Our first stop arriving in Napa and what a wonderful time at this vineyard. We were greeted by a man named Francois with an enchanting accent who is another winemaker there. He was funny but also so knowledgeable. Stu and Charles were not there but he gave us a great tour and tasting. The place is not huge, but I love that we simply just tasted these beautiful wines right in the barrel room/ office. It was low key, non pretentious and he told us wonderful stories about the history of the land, the wine and family. We went during off season so there wasn't much to see on the vines per se, but getting to walk around and seeing all of it from a high vantage point was pretty stellar. Of course we all took a couple bottles with us and look forward to having it soon! We got to go down to the cellar and see some super old wines stored. What a cool experience! read more

See all

Enjoying a bottle of Smith-Madrone cabarnet at home and reminiscing about our experience at their vineyard. The wines the Smith brothers produce are stellar and priced very reasonably but the experience at the winery is one my husband and I will never forget! We arrived early and Charlie invited us to walk up to the mountain ridge with their pup to enjoy the beautiful view. Where else in Napa can you do that?! When we returned, we enjoyed the warm hospitality and abundance of knowledge that Charlie imparted during our tasting as if we were old friends. If you are looking for something special that will make you feel like you've been transported to the old, authentic Napa Valley, Smith-Madrone is the way to go. read more

Only four stars as my guest so they had to stand for an hour and a half listening to stories by winemaker as he was sitting down. They said if they could've sat down for 10 to 15 minutes and had some water(95 degrees out) it would've been a better experience. This was the only winery we didn't purchase. read more

See all

A worthy stop! If you're looking for something off the beaten path, put Smith-Madrone Winery on your list of wineries to visit. The drive is scenic and takes you to the ridge of Spring Mountain where the winery is located. The winery and vineyard have views which are truly spectacular. Our host Charles was absolutely gracious and created a memorable afternoon. He poured 4 wines: a Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet, and a Reserve Bordeaux blend. His reds are solid, but the superstar was his Riesling - a mindblowing domestic example of a varietal that I would compare to top-notch German producers. The winemaking facility is a serious throwback in time, and a real treat to wine nerds. read more

Absolutely beautiful property with the nicest people and views for days! Bonnie gave us the best tour driving us around to see all the different grape vines, we even got to taste them off the vine! Beautiful grass area set up for our tasting is heaven on earth. The wines are delicious and reasonably priced. The Riesling was outstanding and not sweet. Love this place. GO to this Winery!!! read more

See all

The $225 reserve cab is delicious, but not quite "worth every penny".

Smith-Madrone is a family owned and operated winery, tucked out of the way on Spring Mountain. My husband and I called for an appointment to visit at the last minute, and fortunately Debbie was able to confirm we could go at 11am on a Friday. The drive to the winery is circuitous; they have specific directions on their website because gps doesn't find it. We tried with both, and gps was indeed off. The road is very winding so if you have some one who gets carsick, be prepared. It's a gorgeous drive though, and you end up in a rustic facility that looks out over the vibes, the valley, and onto the mountains across in a stunning vista. Our tasting was led by Charlie Smith, one of the brothers-owners-winemakers of Smith Madrone. He was caught a little off guard by our visit, as Debbie hadn't put it (or the one following) on the calendar, but that didn't affect his warm welcome or his enthusiasm for sharing his wines with us. We tasted four wines: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, a Bordeaux blend, and Reisling, in that order. It was a hot day (85 degrees), so Charlie poured us a taste of Chardonnay, and we moseyed outside of the winery to the shade of the awning and looked out over the property. He told us stories of how he and his brother started, about their approach to wine makin, and about the chard itself: crisp, clean and done in French oak with no malo in a French style that was lovely. Next, the estate Cabernet, which he described for us in terms of make-up (blend percentages), and explained the difference between it and the Bordeaux blend, all the while telling more stories. The Cabernet was also delicious; you could definitely tell it was a Spring a Mountain cab, as it was big and bold and dark, but still well balanced. By comparison, the Cooks Flat was more nuanced, delicate, and layers of complex flavors revealed themselves with each taste. Perhaps not surprisingly, since Cooks Flat currently retails for $200/bottle. More surprising, and a testament to his commitment to his wine was that Charlie opened it to share with us! The Reisling, finally, was served slightly chilled and had wonderful acidity that cut through the slight sweetness and created balance on the palate. It was refreshing after the cabs, and we really enjoyed it. The tasting itself didn't cost us anything, and Charlie very kindly signed the two bottles that my husband and I bought to commemorate the trip. We had a great time and would happily go back. Only one minus star for the snafu on scheduling and the crazy directions to get there! ;) read more

