Smith-Madrone Winery

Smith-Madrone Winery Founded in 1971, Smith-Madrone is a family-run, estate-bottled winery in Napa Valley’s Spring Mountain District, dedicated to producing fine wines.

Tours and tastings by appointment only—Tues, Thurs & Sat. See website for details. Must be 21+ to follow

09/05/2026

Merlot. That new-looking fence? We’d often find tufts of bear fur caught in the wire until, one day, a bear became frustrated enough to push the fence down. Yes, the grapes are that good.

This vineyard has been dry-farmed for over six years, not one lick of water from us, even during years of extreme heat and barely any rain.

Then came its most dramatic year to date. The 2020 Glass Fire devastated so much of the mountain that is part of us. The fire surrounded the vineyard, but the vines stood strong, not one of them burned.

This little vineyard has faced drought, fire, wildlife, and the passing of time and it’s still here, quietly growing Merlot on the mountain.

That’s resilience.

**es **es **elover

This is what "Friyay" means to us. A bottle of our 2021 Estate Chardonnay, good friends, and good conversation.Happy wee...
09/04/2026

This is what "Friyay" means to us. A bottle of our 2021 Estate Chardonnay, good friends, and good conversation.

Happy weekend all!

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We truly love a good debate, and it’s great to see everyone’s opinions and feedback on Stu’s reel about the Merlot seeds...
09/03/2026

We truly love a good debate, and it’s great to see everyone’s opinions and feedback on Stu’s reel about the Merlot seeds. So much so that we thought a full response would be better than little pieces here and there.

There are many, many w**emakers in the world and we don’t all agree. Whether you’re looking at pH or Brix (ie sugar), is it going to rain in the next 3 days, is there going to be blistering heat….these all go into the decision of when to harvest.

There is no book out there that tells us what to do; we work from years of experience and we all have our own way of making it work. As I said in the original video, everyone has their own idea and everyone else has a different idea. Who’s right?

It’s whether the w**e comes out well or not and you can look back and say, I guess that worked. You do taste the grapes, the pH, the acidity and you look at the vines. How are the vines holding up? How are the grapes holding up? Can they wait another 4/5 days or a week?

Every year is different. The rain is different. The cloud cover is different. The soil moisture can be different. It’s not something that you can simply print out from your computer and post titled “here’s when and how to harvest grapes.” Who’s to say what’s right or who’s right?

That’s part of the fun of it. you’re always being challenged to defend your position, your thoughts and your reasoning. That’s a good thing. This is the fun part of being a w**emaker and a grape grower.

Thanks to everybody for chiming in!

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09/02/2026

Ever wondered how old our Redwood Trees are? We have! Stu explains what we found out and it is truly mind blowing!

Can you imagine all these trees have seen?

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09/01/2026

One of the great debates in the w**e industry… can the seeds tell you when it’s time to harvest?

Stu has a few thoughts on that.

Hit play and hear what he has to say.

**es **es

09/01/2026

Stu is checking in on our Merlot vineyard, about ¾ of a mile from the w**ery on the way down to the springs.

It’s all dry-farmed and hasn’t had a drop of water from us in more than six years. Just deep roots, mountain soils, and vines doing what they’ve learned to do.

Nature is pretty incredible, don't you think?

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08/30/2026

The 2023 Cabernet Franc is presently more cedary and herbal than the 2022, marked by red raspberries, cherries and hints of red bell pepper. Just medium-bodied, with firm tannins and a drying, dusty finish.

The red w**es at Smith-Madrone are not big, broad, fruit-laden valley-floor w**es. Ripeness comes quite late at this altitude on Spring Mountain, and some herbal touches are to be expected in both the Cabernet Sauvignon, the w**ery's largest-production w**e, and the Cabernet Franc. The Franc was first planted in 1989. "We like it a lot," said Stu. "It's a fun variety and a good blending variety also. It's our latest pick and retains acidity."

In business for more than 50 years now, Smith-Madrone and the Smith brothers have seen their share of trends come and go in Napa Valley, but their slice of Spring Mountain feels just right as it is, as homespun and authentic as it gets.

~ The W**e Advocate, Joe Czerwinski

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Someone’s been checking on the grapes. 🐾 A bear print in the vineyard is a good reminder that we’re farming in someone e...
08/29/2026

Someone’s been checking on the grapes. 🐾 A bear print in the vineyard is a good reminder that we’re farming in someone else’s backyard. The trick to life on Spring Mountain is learning to share it.

We just wish our neighbors weren’t quite so fond of Smith-Madrone grapes. We’d prefer they waited until we’d made the w**e, but apparently patience isn’t their strong suit.

And no, this particular grape enthusiast isn’t on the tasting room payroll.

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What does a good Cabernet Sauvignon mean to you?For us, each bottle holds a story. Of the terroir, the stubbornness of t...
08/28/2026

What does a good Cabernet Sauvignon mean to you?

For us, each bottle holds a story. Of the terroir, the stubbornness of the farmer to battle the elements, the weather that kept us guessing, and the hands that cared for the vines. Of lessons learned over decades and the patience to let a w**e find its own voice.

Our 2022 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon holds all that and more. Up here in the Spring Mountain District, drought and an intense September heat spell tested the vines, and those tending them. The vines held their own. Perhaps they’re just as stubborn as we are.

Today, on Red W**e Day, we’re raising a glass to the mountain we farm, the seasons that shape our w**es, and the people who give each bottle another chapter around their table.

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**eday **elife **es **elover

After 55 years of tending this land, the vines become part of you. Each branch reaching for the sky feels like an extens...
08/28/2026

After 55 years of tending this land, the vines become part of you. Each branch reaching for the sky feels like an extension of the hands that care for it.

They hold stories of years gone by. Of the snow that fell, the rain that didn’t, and the hands that have guided them through each season.

Walk these rows long enough, and you’ll find your own story growing here, too.

**es **elover **elife

Address

4022 Spring Mountain Road
Saint Helena, CA
94574

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 1pm
Wednesday 9:15am - 3:15pm
Thursday 10am - 1pm
Saturday 10am - 1pm

Telephone

+17079632283

Website

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