Over 50 years of winemaking, Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone Vineyards has seen more than most. From the early days of hand-clearing dense forest on Spring Mountain to cultivating a legacy of authenticity, Stu has weathered the highs and lows of an evolving Napa Valley. But no event has left a more lasting impression than the devastating 2020 Glass Fire.
“That fire changed everything,” Stuart reflects. Burned trees still stand as stark reminders of the destruction. Hydrants installed as part of proactive fire protection signal his resolve to defend against future threats. Yet the psychological and financial toll remains. “We’re still recovering,” he admits. And while the vines have proven resilient, the scars on the land – and the cost that comes with it – are not so easily healed.
The estate vineyards at Smith-Madrone on Spring Mountain.
Napa Valley stands as one of the most revered wine regions in the world, synonymous with premium wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon. This iconic California wine region is steeped in rich history, varied geography, and an unyielding commitment to winemaking excellence. From its early beginnings to its present status as a global leader, Napa Valley’s story is as compelling as the wines it produces.
Less than a year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, we were visiting the Napa Valley. We drove up Spring Mountain to meet with Stuart Smith of Smith-Madrone Vineyards. Stu is a favourite interview for us, as he always brings a very informed and very authentic perspective to what is happening on the ground. A ground he’s been familiar with for 5 decades. We thought he would be the perfect person to re-visit with for our latest video AdVINEture.
Stuart Smith
Harvest 2020 brought fire not just to their doorstep but on their property which you’ll see from the extraordinary footage included. We picked his brain on the challenges facing winemaking in Napa and what keeps him going 50 years later. You won’t want to miss the wine he names as what got him into winemaking (spoiler alert: it’s definitely not what you think!). Click on the link above to learn more about the wine world according to Stu.
The gorgeous view at Barnett Vineyards on Spring Mountain.
For the past two decades, we’ve been visiting the Napa and Sonoma Valleys almost annually. The two Valleys run parallel, separated by the Mayacamas Mountains in northern California. Both are terrific tourist destinations and among the top wine regions in the United States. While Sonoma is much larger in terms of vineyard area and variety of wines produced, Napa is the better-known region of the two with a world-class reputation built on Cabernet Sauvignon. For years, wine enthusiasts have debated the difference between the Cabernets produced on the Valley floor versus those produced from fruit higher up on the mountainsides.
The term “cult cab” gained great currency in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was really a California phenomenon, though certainly other regions have their iconic wines. The California cult wines were predominately Cabernet Sauvignon and mostly came from Napa. The cult wines were so-named because of a nearly fanatical group of wealthy collectors who would pay huge prices to obtain bottles in a cult-like devotion to a group of small, quality-focused wineries.
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