2021 Samuel Louis Smith, Sandstone Terrace Syrah, Santa Cruz Mountains; watercolor table by Sam Smith

In 2014 as a micro-négociant, Sam Smith started his own label Samuel Louis Smith Wines which focuses on higher elevation, cool climate, organic sources. Smith’s unusual path to winemaking started in Bakersfield, where he grew up making art, and learning languages.  He continued studying French and Spanish at UC Santa Barbara, but a semester in Bordeaux taught him about wine; later he completed the UC Davis winemaking certificate. He’s worked in wineries around the world including some famous ones in the Rhone, and his day job is as the winemaker at organic Morgan in the Santa Lucia Hills working with owner and founder Dan Lee. His father helps with financial aspects of his business, and Sam Smith does the art for his SLS labels himself. I interviewed him for Slow Wine Guide; while he waxed poetic he was waxing the corks. Here are some excerpts from our conversation. Continue reading →