Category: Visits

Visitors by bike…almost!

Blair Robertson, the Sacramento Bee’s restaurant reviewer, came to the Valley and did some touring by bike, but did jump in his car to come see us. Here’s part of his day: “…we headed toward Smith-Madrone, which is a 20-minute drive from Main Street, up a very twisty, narrow road…. Charlie Smith was our host. Besides being a skilled winemaker, he is loaded with institutional knowledge about the Napa Valley, as he and brother Stu arrived there in 1972 and started restoring an old vineyard that had been overgrown with brush and trees.

The chat is low-key and informal, and included a tasting of Chardonnay, Riesling and a Cab blend (the current release of the Cab is 2006 and it is very good). Besides the wine, the conversation and the great hillside view, we quickly came to adore the winery’s unofficial ambassador, a springer spaniel named Curly, who trotted up to us before we even got out of the car. …

http://blogs.sacbee.com/dining/archives/2012/10/autumn-in-wine.html

Bacchus & Beery includes us in a one-day tour of Napa Valley!

Blogger Roger Beery of Bacchus & Beery started at Smith-Madrone on one whirlwind day of Napa Valley visiting:  it’s a fun read:

Tour Napa Valley in One Day…It can be done!

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to lead a group of long-time friends on a one day tour of Napa Valley wineries. I wanted to share examples of the many wine experiences Napa has to offer, but in just one day. It was a tall order with so many wine-derful choices….Our first stop was a step back to 1970’s Napa at Smith-Madrone Winery after a narrow and winding yet picturesque drive up Spring Mountain. Napa Valley was not always the glitz and glamour statement it is today and Smith-Madrone is 1970’s Napa all the way. Nothing fancy, in fact the entire wine-making facility is housed in an old red barn. ….Both Stu and Charlie are engaging in a soft-spoken and very genuine kind of way…. Stu and Charlie demonstrated the whole de-stemming and crushing process while we climbed on the equipment for a better view. Our hands now sticky with sweet Riesling juice, we hated to leave.

http://wine-blog.bacchusandbeery.com/wine-blog/wine-country-travel/tour-nap-valley-in-one-day/

 

Visiting the winery

WineCountryGetaways recommends:  Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery

The two Smith Brothers are a throwback to a different era of the Napa Valley. Their main goal is to make the best wine they can and sell out each year to a long list of loyal customers. There is no fancy state-of-the-art winemaking equipment or a lavish tasting room. All the tasting is done in the cellar room. …

http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/napablog/fun-napa-valley-wineries-to-visit/

Hawk Wakawaka visited the winery

Check out the complete post including great photos, at

http://wakawakawinereviews.com/2012/07/22/return-to-california-10-meeting-stu-smith-at-smith-madrone-on-spring-mountain/

Here’s a taste: ” Smith-Madrone sits at the top of Spring Mountain with the vineyards planted between 1300 and 2000 feet elevation, started by Stuart Smith in 1971, owned and run with brother Charles Smith. The vineyards are surrounded by and planted within the forest and rely on sustainable farming practices…. Smith-Madrone is known for Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon–all wines made entirely from grapes grown on the property, with brothers Charles and Stu managing all vineyard care and wine making. The Riesling vertical reveals the effects of three of the most difficult vintages seen in Napa valley in a long time–focused, crisp, light petrol notes on citrus and bloom all, the 2009 the most earthy of the three. The 2010 showing ultra clean, the earthy notes well integrated. 2011 tastes as slightly sweeter (this is a dry style wine) due not to any increase in residual sugar, but instead to different proportions in the wine itself. The 2011 has slightly lower acidity. The 2009 Chardonnay brings together the flavoral richness of California with the structural focus and minerality of a French offering. The Smith brothers’ goal in wine making “is to get the vintage into the bottle.”

 

Gabesview talks about Smith-Madrone in general

Sometimes wine lovers bemoan the state of Napa Valley. People are heard to complain about the number of ostentatious wineries and tasting room that have taken hold of the Valley and along with that they talk about how it was in the old days when Napa had a small number of producers and a visit meant tasting with the owner who was often also the winemaker. The trouble with that line of thought is that there are still many family owned wineries in Napa Valley that belie the image of Napa as only lavish tasting rooms and over the top facilities.

Smith-Madrone Vineyards and Winery is a shining example of a small family owned and run winery. A visit there is in some ways a visit to a simpler time in Napa Valley. They’re a boutique producer that focuses on Estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling. When you visit you’ll see their property with either Stu or Charles Smith or if you’re really lucky both of them. They grow the grapes, make the wine and do pretty much everything from soup to nuts that’s involved in bringing their wines to your table. That’s the way it’s been since they were founded in the very early 70’s. Their location up on Spring Mountain is a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the Valley floor, but it’s not a far ride. Once you’re up there though you’ll feel like you’ve traveled to a magical land where all that matters is the way the grapes are grown, picked and vinified to make offerings that represent the location they came from.