Smith-Madrone Vineyards - Panorama view from the property - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

We came across this place after reading that it had one of the top ten views in Napa. We drove through some windy roads reminiscent of driving through mountainous North Carolina, but the visit is well worth it. When we got there, we were greeted by a cute Springer Spaniel and Charlie. Three other pairs of people were there for the tasting. I think that everyone had a great time.Charlie has a good sense of humor. The tour itself was very informative, and we spent quite a bit of time there. Charlie told us the history of the vineyard, explained why the place has the largest olive trees I have ever seen, told us why they make the wine that they do, and much more. Charlie answered all the questions from the "wannabe" wine buff, and I found it educational as I don't know much about wine. The winery is down to earth and not stuffy. The barrel room/tasting room/office was a bit dusty but charming. This place was more my style. The wines were good too. Their riesling is excellent, and I don't even like riesling. It evidently was listed as one of the top ten dry rieslings in the world. And it's the only one in North America. After the tour, we asked Charlie if we could walk around, and he told us about a path that takes us to a nice vista. My boyfriend proposed there, and the view and moment were perfect. To celebrate, we swung back around to the tasting area to buy a bottle of the cooks flat reserve for our special occasion. Charlie said he was tickled-pink, and he gave us a bottle of the cabernet sauvignon as an engagement present. What a sweet gesture. :) This place will always be special to me because of what occurred here, but even if the proposal had not happened here, I would have nothing but high praise for this place. The views are great; the people are great; the wines are great. read more

See all

OK, half a star off because this place really is a pain in the butt to get to -- but I suppose it was worth it! As someone familiar with a lot of the Livermore Valley wineries, I sometimes roll my eyes at Napa because it's got this "bigger is better" attitude. But Smith-Madrone was a breath of fresh air. Our friends took us here for wine tasting a couple months ago, and we really enjoyed it. It took *forever* to get to it seemed, but there were great views from atop the hill and a great tasting experience. It was just us and one of the owners, who was very friendly. I asked some pretty basic (dumb) questions, but he didn't make me feel dumb at all. There were only three types of wine, I believe, but each were good. Check this place out sometime if you're up in Napa. If I'd had known there were a few other wineries up this way too, I would have suggested making a reservation with a couple of them, so you can get your gas money's worth for driving up the hill! Oh yeah, and make reservations here first, too! read more

A highlight of the trip. We made our way up Spring Mountain and finally found the winery. Making our way into the tasting room/office/barrel room we found Charles Smith doing his paperwork. Realizing we had an appointment, he dropped what he was doing and was as cordial and friendly as he could be. He showed us around the property and conversed with us about wine and many other subjects as we tasted his famous Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cabernet. The Riesling was off-dry with sharp acidity- very nice. The Chardonnay was a pretty big style but didn't overdo it with oak and malo. The Cab is big and earthy with great tannins and structure, a major value at $45... I left with a bottle. As we left, Charles pointed us up to the picnic area which has a magnificent view of the valley floor. As the previous reviews have alluded, this is a no-frills and down to earth operation. It's two brothers who have been there forever and are pretty much marching to the beat of their own drummer. They're kind enough to let you in and share their time with you. That's where the charm is; it's not about the bells and whistles. read more

See all

Fellow wine lovers, Been on literally hundreds of winery tours....hands down in the top 3...authentic wines, winery, owners...lots of history, shared by winemakers that are the owners and on premise. Treated like friends/family and tasted four of the best wines that Spring Mtn AVA can offer. Their Reisling and Chard are out of this world, made in a style that you usually have to go to Europe to get...can you say Mosel and Alsace! Stu Smith, thank you for taking time for us today, made my whole trip! Larry n Dale Carrillo read more

