Charles Smith, a king of Washington wine

I love Charles Smith's wines. I like his "differentness." I admire how he started with almost nothing, and yet has built up a large winemaker's portfolio of several different labels, with each representing unique and wonderful wines. This article portrays him as the Mark Cuban of wine, a polarizing figure. In my experience, that's as not so very correct. Maybe I run in only enlightened crowds, but I see no one except admirers of his wines, and of him. You would castigate a winemaker for his hair? For his love of old farms and old cars? For his Bunny Yeager photos by the restrooms? If you would, then you don't deserve to enjoy his wines. C'mon! This is ART we're talking about. Artists deserve a wide range to run in. And Charles makes magic.

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.