Mike  Smith

Winemaker, Steltzner Vineyards

Purist, perfectionist, quiet observer, focused, humble and a genuinely amazing person - that is Mike Smith. To top that off, he crafts exceptional wines. Traveling from Portland, Oregon, in the fall of 1999, Mike came to Napa. He had a passion for wine and a desire to lean the craft. He befriended Thomas Rivers Brown and began working for free with Thomas at Outpost … he even slept on Thomas’s couch.

Mike was working towards a deeper understanding of what it takes to not just make wine, but truly craft it. He moved his family in 2004 and scraped together enough money to start his own wine label, Myriad Cellars, in 2005. He continued to work hard, observe, make connections and experience working with top vineyards in the valley.

In 2008 he began working with Mark Carter, crafting wines for his Carter Cellars project. The wines had always been good, sourcing from top vineyards such as Beckstoffer To Kalon and Dr. Crane, but Mike’s experiences allowed him to take these wines to the next level.

They quickly became some of the most critically acclaimed wines to be made in Napa Valley.

Mike has become one of the brightest talents here in the valley and continues to make some of the most exciting new wines to come out of the appellation. Mike continues to lead the team at Carter Cellars, and in addition to Myriad Cellars, Mike and his wife, Leah, have two additional projects - Ancillary Cellars and Quivet Cellars.

Mike also is involved in several other projects including Scarlett, 12C, Becklyn Cellars, Patine, Steltzner Vineyards and Bench Vineyards. At the end of the day, he still remains grounded in the same way he was when he started - humble, generous with his time, tremendously talented and deeply dedicated to his craft.

Country born: United States

Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
My philosophy is simple: I like to create the most natural and expressive wines California can offer. I believe in allowing the fruit to fully reveal itself in the wines, encouraging the personality and terroir of the vineyards, while showcasing itself to the fullest extent. This allows the wines to be true to their nature and brings harmony in the bottle.