My Cover Story in the Wine Business Monthly Magazine September 2022 Issue:

The Future of Pinot Noir in Washington State

Charles Smith Unleashes Legacy Golden West Wines Project in Washington State

by L.M. Archer

“And so the idea of what’s going to happen in American wine is what’s really exciting about this project in particular.”  – Charles Smith, Golden West Pinot Noir

What does the future of Pinot Noir in Washington State look like? Charles Smith shares his vision in my September 2022 cover story for Wine Business Monthly Magazine.

“The trademark black t-shirt and shock of white curls coms into view first. Can you see me?” Charles Smith, former rock band promoter turned House of Smith Wines winemaker is in the house. Or Zoom chatroom, anyway.

Wine for the People

“I didn’t really want to talk about it until I finally got the wine that I was setting out to make,” says Smith. He’s talking about Golden West Wines, his groundbreaking Washington State Pinot Noir project launched in 2018. “The first vintage or two, we made wines that got excellent reviews. I guess 93 points for a $20 bottle of wine a couple of years in a row is not a bad thing. But I felt the wine that I really wanted, what I envisioned, we nailed it finally.”

Smith plans to produce 150,000 cases within 10 years; an artisanal project planted to commercial scale. Currently, the 2020 production totals 27,000 cases, with 68,000 cases slated for the 2021 vintage. Smith underscores the $20 bottle price will remain, although he also admits to the potential for premium, small-batch offerings in the future. Just now now.

“I lived hand-to-mouth for most of my life, he says. “I think everybody deserves more for their money. And if you’re going to receive someone’s hard-earned income, I want to get up earlier than anybody else, stay up later than everybody else and, during the night, I want to dream about what I’m going to do the next day….”READ MORE HERE.

More articles by L.M. Archer here.