Roudon Smith Winery & Tasting Room

Specialties

We specialize in the making of fine wines as well as the enjoyment of taking on new challenges. Every year, we search for the most remarkable fruit available. Then with a minimal intervention approach to wine making, we aim to preserve this quality as the grapes evolve to wine. Though small, we are growing our production as we find additional exceptional grape sources that we can turn into high quality wines.

History

Established in 1972.

Roudon-​Smith Winery was founded by two engineering families, the Roudon’s and the Smith’s. These two Amdahl engineers purchased vineyard land up in the mountains and began a strenuous commute that involved wives, children and a first crush in a tiny basement winery.

As the vineyard matured, the Roudon-​Smith reputation grew and patience with the «over the hill» commute waned where they eventually took the leap, quit their jobs and never looked back.

In 1978 they built a 10,000 case production facility in Scotts Valley. The goal was to maintain a size of operation that can be sustained & hand-​operated by the Roudon-​Smith workforce itself.

The division of labor that helped launch both the dream and the winery’s reputation continues as Al & Diane Drewke now are working with their winemaker, Brandon Armitage, to continue creating the high quality wines that Roudon-​Smith has been known for.

Meet the Business Owner

Al D.

Business Owner

Al Drewke comes from a tech background having worked as an engineer and manager in Tech Companies and the military for over 25 years.

His passion for wine took his career in a new direction in 2006 as he become a co-​owner of Roudon-Smith…then in 2011 he and his wife became sole owners of the winery.

Al has a baccalaureate degree from the US Military Academy as well as Master’s degrees from Stanford University and The US Army War College and a Wine MBA degree from L’Ecole de Management in Bordeaux, France