Clark Robert Smith

Last updated

Clark Robert Smith is a pioneering innovator [1] [2] in the wine industry. He is largely respected for his contributions to winemakers and the wine industry of California and worldwide. [3] He has built many successful brands, consults on five continents, judges wines at several competitions [4] and teaches winemaking in six universities. [5] [6]

Contents

Early life and career

Clark's parents met at MIT. His father an Aviation Engineer earned a presidential commendation from Ronald Reagan [6] [7] for helping to build engines for the Apollo spacecraft. Clark's early life years were spent growing up on the East Coast, and Birmingham, Alabama where he attended the private school Indian Springs School. [8] [9] Clark has said this has impacted his ability to be a good writer. [10] Clark attended MIT briefly, declined program completion, and went on to graduate as a top student and memorable pupil at U. C. Davis (1977–1983). Smith served as the founding winemaker for The R. H. Phillips Vineyard for its first seven years, taking it from 3,000 cases per year to 250,000. He implemented night time harvesting and published ground-breaking research on vineyard variables affecting wine quality. After spending the 1970s retailing wine in the East Bay, he began his winemaking career as cellarmaster for VeederCrest. [8]

Postmodern winemaking

In 1990, he began Vinovation, which became the world's largest winemaking consulting company with over 1200 clients around the world. Clark developed a postmodern winemaking system which rejects the solution chemistry model of winemaking and instead centers on building structure, integrating aroma, and promoting living soils. [11] His Postmodern Winemaking from U.C. Press was named Wine and Spirits Magazine's 2013 Book Of The Year.

Pioneering technologies

In the 1990s, Smith went on to patent [12] reverse osmosis [13] methods for alcohol removal and volatile acidity correction, [14] founding the world’s largest wine technology provider, Vinovation, and pioneering the implementation in American winemaking of micro-oxygenation, [15] ultrafiltration, tartrate stabilization through electrodialysis, alternatives to sterile filtration. [16] Smith sold Vinovation and its technology. [17] Smith has been busy writing on postmodern winemaking, [18] which rejects the solution chemistry model of winemaking and the reductionist approach to sensory evaluation, instead centering on structural integrity, [19] aromatic integration, graceful longevity and soulful resonance with the environment in which wine is consumed. These realms have opened inquiries into living soils, vine balance, proper maturity, co-extraction, uses of oxygen, balancing reduction, minerality, microbial balance, and the relationship of wine and music. "Wine is not science, it's cuisine – the ultimate slow food."[Quote: Clark Robert Smith]

Wine specialist

Smith is recognized as a leading authority on the enhancement of wine structure and a vocal proponent of living soil. [20] His popular class on Fundamentals of Wine Chemistry has been attended by over 4,000 participants since 1984. David Darlington’s biography of him in Wine & Spirits magazine won the James Beard award. [5] He directs the Best of Appellation wine evaluations for AppellationAmerica.com, writes a monthly column, “The Postmodern Winemaker,” for Wines and Vines magazine, and is an adjunct faculty member at California State University at Fresno and Florida International University. He was awarded "Innovator of the Year" by Wine Business Monthly magazine at their IQ Conference in March 2016.

Wine alcohol reduction techniques

Clark is often quoted as talking about finding the sweet spot in a wine. [21] Which is the point at which "wine" has achieved its taste and aroma or "nose". This is determined by the Alcohol percentage in the wine. [22]

Author, writer, columnist and teacher

In 1993, Smith started WineSmith.com to explore a range of California terroirs with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Roman Syrah made according to European principles. A long drive practicing wine maker Clark began making the wines for Diamond Ridge Vineyards in 2007, of a unique high altitude site in Lake County. Clark is an editor and contributing writer to many Wine related topics and Magazines. Clark is a contributing Writer, Columnist and Editor for Appellation America, [23] Wine and Vines Magazine “The Postmodern Winemaker”. [24] Clark has worked in six Universities and Colleges as an adjunct lecturer. [25] He has taught courses for over 20yrs, at University of California at Davis, Napa Valley College, Fresno State University, Southwest Missouri State University, Florida International University [26] and L'Academie du Vin in Tokyo. [27]

Musician

In recent years, Smith has become increasingly interested in the study of the relationship of wine and music cognition. [28] [29] A composer and vocalist, [21] He sings baritone for the men's chorus Sonoma Chanson, was elected President for 2017 of the Redwood Chordsmen, and sings baritone in the barbershop quartet, "Sound Logic." He is currently engaged in the production of a CD of original songs about real life in the Wine Industry. He resides in Santa Rosa, California. [30]

Related Research Articles

Biodynamic wines are wines made employing the biodynamic methods both to grow the fruit and during the post-harvest processing. Biodynamic wine production uses organic farming methods while also employing soil supplements prepared according to Rudolf Steiner's formulas, following a planting calendar that depends upon astrological configurations, and treating the earth as "a living and receptive organism."

