Washington native, WSU alum, and veteran winemaker Robert O. Smasne was born and raised in the heart of Washington Wine Country.

As a winemaker, Robert says, “It’s important to believe in the region from which you craft your wine, and my heart belongs to the wines of Washington State, an area that my family has called home and farmed for over 100 years.  Although much has changed since my great-grandfather homesteaded along the Yakima River west of Prosser, Washington and started developing the regions shrub-step desert, I am delighted with the opportunity to showcase the history, passion, and love for the area that has been passed on for five generations, through the artistic expression of my wines”.

Robert graduated from Washington State University and his winemaking background includes stints at Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Amavi Cellars, Pepper Bridge Winery, and Covey Run.  “As a winemaker my career has been very diversified and I am grateful to have worked with many of the top winemakers in Washington State and for the opportunities that have shaped my winemaking passion and individual style ”.  .   I have been very fortunate in my winemaking career to work with such a diverse group of peers, a wide array of vineyards from different appalletations, and with both large-scale wineries as well as ultra-premium estate wineries. Here I gained a wide knowledge of the industry, different marketing strategies, and ultimately each shaped my winemaking style.  In my early winemaking years, I had the opportunity to work alongside the talents of David Lake, Dave Crippen, Kerry Norton, Flint Nelson, and Gordy Rawson. While at Pepper Bridge Winery and Winemaker for Amavi Cellars in Walla Walla I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with an industry giant, Norm McKibben and one of Walla Walla’s premier winemakers Jean-Francios Pellet.  Furthermore, this opened the door for me to work alongside and learn from the talented Christophe Baron from Cayuse.

Veteran Winemaker Robert O. Smasne shares his wealth of winemaking experience and knowledge of Washington terroir by crafting wines that have garnered him the attention as a leading winemaker in Washington State….“As with all great wine regions around the world I believe that wine starts in the vineyard but truly great wines start from the heart and of a passion within, an artistic expression of a moment that will never be again nor created by another and seeded by a love for the area from which you craft your wine and a willingness to nurture this until it may be shared. ”

Cheers, Robert O. Smasne