Jeff Smith takes music as seriously as he takes his wine. Former guitarist of the 80s band Noonday Underground, Smith is now proprietor of Hourglass Wines, where he applies the same creative energy to winemaking as he does to making music. Smith assumed the reins of the family vineyard in the early 90s and began to pursue his vision: to craft wines of unique personality—"an interwoven reflection of a specific place and a singular artistic expression." He succeeded, and Hourglass Wines has been attracting acclaim since its first release in 1997.
The Alexander Group Managing Director John Lamar caught up with Smith at his Napa Valley office—adorned with rock memorabilia and electric guitars—to talk about the wine industry mid-pandemic and the creative ways Hourglass is continuing to connect with end consumers. Watch the interview, part of our Silver Lining series, here.