I recently had dinner with Stu Smith who started the winery in 1971. It’s been my fortune to spend some time with Stu on a few occasions and I’m always impressed by how unvarnished, real and without pretense he is. The truth is you can discover the very same thing simply by drinking their wines. They make approximately 4,000 cases of wine each year entirely from their own property. Everything about Smith-Madrone comes from the two brothers. They planted the vines and in the 41 years they’ve been in operation have replanted sections of the vineyard in some cases too. They are as truly Napa Valley as any producer on the map. Their wines are made in a genuine style that lends itself to immediate enjoyment upon release as well as age ability. These are not wines that are produced in a vacuum with the idea of trying to gain high scores on someone’s point system. These are wines grown, pressed and aged in the same ecosystem, every vintage, for over 40 years. The Smith-Madrone wines are alive, delicious and most importantly a true representation of the spirit and desire of two brothers to make great wine in their little corner of the world. …If you have yet to taste the wines of Smith-Madrone I urge you to do so at your earliest convenience. In addition to being well made and delicious they are also fairly priced. The Cabernet Sauvignon in particular is a terrific bargain relative to many of the Napa Cabernets of similar quality. In addition to drinking these offerings, I urge anyone travelling toNapaValleyto take the time and make an appointment so you can visit the lovely folks at Smith-Madrone; your time there will undoubtedly become a memorable visit you will cherish as you drink the wine you will have brought back home with you. So don’t bemoan the over the top tasting rooms at some Napa Wineries, enjoy them for what they are. But when you want to get to the pulse of Napa Valley, point your car up Spring Mountain either literally or via your local wine shop and enjoy the wines of Smith-Madrone.

http://gabesview.com/2012/06/15/smith-madrone-vineyards-and-winery-2009-chardonnay-2006-cabernet-sauvignon/

“..To make the best wine they can…”

WineCountryGetaways calls it:

Smith-Madrone Vineyards & Winery
The two Smith Brothers are a throwback to a different era of the Napa Valley. Their main goal is to make the best wine they can and sell out each year to a long list of loyal customers. There is no fancy state-of-the-art winemaking equipment or a lavish tasting room. All the tasting is done in the cellar room. Do you want to know what it was like in the early 80’s of the Napa Valley? This will be your experience at Smith-Madrone on Spring Mountain Road. Although the Cab is delicious, the Riesling is delicious and not to be passed up: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/napablog/fun-napa-valley-wineries-to-visit/

Watch for the new edition of Back Lane Wineries of Napa Valley

Look for the new edition of Back Lane Wineries of Napa Valley by Tilar Mazzeo, coming this spring. Smith-Madrone had a page in the first edition, which was published in March 2010. That entry included: “…The family’s focus is on making a signature “old-fashionedNapaValley kick-ass” cabernet sauvignon…”

Stay tuned with Mazzeo’s updates on her blog, http://tjmazzeo.wordpress.com/back-lane-wineries-of-napa-and-sonoma/

A visit from GoCalifornia

Winery Review – Smith-Madrone Vineyards

by Betsy Malloy, About.com Guide

Types of Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling
Charge for Tasting: No
Wine Price: $30 to $40 per bottle in early 2012

Size: Production is about 4,000 cases per year

The Smith part of this winery’s name has obvious roots: it’s the owners’ moniker. Madrone refers to a type of native tree, an evergreen with a red-brown trunk and branches that grows on their property atopSpringMountain, on 200 acres first planted as vineyards in the 1800s. It sits above the town of St. Helena. The vineyards grow at 1,300 to 2,000 feet and across the Valley, you can see Howell Mountain.

Run by brothers, certifiable characters and long-time partners Charles and Stu Smith, Smith-Madrone is an unfussy, unpretentious winery that from all appearances has changed little since it first opened in 1971.

At Smith-Madrone, you won’t find a tasting bar, a platter of cheese – or even a place to sit down. While standing around tasting with one of the owners, you might notice the wild boar’s head hung over the door, a collection of cryptically-labeled bottles on the desk – or their dog Curly pawing your leg for attention. This place is really all about the wine. They say they want to make artisanal wines that are distinctive and an expression of both the vintage and themselves, and it’s easy to imagine that all of Napa might have been like this 40 years ago.

The location puts Smith-Madrone beyond the reach of casual wine tourists and we’re guessing that’s just the way they like it. And so do we. If you’re looking for a chance to meet the winemakers and sample some great wines without all the crowds, fuss and tasting fees of those fancy Napa tasting rooms, Smith-Madrone may be just the place for you.

Wine Quality: About.com’s wine writer Stacy Slinkard says they make “the perfect all-American Cab to call on for celebrating Thanksgiving.” All three of their varietals have won numerous awards – and they’re one of the few Napa wineries to produce a Riesling of any kind, let alone an award-winning one, which Wine Enthusiast describes as “absolutely dry and fascinatingly complex.” It’s also one of About.com’s Wine Best Picks

Tourist Experience: Down to earth and casual. You won’t hear lots of fancy wine words here and instead of telling you what you’re supposed to be tasting, these guys will let you draw your own conclusions.

More at http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/canapasonoma/a/winery_smith_madrone.htm

Another recommendation from TripAdvisor!

