Beckett – Food and wine writer, matchingfoodandwine.com

USA Specialist of the Year: Roberson Wine

Roberson’s US wine selection is a cutting-edge range that continues to evolve and grow – from 40 wines in 2013 to 222 now, some 19% of the entire list. Roberson also supports the category on a broader basis, raising funds following the wild fires.

https://www.decanter.com/decanter-retailer-awards/buy-wine-decanter-retailer-award-winners-2018-399864/

Let’s assist a ‘contender’

Congrats to Cindy Rynning for being a finalist in the Millesima Blog Awards.

Her article which put her in the running was from August: http://www.grape-experiences.com/2017/08/fascinating-smith-madrone-the-people-the-place-the-wines/.

A vote for her here https://qlic.it/420241 might help her clinch the spot…and we thank you sincerely if you have a moment to do that.

Voting ends at midnight January 28.

Robert Whitley includes us in his “Fab Five Holiday Values”

Fab Five Holiday ‘Values’ By Robert Whitley, Creators.com

Navigating the holidays on a budget is no small challenge, especially if the shopping cart is loaded to the brim with good wine. The definition of good wine, for the purposes of this discussion, is wine that is impressive enough to be served as a special occasion beverage or used as a holiday gift. It shouldn’t be cheap, but it need not be expensive. Quality wines that represent exceptional value, when compared to costly wines of similar quality, are in abundance for anyone willing to look. They typically come from a producer committed to high standards at fair prices. The following five are among my favorites this holiday season.I can enthusiastically endorse virtually every wine produced by these wineries and have personally stocked my own cellar with wines from each of these outstanding wineries.

Smith-Madrone Vineyards is owned and operated by Stuart and Charlie Smith, who founded the winery 42 years ago on Spring Mountain, overlooking the Napa Valley village of St. Helena. They make three wines: cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and riesling. The brothers have uncompromising integrity in the vineyards and the cellar, and they believe even great wine should be affordable. Hence, the Smith-Madrone wines are priced well below the market for estate-grown Napa Valley wines with so much history behind them.

http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/wine/wine-talk/fab-five-holiday-values.html

Watching the leaves change…from our vineyard!

A reminder that the leaves change in 707 as well as in New Hampshire and parts East….here described in HomeAway:

Where to See Fall Foliage in California: Autumn Comes to the West

The East Coast may be famed for its foliage, but California fall colors are a sight to behold as well – you just have to know where to look. From the Sierras to a hidden gem of colorful leaves not far from San Diego, when you’re considering where to see fall foliage in California, these locations please year after year.

Napa Valley: Prime time: Mid-October through early November

The best views are: Seen while touring the vineyards

When the wine harvest is in and the leaves on the vines are changing color, fall in Napa Valley is a feast for the senses. Take a tour of the vineyards and stop in for wine tastings. Many offer outdoor patios where you can sip your favorite vintage while you experience the colors of fall. Don’t miss Sterling Vineyards, which has an aerial tram to reach the winery itself. Views from the both the tram and the winery are spectacular. The wineries of Smith-Madrone, Silverado, and Viader also have beautiful outdoor areas and incredible views of the surrounding country filled with brilliant colors in the fall.

http://www.homeaway.com/info/travelers/travel-ideas/california-vacations/more-california/california-fall-foliage

Smith-Madrone plays a part in a new novel!

Smith-Madrone is delighted to be one of the settings in Cortney Roudebush’s new novel, Where I Want To Be. The book is an insider’s look at life in Napa Valley and is the first in a series Roudebush is writing. You can find out more at www.authorcortney.com or buy the book at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FBWUJU8. The main character Olivia enrolls in a three-month wine education program in Napa Valley; the class takes a field trip to Smith-Madrone and Olivia enjoys tasting all of our current releases. 

Eric Asimov takes us to a desert island

In a profile talking about his new book, Eric Asimov chooses the Cab to take to a desert island: “I don’t go to a lot of steakhouses, but when I do, they better have one of my desert-island Napa cabs so I can drink something I like…Smith-Madrone….”

 

Read the entire profile:

http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2013/01/eric-asimov-man-on-a-mission