Saturday, January 2, 2021
After nearly 12 hours of sleep last night I sipped my first cup of delicious coffee and picked up my phone to see a "Google Alert". My heart rate jumped as I clicked on The…
Jan 2 2021
Dec 30 2020
Wine of the Year
And just like that, the end of 2020 comes to a close.
Smith Story Wine of the Year
2017 Helluva Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Why? Our #1 selling red wine & the most fitting name of all…
Dec 28 2020
Best of 2020
Monday December 28, 2020
Best of 2020
It’s hard to think about, these past 12 months took us all on a wild emotional rollercoaster. The highs felt like flying over the tops of a redwood forest. The lows…
Dec 22 2020
A light bulb moment.
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
How Gratitude Has Changed Us
As of today, Eric and I are still fine, Smith Story Wine Cellars is fine, everything is just fine.
For all of us, 2020 has been far from…
Dec 19 2020
Bear Dalton, the original Texas Storyteller.
Bear Dalton, the original Texas Storyteller.
I received news this morning that my good friend and wine business mentor Bear Dalton passed after a 3 year cancer battle. I'm writing this with a very heavy heart this morning.
…
Dec 16 2020
Pass the tissues please
Share Joy.
The Real Gift of Smith Story Wines.
In general, I hope the gift of wine never ends. “Giving is fun” is our SocksforSandwich.org mantra which rings true for the winery too.
As of today, we…
Dec 6 2020
Home Wine for the Holidays
Sunday, December 6, 2020
"Everything's better with wine", said Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa on today's show. Yes Ina, wine has been the steady "good news" in our lives this year indeed! As of 4pm today, we are still allowed…
Nov 19 2020
A Cozy 2020 Thanksgiving
Listen to Ali's Thanksgiving Day Audio here.
It’s one week before Thanksgiving Day 2020. I know I know! It’s been nearly 4 weeks since the last email. I told you we were in the weeds! Not going to bother…
Oct 25 2020
The Sleeping Giant Across the Way
Day 239
This is the view from my office desk since March 3, 2020. 239 days of working while looking out this window. In late 2019, the former winery (Balo) across CA-128 from us was purchased by Jackson Family…
Oct 14 2020
French Connection
October 13, 2020
Good morning from a windy and warm Healdsburg. Much of Northern California is under another Red Flag Warning until Friday with high temps and gusty winds forecasted. Please continue to pray for the safety of our…
Sep 14 2020
Blue Sky or Red?
Blue Sky...Sorta.
Well, how are you doing today? Take a seat, this is a long one friends. Last week was the hardest of 2020 yet! The two of us have been worse but have also been so much better…
Sep 9 2020
NO GUTS NO STORY
September 9, 2020
NO GUTS NO STORY.
24 hours ago, this was the sky above our tasting room here in the Anderson Valley. Thankfully, no fires have reached the valley. But we are surrounded by fires as far…