This was one of our favorite vineyards on our recent trip to Napa. The owner was our guide, telling us about the growing and winemaking process. The wine is amazing, really well-crafted. Definitely worth the trip! read more

Don't be deterred by the trek up the mountain; it is only 6 miles from Hwy 29 to the front door of the winery, but you'll feel a thousand miles away from the usual Napa glitz. Smith Madrone makes only three wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling. In each case, the wine's mountain roots shine through. The chardonnay is leaner and tighter than most examples from the area, despite full ML and all new oak. This tightly structured wine needs time, and is built for it. The current release Cabernet is the 2006...how's that for integrity? The Smith brothers hold back their Cabs until they feel they're ready. While not a tannic monster, this wine has strong bones, to be sure, and needs time as well, though it wouldn't be out of place with a hearty red meat dish right now. The Riesling, however, is the one that really knocked me over. First off, who the hell even makes varietal Riesling in California? Very few take it seriously enough, and fewer still succeed like the Smiths have. This wine has wonderful bright fruit and strong acidity in superb balance, and will certainly pair gorgeously with all sorts of food. By the way, all of their wines are very reasonably priced, especially by Napa standards: $30, $45, and $27 respectively for these wines is downright rational. Even better is the free entertainment: co-owner Charles Smith is just delightful, with a warm demeanor and near-encyclopedic knowledge of local winemaking. I would pay by the hour just to be able to talk with him. Seriously, do make the effort (not that much of one, by the way) to get up here if you really want to "go native" and see what a real working winery is like, minus glam and pretense. Smith-Madrone definitely goes on my short list of Napa wineries. read more

Smith-Madrone provides the sort of experience you might have found in Napa Valley back in the 1960s or early 1970s; there is really nothing quite like it. If you don't visit Smith-Madrone, you are missing a part of this history as well as Napa Valley today at its best. I encourage you to visit Smith-Madrone Vineyards while there is still the opportunity to experience a winery that was and continues to be the real thing. Smith-Madrone Vineyards makes the finest American made Riesling that I've ever tasted. It compares to the best Alsatian and German Rieslings being made today. The Smith Madrone Riesling is a drier style Riesling, drier than most German Kabinetts, more along the lines of an Alsatian Riesling but without being overly crisp on the palate or rather austere on the finish, as some Alsatian Rieslings can be. Rieslings are among the most visually beautiful wines in the world with their deep gold to green-gold colors. This one leans toward light straw. The nose tends more toward a tart apple aroma like a Granny Smith rather than a sweet apple like a Fuji or Gala. This Riesling gives me Cox's Orange Pippin apple on the palate (I grow one, so can be specific.), with a touch of sweetness (0.65%), balanced acidity, and great minerality. This Riesling tells me that it does not come from the Rheingau, Mosel or Alsace. It has its own Riesling personality from its own vineyard. It has that extra magic, that interesting complexity that eases you into the experience. Time seems to slow down when you are drinking this wine. The Smith-Madrone Riesling is ideally pared with a kiss! Smith-Madrone also makes a very nice Chardonnay that is not overly oaked or too buttery from excessive malolactic conversion. And their Cab is very good as well. I would love to try their Reserve Cab when it comes out and have a rifle with scope I'd trade for a bottle of it if Stu or Charlie ever read this. Smith Madrone makes three wines from three of the four greatest varietals and they do a great job on all three. If you visit Smith-Madrone, and you really should if you love wine and "Authentic Wineries," then you will have the pleasure of meeting Charlie and Stu. Charlie will conduct the tour and chat with you about wine while Stu works hard in the back. It is not the easiest winery to get to, although directions are pretty straightforward and four wheel drive or mules are not necessary. Upon entering, you will encounter what is referred to by some as an "Authentic Winery" with a "tasting room" that is as colorful as the two owners are. But before you get to the "wine bar" be sure to look at the chalkboard to the left with the wonderful quotation. A great story goes with it, and more interesting stories are sure to follow. There is also no tasting fee (another sign of an "Authentic Winery") but, as with all of the wineries located up on Spring Mountain, reservations are needed, although easily arranged. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of the wine, with the Riesling being a downright steal at only $27. read more

