Michigan, Minnesota and North Carolina
Napa Valley, October 2020 — Smith-Madrone Winery is now represented by three distributors new to the winery: Eagle Eye Brands in Michigan; New France in Minnesota and Ocean South in North Carolina.
“We are delighted to be represented by these distinguished distributors,” said Stu Smith, General Partner/Enologist, Smith-Madrone, in making the announcement.
“Smith-Madrone is a Napa Valley treasure. Their age-worthy, terroir-driven wines are a perfect fit for Eagle Eye Brands’ portfolio of authentic, approachable, accessible wines of distinction,” commented Gabrielle Milosic-Moore and Jason Knysz, Eagle Eye Brands.
“From our first sip of Smith Madrone Riesling, to our last sip of the Cabernet Sauvignon, it was very apparent the range of wines offered pedigree while displaying sense of place. The well-practiced intention seems clear with the wines of Smith Madrone: Terroir must be expressed,” noted Eric Freeburg of New France.
“We are so grateful to our friends who referred us to Smith-Madrone. These wines are exactly what we look for– food-friendly, restrained, terroir-driven, and with personality. As lovers of German and French Rieslings, we were blown away by the 2016 Smith-Madrone Riesling. It is such an honor to represent these beautiful wines in our beautiful state of North Carolina,” offered Steve Sommerville of Ocean South.
Smith-Madrone’s current releases, all estate-grown fruit from vineyards surrounding the winery at the top of the Spring Mountain District appellation in the northern Napa Valley, are 2016 Riesling, 2017 Chardonnay, 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2016 Cook’s Flat Reserve.
“Doing things the easy way has never been the Smith-Madrone way,” Stu Smith says. “Whether it’s digging boulders out of the mountain to make way for our vines or farming slopes up to 34%, our goals, our passion, our life is to grow the very best grapes, whatever the hardships. We know that only the best wine comes from the best grapes, and we were inspired when we began by the saying ‘Bacchus amat colles,’ that Bacchus loves the hills,” he adds.
Smith-Madrone is one of Napa Valley’s authentically artisanal wineries, founded in 1971 by Stuart Smith. Winemaking and grape-growing are handled entirely by the two brother-proprietors, Stuart and Charles Smith. All of Smith-Madrone’s wines come from the 38 acres of estate vineyards surrounding the winery, originally planted 48 years ago by Stuart and Charles. The vineyards extend across steep mountainsides, at steep slopes at elevations between 1,300 and 1,900 feet. Total production each year is less than 4,000 cases. More at www.smithmadrone.com.
MICHIGAN
Based outside of Detroit, Eagle Eye Brands sources wines that adhere to three principles: authenticity, approachability, and accessibility. More info at https://www.eagleeyebrands.com/. Contact Gabrielle Milosic-Moore, Gabrielle.Milosic-moore@eagleeyebrands.com, 248/535-1907.
MINNESOTA
Based in St. Paul, New France Wine Company was founded in 1993 to connect Minnesota with the great wineries of the world. We’re a small business with a long-tenured and open-minded staff that likes to push the boundaries and explore the pleasures of the table. More information at http://www.newfrancewine.net/#/. Contact Eric Freeburg, eric@newfrancewine.net, 612/220-6693, http://www.newfrancewine.net/#/
NORTH CAROLINA
Ocean South Imports is a small family-run distribution and importing business based in Raleigh, North Carolina, that focuses on artisanal, food-friendly wines. Founded in 1998 in Wilmington, the business is now owned by Steve Sommerville and Moira Smullen. Ocean South has made it its mission to find wines from all over the globe, from France to South Africa to Slovenia to Mexico, that are ideal for food and that over-deliver on value. More information at http://www.oceansouthimports.com/. Contact Steve Sommerville, steve.oceansouth@gmail.com, 919/924-1594, http://www.oceansouthimports.com/ .
