CasaSmith ViNO 2018 Rosso

CasaSmith 2018 ViNO Rosso

Pairs with: Broiled steak with oregano aioli

Good for: Backyard cookout 

Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese

I am from: Columbia Valley, Washington

The story: Charles Smith got his start selling 330 cases of his 1999 K Vitners Syrah out of the back of his 1987 Astro Van a little over 20 years ago. His unlikely rise to “rockstar winemaker” status is the stuff indie cult-classic films are made of.  Before wine, Charles spent a decade touring Europe as a rock band manager in Denmark before returning to the United States to immerse himself in the emerging music scene in Seattle, Washington. He found a way to explore his burgeoning interest in wine by opening a wine shop on Bainbridge Island, but Charles felt compelled to create the wines, not just to sell them. A chance road trip to Walla Walla, Washington, in 1999 gave Charles that opportunity. He watched, listened, and absorbed. Most importantly, he created. With almost nothing in his pockets, Charles Smith found a way to produce his first vintage…the aforementioned 330 cases of 1999 K Syrah. In the two decades since, Charles Smith has left an undeniable impact on the wine industry. Charles developed (and later sold) iconic brands like House Wine and Charles Smith Wines, the home of smash-hit wines like Kung Fu Girl Riesling, Boom Boom Syrah, and the Velvet Devil Merlot. He earned recognition as Wine & Spirits Magazine Winery of the Year (2008), Food & Wine Winemaker of the Year (2009), Wine Enthusiast Winemaker of the Year (2014), and placed #2 and #13 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 List (2017). In 2006, Charles created the cult-favorite, Royal City Syrah, and that inaugural vintage made Charles Smith one of only four Washington winemakers to earn a 100-point score. In 2015, Charles opened Charles Smith Wines Jet City in Seattle Washington, the largest urban winery on the West Coast.

Each of these accomplishments reinforce the same theme: Charles Smith creates wine for the people. Wine that is significant. Wine that proclaims, “I am from Washington.” Wine that is intriguing from first glance at the label to last sip from the bottle. Wine that embodies the intangible wonders of life… passion, natural beauty, tradition, goodness, rock ‘n’ roll, heartache, tenderness, love, laughter, life, and thankfulness.