Friends of the Pod Series -- Ep 253: Stu Smith of Smith-Madrone Vineyards Talks About 48 Years in Napa Valley

In May 1971, with a partnership of family and friends, Stuart Smith bought a vineyard on Spring Mountain, which today is Smith-Madrone Vineyards and Winery. He was 22 years old and had just received his B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley and was taking classes towards his Master's in Viticulture at UC Davis. 48 years later, Smith-Madrone is going strong and Stu is full of ideas, opinions, and perspective!

Here are the notes:

• Stu tells us how a 22 year old viticulture student took a trip to Napa and wound up buying what would become Smith-Madrone
• We discuss what Napa was like in the 1970s v. today
• We chat about what drew Stu to Spring Mountain and the effort it took to restore this pre-phylloxera vineyard area, atop Spring Mountain, to a modern vineyard and winery
• We discuss why Smith-Madrone grows what it does -- including Riesling
• Stu talks about why Smith-Madrone has stayed small
• And finally Stu shares his theories on why organic, biodynamic and conventional farming are all incredibly problematic types of agriculture

Thanks to Smith-Madrone, whose wines I love and who joined us for Underground Wine Events, DC! 

 

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