MUST DO! We visited Napa for the first time last week and stopped by Smith Madrone for the Riesling (my favorite). We got a lot more than expected and echo what everyone else has said. Some highlights: -The dog Curly is just the sweetest greeter. He brought us inside and then up the mountain for amazing views. -Charlie is the easiest person to talk to and as everyone said, so knowledgable. -Free??? The fact that the wine tasting is free is just amazing. Very generous pours. Honestly, they just want to share their wine and talk and have a great time. We bought 8 bottles, and are drinking the Chardonnay now (as everyone said, it's really delicious). Only thing to note, as mentioned is the drive. It's steep but the views and the winery are worth it. Definitely our favorite stop in Napa. read more

Smith Madrone is what a typical, small, family owned winery is all about. Located near the top of Spring Mountain, two brothers make three excellent wines: Cab, Chard and Riesling. Their Riesling is really good and their Chard is very nice. I'm not a huge fan of Chardonnay, but I appreciate what they do with the grape. I like their Cab the most. It is quite different from other mountain cabs or valley cabs in Napa; although I would not necessarily pick it over others of similar price if served it blind. I do enjoy it very much though and don't mind paying for it to relive my experience being there. Each time I open that bottle, it takes me back to that small barn overlooking one of the most beautiful views of Napa. You have to drive for miles up Spring Mountain, then head off road for a bit longer before you find this little gem surrounded by their vineyard with an amazing view of the valley!! This is not a place you will find many visitors and the environment is not set up for the usual tourist, but this is the real thing. No frills, just two brothers making good wine out of a small barn! read more

Awesome wines and an even better tasting experience. If you want a taste of old-school napa and want to see what things were like before all the glitz and glamour, come here because the tasting with Stu and Charles is a real treat. On the other hand, if you have a problem with dust and dirt and want to be wined and dined, this is not the place for you. read more

Amazing experience!! Back in March 2010, my 5 friends and I came here as 1 of 4 winery visits. This was the most quaint, irreverent, beautiful and friendly place of the bunch. We all loved it, which is why I'm writing a review 10 months after the fact. The guy (I forget his name, but he's a former UC Berkeley professor who is a hilarious character) poured us a whole bunch of wine. He only had 3 wines to pour, but he was not against the practice of pouring seconds if we liked one :) This dude was laugh-out-loud funny too; a little intimidating at first with his gruffness but he was actually extremely nice and he kept spouting off on his philosophies and cracking jokes in between... As for the quality of the wines, the Riesling was brilliant, as many reviewers say, and we bought a few bottles. The other two, I honestly don't remember specifics 10 months later, but I remember they were darn good. This winery was great. The tasting was free. The owner provided an unforgettably personable tasting experience. The scenery was incredible--what a view of the valley to the north of St. Helena! I'm going back next time I have an excuse to go wine tasting. read more

Great people, great wines, worth the trip from the valley floor. Charlie has spent several hours educating my husband, our friends, and I on various aspects of wine.....all with interesting back stories and tastes of the various varietals produced here. And wait until you taste their newest high-end Cab. OUTSTANDING!!! Call ahead, get an appointment, and do yourself a favor....allow at least two hours so you're not rushed. This is our favorite stop on every trip to wine country! read more

This is a not to miss tasting experience on Spring Mountain. Stu and Charlie Smith, the proprietors, produce Riesling that has no peer in Napa Valley, elevating any Asian themed meal. Their Chardonnay is pleasantly acidic and redolent of peaches , pears, apples and lemons. Cabernet is a big wine that pairs with big meats. Stu and Charlie are hands on owners at every stage of the viticulture and winemaking process, each a storehouse of knowledge for the inquisitive novice or sophisticated wine drinker. read more

