Producer Article
W.H. Smith
Last edited on 4/3/2019 by prasm
There are 4 versions of this article / View version history
Producer website
We’ve gone or come a long way!
Bill purchased the old ghost winery, La Jota Vineyard Co. in 1974 and here we are 39 years later…
Bill and Joan look back and wonder where did the years go, so many wonderful experiences and so much has changed in the wine business. In 1974 the Napa Valley had few wineries and there was no traffic to contend with! The winery owners and winemakers knew one another, there weren’t many to know.
The Smith’s resurrected the La Jota winery and planted Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Zinfandel. The first vintage was 1982, and the price was $14 a bottle and that was expensive! The production grew to 4000 cases and the winery sold in 2001 to Markham Vineyards and it is now owned by Kendall Jackson.
Bill and Joan moved down the road and began a new winery. An underground cave of 4,500 square feet. They have 7 acres planted in the Bordeaux varietals from which they produce 700 to 1000 cases of two different Cabernets. The Purple Label is their top tier Cabernet. Both the Bronze and Purple have richness and depth. Both wines are made the same except the Purple gets new French oak.
Pinot Noir is a favorite varietal and Bill looks to cool growing vineyards in the Sonoma Coast appellation when selecting fruit. They produce 4 to 5 Pinot Noirs and each are distinct.
The goal of the Smith’s is to produce wines that are less tannic and drinkable earlier.
We’ve gone or come a long way!
Bill purchased the old ghost winery, La Jota Vineyard Co. in 1974 and here we are 39 years later…
Bill and Joan look back and wonder where did the years go, so many wonderful experiences and so much has changed in the wine business. In 1974 the Napa Valley had few wineries and there was no traffic to contend with! The winery owners and winemakers knew one another, there weren’t many to know.
The Smith’s resurrected the La Jota winery and planted Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Zinfandel. The first vintage was 1982, and the price was $14 a bottle and that was expensive! The production grew to 4000 cases and the winery sold in 2001 to Markham Vineyards and it is now owned by Kendall Jackson.
Bill and Joan moved down the road and began a new winery. An underground cave of 4,500 square feet. They have 7 acres planted in the Bordeaux varietals from which they produce 700 to 1000 cases of two different Cabernets. The Purple Label is their top tier Cabernet. Both the Bronze and Purple have richness and depth. Both wines are made the same except the Purple gets new French oak.
Pinot Noir is a favorite varietal and Bill looks to cool growing vineyards in the Sonoma Coast appellation when selecting fruit. They produce 4 to 5 Pinot Noirs and each are distinct.
The goal of the Smith’s is to produce wines that are less tannic and drinkable earlier.