founded by A Man and a Van
Few winemakers have a legacy quite like that of founder Charles Smith. Although he was born and raised just an hour from Napa Valley, CA, Charles didn’t discover his love for wine until he moved to Europe. While living abroad, he managed a number of rock bands, including the famed Danish duo The Raveonettes. It was the wining and dining of a rock ‘n’ roll life on the road that sparked his passion for great wine.
In 1999, while on a road trip to Walla Walla, WA, Charles met a winemaker who convinced him to start making his own wine, true to his own story and vision. In 2001, he released the first 330 cases of his debut vintage. Within eight years, he was named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine magazine, an honor he received again in 2014 from Wine Enthusiast.
Land to Hand.
Vineyard to Bottle.
The brand’s identity remains rooted in Charles’ original respect for Old World winemaking techniques and his commitment to how people actually drink wine. Following the blueprint he established, the reds undergo extended maceration on the skins, with no racking after malolactic fermentation is finished. This allows for longer time on the lees to build mouthfeel.
For the whites, the winery continues to forego battonage, and wines are fined and filtered for stability. The mission remains exactly what Charles intended: once the wine is ready, you should drink it any way you like it.
the labels
Artistic, iconic and instantly identifiable, our playful labels have been celebrated from the day they were released. The concepts hint to wine flavor and pairings, and each original piece of artwork is a collaboration from Charles and his longtime friend, artist Rikke Korff.