After the beautiful drive up here, we were welcomed by Charles Smith himself to tell us about "the hobby that went to far." Very friendly and exceptionally educating, Charles told us how him and his brother enjoy making wines that they like to drink themselves. Tasting is free, tried three wines, the Chardonnay, the Cabernet sauvignon, and the Riesling. Loved the smell of the cabernet, but the Riesling was to die for! Absolutely the best non-German Riesling. I would come again just for that Riesling. Prices are pretty reasonable but it's the drive and the non fussy casual tasting that makes this place just so relaxing and welcoming. read more

The tour really is time inside the barn where they still and age the wine....kind of rustic, very One on One with the owner, Charlie. We did not spend too much time on the vineyard to know about the grapes.... Overall a departure from the commercialized wine tours in Napa... read more

Matt K. said it all below. Minus the crazy factor. Come for the wine, stay for the atmosphere. As you've probably read on other reviews of Spring Mountain wineries, the trip to anything on this remote stretch of road is a story in itself. Even the best SF drivers will go "WTF?" early and often as they try to navigate this drive. It's awesome. So. On to Smith Madrone. I called and made reservations to taste on a Friday, and had what seemed like a reasonably normal conversation with one of the two brothers who operates the winery. After having a minor meltdown trying to find the place, we arrived to find an old dude sitting in an NRA-labeled old pickup yelling at his old dude brother, who was standing in front of the barn/winery. As soon as pickup dude saw us, his face lit up, he waved and drove away. Second dude didn't notice this exchange, crossed his arms and stared at us, until I came up and gave him my name. After that, it was like we were long-lost Sicilian cousins; he gave us samples from all their varietals, explained their processes and even sent us along with the vineyard dog to a picnic table high up a hill to hang out, enjoy the view and play horseshoes. Definitely make a stop here if you plan to go to Pride and Cain, for the opposite extreme from the corporate winery experience. And give the dog a pat on the head for me. read more

This place is what wine is all about: its quality and its craft, sans all the commercial bells and whistles. Charlie's passion about his craft shone through every word he spoke and through every droplet of wine we sampled. The favorite winery of my whole trip. Just a real, down-to-earth place dedicated to making phenomenal wine. Highly recommended. read more

My friend and I came based on yelp reviews, and the notion that they had a good reisling to try. After a bit of a trek off the main road, which was quite beautiful, we arrived at the Smith-Madrone vineyard. Charles was hard at work in the fields with his adorable dog Curly, but came up to greet us immediately. Apparently this place is by appointment only, but Charles was very nice and invited us into his tasting room/cellar anyway. We chatted and tasted his three wines which were all quite delicious, and ended buying a one of his reislings. Charles and his brother were extremely nice to us, and there was no charge for the tastings. After coming from several big touristy wineries down on the strip, I finally felt like I had experienced a true family owned vineyard. Well worth the trip! read more

Simply fantastic. A friend and I dedicated our Saturday to Spring Mountain, lifting us off the valley floor and on to the divine steps of wine-making. Out trotted Curly, directing us to the main door. And there was Charles Smith, working away in his Caltech baseball cap, and then greeting us. We were early, unsure how long it would take us to find it, but he was amiable and we began our tasting. The riesling sparkles here. It's not syrupy, but a dry riesling perfect for a summer day or paired with the spiciness of Malyasian cuisine. Charles regaled us of stories and shared his vast knowledge of wine making. As he warned, "This is what happens when you let a hobby get out of control." What a beautiful happening and product indeed! read more

What a find. This is a great, small winery on Spring Mountain, started by Charlie and Stu Smith and still run by them, now with the help of Stu's son, Sam. There is nothing fancy or pretentious here, just delicious wines produced by great people. We spent a couple of hours talking about wine, life, and everything in between with Charlie earlier this week. I love supporting family businesses, and with great wines at reasonable prices, this one is going to be getting a lot of support from me. A hidden gem on Spring Mountain, make sure you download the directions before you go, the GPS was not helpful. read more

This is one of the best wineries around....a must see.....a real down to earth experience and the wines are wonderful!!!