We’re so appreciative of this ‘review’ of a visit by two TripAdvisor contributors: “Smith-Madrone Vineyards makes the finest American made Riesling that I’ve ever tasted. It compares to the best Alsatian and German Rieslings being made today. Arguably, the Riesling varietal is one of the four greatest or most noble grapes in the world, along with the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. In the 1970s, I went through a Riesling phase back when wines from famous wineries around the world were still affordable, even first cru French wines and great German ones. Over the years, I have found only a few decent American made Rieslings, with most of dryer ones lacking complexity and minerality and the sweeter and late harvest ones usually being too simple and sweet without the interesting layers that can be found in high-end late harvest German and Austrian Rieslings. The Smith Madrone Riesling is a drier style Riesling, drier than most German Kabinetts, more along the lines of an Alsatian Riesling but without being overly crisp on the palate or rather austere on the finish, as some Alsatian Rieslings can be.
Rieslings are among the most visually beautiful wines in the world with their deep gold to green-gold colors. This one leans toward light straw. Hold the glass up to the sunlight before you drink it or you will miss part of the pleasure of a Riesling. The nose tends more toward a tart apple aroma like a Granny Smith rather than a sweet apple like a Fuji or Gala. Rieslings make one of the most nakedly honest wines in the world, with no malolactic conversion, oaking or winemaker skills or tricks to compensate. (Some are late harvest with botrytis, but that is really nature’s doing.) The varietal characteristics always come through strongly as well as any minerality and regional characteristics or terroir. This Riesling gives me Cox’s Orange Pippin apple on the palate (I grow one, so can be specific.), with a touch of sweetness (0.65%), balanced acidity, and great minerality. It is a respectable 12.9% alcohol, making it all the more interesting and substantial compared to some of those of those low alcohol. (7.5 to 10%) German Rieslings. This Riesling tells me that it does not come from the Rheingau, Mosel or Alsace. It has its own Riesling personality from its own vineyard. If I may be pseudo-poetic for a moment, the Smith-Madrone Riesling seems to reveal the subtle minerals that the vines slowly extracted and dissolved from the rocky soil of Spring Mountain, yielding something like a primal connection to the earth and nature, with perhaps subtle hints of heaven. This is an interesting, complex and layered wine to slowly savor. Roll it around in your mouth. Notice how it is different on the various areas of the tongue. Let it warm a bit in your mouth to see how it changes character. This is a wine that invites investigation beyond its lovely color, tart apple taste and long finish. Like a beautiful painting, the more you spend time with it, the more you will appreciate it. A quick glance or a cursory viewing will not allow you to understand or appreciate its beauty. You will miss so much if you do not take time and savor the experience.
On a less poetic level, this is a crisp, but not bone dry, very well balanced wine that should go well with seafood. Others might suggest Thai or Vietnamese food, but I confess to liking this sort of wine either alone, with a little cheese or with sushi or sashimi. If you understand the difference between grocery store sushi and sushi from a great Japanese sushi bar then you will understand the differences between various Rieslings. Or perhaps, if sushi is not your thing, you would prefer to think of the difference between French food at an informal sidewalk café compared to a great French meal from a master chef. It has that extra magic, that interesting complexity that eases you into the experience. Time seems to slow down when you are drinking this wine. The Smith-Madrone Riesling is ideally pared with a kiss! Smith-Madrone also makes a very nice Chardonnay that is not overly oaked or too buttery from excessive malolactic conversion. And their Cab is very good as well. I would love to try their Reserve Cab when it comes out and have a rifle with scope I’d trade for a bottle of it if Stu or Charlie ever read this. Smith Madrone makes three wines from three of the four greatest varietals and they do a great job on all three. They use to make a Pinot Noir, but you would have to break into the winery with scuba gear to find a bottle of it in the underwater cellar. If you visit Smith-Madrone, and you really should if you love wine and “Authentic Wineries,” then you will have the pleasure of meeting Charlie and Stu. Charlie will conduct the tour and chat with you about wine while Stu works hard in the back. It is not the easiest winery to get to, although directions are pretty straightforward and four wheel drive or mules are not necessary. Once you do arrive, you will meet the friendly winery dog who will gladly show you where the entrance to the building is after he finishes peeing on one of the empty barrels. Upon entering, you will encounter what is referred to by some as an “Authentic Winery” with a “tasting room” that is as colorful as the two owners are. But before you get to the “wine bar” be sure to look at the chalkboard to the left with the wonderful quotation. A great story goes with it, and more interesting stories are sure to follow. There is also no tasting fee (another sign of an “Authentic Winery”) but, as with all of the wineries located up on Spring Mountain, reservations are needed, although easily arranged. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of the wine, with the Riesling being a downright steal at only $27. Smith-Madrone provides the sort of experience you might have found in Napa Valley back in the 1960s or early 1970s; there is really nothing quite like it. If you don’t visit Smith-Madrone, you are missing a part of this history as well as Napa Valley today at its best. I encourage you to visit Smith-Madrone Vineyards while there is still the opportunity to experience a winery that was and continues to be the real thing.” http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33000-d1545528-r122068962-Smith_Madrone_Vineyards-St_Helena_Napa_Valley_California.html