We did it. We started a winery. We made wine. We made really good wine. We think, we hope, no - we believe! We're emotional as hell! We want to tell everyone! And we are so very thankful to our Smith Story Wine Cellars Inner Circle...
Our winemakers Katy and Ross - so grateful for their support, expertise, their endless hours of insight and advice and most of all for their devotion to making fine wine for us.
Our "garagiste" custom crush partner, Vinify Wine Services. Wow, we never encountered anything during crush but "hustle" at Vinify and loads of cooperation. It was like an anthill of super focused wine artisans waltzing around 24/7 for weeks straight.
Our vineyard managers, grape growers and families that kept watch over our precious grapes, from the Southern Sonoma Coast, the highest peaks of Sonoma Mountain, the far West of the West Sonoma Coast, the heart of the Russian River, the depths of Knights Valley and all the way up to our beloved Anderson Valley. We are so thankful for each person, each vine, each row, each picking crew who helped bring in the highest quality grapes we could afford this year.
Our biggest thanks goes to all of our family, friends, Kickstarter Backers and folks working "behind the scenes" to keep us going. Your encouragement, connections, support and enthusiasm on a daily basis was (and is) so awesome...which also brought us to meeting our new investor, who's been our most wonderful unexpected happening this year. We are honored, grateful and thrilled to have our first year of business come together so effortlessly.
Hard work and remaining faithful to the process and keeping the faith that a higher power is watching over us feels unbelievable. Now we wait patiently for our Harvest 2014 babies to do their thing in the cellar. The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc will be our first release next spring.
With Much Love and Tears of Joy - Happy Holidays Everyone!
This is Our Story.
- Ali & Eric
