Charles Smith still on the way up

Charles Smith just bought the Whitman Cellars facility for just over $1M. (It closed a couple of years ago when its bank called in a $2.6M loan; I sold carsfull of the excellent Whitman wines to my customers after that, at great prices.)

Charles' brands are growing well. His Charles and Charles line is growing at a 30% annual rate. So the new space will be welcome. The photo below is him in his K Vintners tasting room. He also has a place in downtown Walla Walla, which is a wine store and nightclub/wine bar. I really like his wine style, and it's hard not to admire his risk-taking and his intellect, as well.

Read the article here.