Wow! Charlie and Stuart make great wines. We got to taste four of them today and they were excellent. It was relatively easy to make an appointment with Stuart. Charlie was a great host. The wine was amazing - the best we've had in quite a while. My one regret is that since this was our first stop of the day, I only bought three bottles. I need more and need to come up with some justification for spending the big bucks for a bottle of their Reserve wine. So good! read more

If you write a review of Smith-Madrone, you'll basically be writing a review of Charles Smith (one of the Smith brothers, and guide for tastings). Fortunately, he's a total badass and a great storyteller. His wines are tasty (especially the riesling, if you enjoy sweet wines), and the property is gorgeous. Definitely book ahead, and bring your best listening ears. read more

Nothing fancy, hard to find if you're driving (we hired a private driver), I know they are known for their Riesling but I fell in love with the Chardonnay. If you arrive early- purchase a bottle of wine and walk up the dirt path road to the scenic area. And Curly, the dog, will be more than happy to guide you up there. One of my favorite wineries in Napa! read more

This is a small, not-yet-famous winery doing some spectacular stuff under the radar. My family and I were impressed at the personal attention and hospitality we received from the owners. They have a really delicious zin, but are known for their chardonnay, which unfortunately for us, was sold out when we visited. We ordered some though, so we weren't too bummed. Check this place out, just don't pull up in a wine tour bus. read more

This is a small, rustic winery (and not in that re-claimed seventieth century barn wood way) they make some rather great wines very much under the radar. I think if you are looking to at wineries in the area it is best to just do a whole Spring Mountain day because these wines are not near the valley, but the there are some great wines on the hill. read more

We were greeted by Curly, probably the sweetest of the Smiths, who showed us the way to the tasting room, clearly not the usual glitz if most tasting rooms and clearly all about working. Clearly one off the best Rieslings ever! But you will not want to miss the awesome Cabs. Of course the vistas are gorgeous too. It's definitely a winery that you'll want to visit and no, they won't make you wash dishes. Go, taste, savor, appreciate. read more

Smith-Madrone Vineyards - Mr. Smith engaged in winespeak. - Wineries Near Me - Saint Helena, California

Great experience. Authentic family run winery. Get the 70s experience. Great wines (especially the whites) and don't charge for tastings.

Absolutely loved this place! We had a great visit with Charles Smith. He gave us an overview of the property and its history and tasted us on the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Riesling hadn't been bottled yet but Charles pulled out a sample from the tank for us. Even ice cold it was bursting with flavor. The Smith brothers obviously love what they do as evidenced by their fabulous product. We ended our visit with a picnic on their beautiful property. The views are stunning! Avoid the tourist traps on the 29; definitely make the trip up the mountain and visit Smith-Madrone. read more

Charlie was great to hang out with and he makes some delicious wines! i can't wait for the Riesling that we tasted right from the tank (that will be bottled in less than 2 weeks) to be released, because it was the best i have ever had the pleasure of tasting! if you are looking for an unpretentious, knowledgeable and down to earth tasting experience on Spring Mountain, then make an appointment with Charlie and taste his great wines and enjoy his company! read more

Beautiful scenic drive up to the vineyard. 'Old school' winemaking if you will, but simply being done the right way with love. The owners run the tastings; give you generous pours and a wealth of knowledge on wine making process, history, and current wine country news. The best Cab & Riesling. read more

Lovely place; low key tasting of wonderful wines. Tasted Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon & Riesling. A beautiful drive up Spring Mountain; use the website directions as they are very precise and cell service may be lost. read more

A short but beautiful drive up Spring Mountain Road to excellent views. The tour is given by one of the owners and it is unpretentious and informative provided you ask questions. We tried most of their wines and really enjoyed them. This is one of the oldest wineries in the area and the owners are really hands-on pioneers from the 70s who build this winery themselves. Research a bit before you go. I enjoyed this winery on this side of the Valley as well as Ladera on the other side - another older winery with lovely preserved buildings. The history of Napa valley wineries and vineyards is interesting (at least to me) and I enjoy going to wineries like this one. There is a lot of controversy about building vineyards on steep hillsides-- interesting topic in the area... and the availability of water. But again, the views are amazing. read more