Warren Winiarski is a Napa Valley winemaker and the founder and former proprietor of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heitz Wine Cellars</span> Winery in California

Heitz Wine Cellars is a California wine producer located within Napa Valley east of the town of St. Helena. An early modern era Napa Valley presence and pioneering exponent of French oak, the estate enjoys a historical renown with the success of its Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and has also been described as a "master of Grignolino".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Draper (winemaker)</span> American winemaker

Paul Draper is a California winemaker who has been the chief winemaker at Ridge Vineyards in California since 1969. Without any formal training in winemaking, Draper first gained recognition for his 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon when it placed fifth at the Judgment of Paris wine tasting. Draper has played a significant role in the history of California wine through his pioneering work in popularizing "vineyard-designated" wines as well as instigating the resurgence of old vine Zinfandel. Along with Ravenswood Winery's Joel Peterson, Draper is considered one of the most important figures in the history of Californian Zinfandel, rescuing the grape from obscurity and demonstrating its full potential as a serious wine. Draper was featured in a short film titled Terroir and directed by Christopher McGilvray which was shown at the 2017 Cinequest Film Festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David R. Bennion</span> American winemaker

David Ralph Bennion (1929–1988) was a leading California winemaker who was the founder and winemaker at Ridge Vineyards in California from 1959 to 1969. From an early period, Bennion labeled Ridge Vineyards wines by vineyard, district and appellation, a first for California Zinfandel and a practice later followed by nearly every winery in the state. Ridge's flagship wine, Monte Bello is considered one of the great wines of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado wine</span> Wine made from grapes grown in Colorado, USA

Colorado wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Colorado. Most of Colorado's vineyards are located on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, though an increasing number of wineries are located along the Front Range.

Dawnine Sample Dyer is an American winemaker and entrepreneur who pioneered the use of champagne-making methods in California's fledgling sparkling wine industry in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reif Estate Winery</span> Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

Reif Estate Winery is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada. Reif Estate is primarily known for playing an important in role pioneering the Ontario wine Industry, as well as planting some of the first Vitis vinifera vines in the Niagara region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champoux Vineyard</span>

Champoux Vineyard is a grape growing estate located in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington state. Grapes grown in the vineyard have been used to produce some of the most critically acclaimed Washington wines with the name Champoux regularly being featured on vineyard designated wines. Paul Gregutt, wine writer for the Seattle Times and Wine Enthusiast, list Champoux as one of the "top ten" vineyards in the entire state. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Champoux vineyards were featured in the consecutive 100 point Robert Parker rated wines from Quilceda Creek Vintners for the 2002 and 2003 vintages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethel Heights Vineyard</span>

Bethel Heights Vineyard is an Oregon winery in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of the Willamette Valley. Founded in 1977 by twin brothers Ted and Terry Casteel, their wives Pat Dudley and Marilyn Webb, and Pat's sister Barbara Dudley, the vineyard was one of the earliest plantings in the Eola-Amity Hills region. A winery soon followed, with the first estate wines produced in 1984. Bethel Heights specializes in Pinot noir, offering several individual block and vineyard designated bottlings, but also produces wines made from Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, and Gewürztraminer.

The Grace Family Vineyards is a vineyard and winery in Napa, California. It is widely regarded as one of the original cult wineries in the Napa Valley, and was the first American winery to use the word "family" in its name.

Carol Shelton is an American winemaker and entrepreneur. She has been called the most awarded winemaker in America and was the San Francisco Chronicle's Winemaker of the Year in 2005.

Cathy Corison is an American winemaker, entrepreneur and consultant. She specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon. Corison was the San Francisco Chronicle Winemaker of the Year in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twomey Cellars</span>

Twomey Cellars is a California winery. It was established in 1999 by the Duncan Family, who have operated the successful Silver Oak Cellars in California since 1972. The Duncan Family started Twomey Cellars to pursue varietals other than Cabernet Sauvignon. Twomey has three wineries: one in Calistoga in the Napa Valley; one in Healdsburg in the Russian River Valley; one in Philo in Anderson Valley, and produces mainly Pinot noir and Sauvignon blanc. Twomey’s Sauvignon blanc is a blend of Sauvignon blanc grapes from their estate vineyards at their wineries in Napa Valley, Anderson Valley, and Russian River Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Baron</span> American winemaker

