Nevada Smith was born into the farming world of Central Valley.  Around age 12 he took his first job in the farm sheds sorting, boxing, and working the annual sweet corn, peppers, pumpkin and watermelon markets. It wasn’t love at first sight, but more about the appreciation of the hard work and dedication it took farmers (entrepreneurs) to work through the ups and downs that each season brought. In 1996, his passion for business and agriculture lead him to attend the University of Cal Poly SLO where he focused on agronomy and ag business. The coastal experience allowed him to not only participate in the Cal Poly Enology program but to taste many different varietals.  His first love was of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape from Paso Robles and the Pinot Noir clones from Monterey . He committed himself to learn all about these two varitals by  tasting different  clones side by side, talking with growers on rootstock choices, and how the “terrior” created a unique wine. 

By 2005, it was time to go beyond agronomy and growing grapes and to experiment in making wine. The first vintage was a tremendous success in creating a “garagiste” wine blend of Petite Sirah and Zinfandel from Clarksburg, California. It received a silver medal from the WineMaker Magazine International Amateur Winemaking Competition. The next years were all about learning: exploring yeast strains, oak additions, and additive grapes varietals that can make a better wine. Nine vintages later, learning, tweaking, and creating partners with key grape growers and he was ready to launch SKYHARP CELLARS. The first vintage was a 2014 Blend called- Grand Vin Reserve. This was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel from the northern Napa Valley of Calistoga, California. The fire was lit and Nevada released 3 more vintages that first season.

Nevada Smith and the Skyharp Cellars brand will continue to focus on craft wine blends. Single vineyard vintage wines are great, but are limited to what comes from a single spot of land. Craft wine blends allow for the flexibility and the vision of the winemaker to enhance what the farmer has already created. Nevada Smith feels that telling the story by describing each varietal and the taste the grape elicts for the consumer is what really makes a great wine experience.