Luck
and timing led Bill and Joan Smith into the wine business: enthusiasm,
perseverance, and good advice from a few talented friends facilitated
their success as world-class producers. A wrong turn while trying
to visit Chappellet Vineyard led Bill Smith to discover and purchase
the historic ghost winery, La Jota Vineyard Co., including 40 acres
on top of Howell Mountain in the Napa Valley. Two years later, in
1976, Bill and his new wife, Joan, spent their honeymoon planting
the first 2 acres of vines, which would grow to 28 acres by 1978.
After a few classes in home winemaking at UC Davis for Bill, a lot
of experimenting, and some priceless mentoring from friend and Howell
Mountain neighbor Randy Dunn, the Smith’s produced La Jota
Vineyard’s first Cabernet Sauvignon vintage in 1982. When
their release letter produced only 10 orders, Joan packed up a basket
of wine, scheduled appointments, and went out to
sell. Flush with the success of her first day, Joan continued to
personally sell La Jota for the next 20 years. The couple went on
to garner much attention and received many accolades—including
being listed as #2 on Robert Parker’s roster of “heroes”
in the December 1994 issue of The Wine Advocate. The ultimate compliment—Markham
Vineyards purchased the highly successful La Jota Vineyard Co. in
2001.
Curious by nature and eager to embrace new adventures, it didn’t
take much for friend and winemaker Helen Turley to inspire in Bill
the desire to try his hand at Pinot Noir. In 1992, under a new W.
H. Smith Wines label, the Smiths released their first vintage of
Sonoma County Pinot Noir. Passionate for Pinot, in 1994 Bill and
Joan purchased 360 acres along the Sonoma Coast on a ridge high
above the town of Cazadero. The first vintage of Maritime Ridge
Vineyards—the Smith's rising star—was harvested in 2002
and was released in the spring of 2004.
Luck
and timing led Bill and Joan Smith into the wine business: enthusiasm,
perseverance, and good advice from a few talented friends facilitated
their success as world-class producers. A wrong turn while trying
to visit Chappellet Vineyard led Bill Smith to discover and purchase
the historic ghost winery, La Jota Vineyard Co., including 40 acres
on top of Howell Mountain in the Napa Valley. Two years later, in
1976, Bill and his new wife, Joan, spent their honeymoon planting
the first 2 acres of vines, which would grow to 28 acres by 1978.
After a few classes in home winemaking at UC Davis for Bill, a lot
of experimenting, and some priceless mentoring from friend and Howell
Mountain neighbor Randy Dunn, the Smith’s produced La Jota
Vineyard’s first Cabernet Sauvignon vintage in 1982. When
their release letter produced only 10 orders, Joan packed up a basket
of wine, scheduled appointments, and went out 
to
sell. Flush with the success of her first day, Joan continued to
personally sell La Jota for the next 20 years. The couple went on
to garner much attention and received many accolades—including
being listed as #2 on Robert Parker’s roster of “heroes”
in the December 1994 issue of The Wine Advocate. The ultimate compliment—Markham
Vineyards purchased the highly successful La Jota Vineyard Co. in
2001.