Daniel Baron is an American winemaker. He is best known for his work with the Duncan family-owned Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey Cellars, and was Director of Winemaking for both. After his retirement in 2017, he launched Complant Wine with his son, Sam Baron, to produce small production, artisanal, single vineyard wines. Originally a field worker for John Rolleri at Chateau Montelena, he gained experience in the Bordeaux region of France and was mentored by the likes of grape geneticist Professor Harold Olmo, and winemakers Jean-Claude Berrouet and Justin Meyer. He became general manager of Christian Moueix's Dominus Estate in the 1980s. He became winemaker for Silver Oak, an exclusive Cabernet Sauvignon producer, in 1994, and was trained by Justin Meyer to follow in his footsteps as Silver Oak's winemaker before Meyer’s retirement in 2001. In 1999, Baron was instrumental in persuading the Duncans to establish Twomey to pursue Merlot, Pinot noir, and Sauvignon blanc after discovering high quality Merlot grapes on Silver Oak’s Soda Canyon Ranch Vineyard. He has served on boards such as the American Society of Enology and Viticulture and the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Cane</span> Australian winemaker

Benjamin Cane is an Australian winemaker who currently owns Duke's Vineyard in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

Phyllis Zouzounis is an American female winemaker based in Windsor, California, known for Zinfandel wine.

Blanc du Bois is an American hybrid grape that was created in 1968 by John A. Mortensen at the University of Florida’s Central Florida Research and Education Center in Leesburg, Florida. Mortensen created this variety by crossing various Vitis vinifera grape varieties such as Golden Muscat with native Florida varieties. When released in 1987, Blanc du Bois became another grape variety in the small but growing number of vine types that can both produce marketable wine on their own yet can withstand Pierce's Disease, a bacterial infection that destroys nearly all vinifera vinestocks imported into the southern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenwood Vineyards</span> Winery in Kenwood, California

Kenwood Vineyards is a winery in Kenwood, California, located on Highway 12 in the Sonoma Valley wine country. It is currently owned by Pernod Ricard Winemakers.

Celia Welch is an American winemaker. She is known for developing vintages in Napa Valley for a number of wineries, and the San Francisco Chronicle described her as a member "of an elite order of Napa winemaking consultants." She launched her own label, Corra, in 2004.

References

  1. ↑ Asimov, Eric (2007-03-06). "When Technology Is Worthwhile - NYTimes.com". Dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  2. ↑ "Department of Viticulture and Enology". Jcast.csufresno.edu. 2011-08-31. Archived from the original on 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  3. ↑ "Wines & Vines - Wine Industry Feature Articles - Winemaker Interview". Winesandvines.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  4. ↑ "Wine Judging Revolution - America". Wine.appellationamerica.com. 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  5. 1 2 "Post Modern Deliciousness by Clark Robert Smith" (PDF). Wineandspiritsmagazine.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  6. 1 2 "Winners Announced for the 2008 James Beard Foundation Media". Pdfdocspace.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  7. ↑ "Wine&Spirits Magazine — Vinitaly: Biodynamics". Wineandspiritsmagazine.com. 2005-08-26. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  8. 1 2 "Wine rebel teaches classes at alma mater Indian Springs School | al.com". Blog.al.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  9. ↑ "Indian Springs School ~ Wine 101 Brings Education, Fun, Funds to ISS". Indiansprings.org. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  10. ↑ "The Magazine of Indian Springs School" (PDF). Indiansprings.org. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  11. ↑ "GrapeCraft Wines | Wineries & Vineyards in USA". Natalie MacLean. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  12. ↑ "quality". Vinovation.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  13. ↑ "quality". Vinovation.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  14. ↑ "Musings". Postmodern Winemaking. 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  15. ↑ "Micro-Oxygenation in Contemporary Winemaking" (PDF). Capewineacacdemy.co.za. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  16. ↑ "ArticleWollanVA". Vinovation.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  17. ↑ "Vinovation sheds Sebastopol business". PressDemocrat.com. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  18. ↑ "Wines & Vines - Editorial Columns - Biodynamics and the Limits of Rationalism". Winesandvines.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  19. ↑ "Wines & Vines - Editorial Columns - Building Structure: The Tool Kit". Winesandvines.com. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  20. ↑ "Natural Wine - America". Wine.appellationamerica.com. 2008-04-25. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  21. 1 2 W. Blake Gray, Special to The Chronicle (2007-11-02). "Music to drink wine by: Vintner insists music can change wine's flavors". SFGate. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  22. ↑ "Some Like it Hot - America". Wine.appellationamerica.com. 2007-09-10. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  23. ↑ "Clark Smith - Appellation America". Wine.appellationamerica.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  24. ↑ "Wines & Vines - Vineyard Enology: The Power of Showing Up". Winesandvines.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  25. ↑ "Wine Chemistry with Clark Smith". Enobytes. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  26. ↑ "Clark Smith". www.rawfair.com. 2012-05-21. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  27. ↑ "Feature of school History:ソムリエの資格/試験の対策はアカデミー・デュ・ヴァン". Adv.gr.jp. Archived from the original on 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  28. ↑ "Money, Music, War and Wine « The Wine Economist". Wineeconomist.com. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  29. ↑ "Wine and Music". Postmodern Winemaking. 2011-11-23. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  30. ↑ "About Us". Postmodern Winemaking. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.