Clark Robert Smith

Clark's parents met at MIT. His father an Aviation Engineer earned a presidential commendation from Ronald Reagan{{cite web |url=http://www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/pages/features/0407_Darlington.html |title=Wine&Spirits Magazine — Vinitaly: Biodynamics |publisher=Wineandspiritsmagazine.com |date=2005-08-26 |accessdate=2012-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202074819/http://www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/pages/features/0407_Darlington.html |archive-date=2008-12-02 |url-status=dead }} for helping to build engines for the Apollo spacecraft. Clark's early life years were spent growing up on the East Coast, and Birmingham, Alabama where he attended the private school Indian Springs School.{{cite web|url=http://blog.al.com/businessnews/2009/10/wine_rebel_teaches_classes_at.html |title=Wine rebel teaches classes at alma mater Indian Springs School | al.com |publisher=Blog.al.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}{{cite web|url=http://www.indiansprings.org/podium/default.aspx?t=204&id=507419 |title=Indian Springs School ~ Wine 101 Brings Education, Fun, Funds to ISS |publisher=Indiansprings.org |date= 12 October 2009|accessdate=2012-09-28}} Clark has said this has impacted his ability to be a good writer.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiansprings.org/ftpimages/335/download/download_group12749_id365284.pdf|title=The Magazine of Indian Springs School|publisher=Indiansprings.org|accessdate=2012-09-28}} Clark attended MIT briefly, declined program completion, and went on to graduate as a top student and memorable pupil at U. C. Davis (1977–1983). Smith served as the founding winemaker for The R. H. Phillips Vineyard for its first seven years, taking it from 3,000 cases per year to 250,000. He implemented night time harvesting and published ground-breaking research on vineyard variables affecting wine quality. After spending the 1970s retailing wine in the East Bay, he began his winemaking career as cellarmaster for VeederCrest.

In 1990, he began Vinovation, which became the world's largest winemaking consulting company with over 1200 clients around the world. Clark developed a postmodern winemaking system which rejects the solution chemistry model of winemaking and instead centers on building structure, integrating aroma, and promoting living soils.{{cite web|url=http://www.nataliemaclean.com/wineries/info/grapecraft-wines/3941 |title=GrapeCraft Wines | Wineries & Vineyards in USA |publisher=Natalie MacLean |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}} His Postmodern Winemaking from U.C. Press was named Wine and Spirits Magazine's 2013 Book Of The Year.

In the 1990s, Smith went on to patent{{cite web|url=http://www.vinovation.com/alcadjustment.htm |title=quality |publisher=Vinovation.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}} reverse osmosis{{cite web|url=http://www.vinovation.com/custequip.htm |title=quality |publisher=Vinovation.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}} methods for alcohol removal and

volatile acidity correction,{{cite web|url=http://postmodernwinemaking.com/musings?tid=All&page=3 |title=Musings |publisher=Postmodern Winemaking |date=2008-05-15 |accessdate=2012-09-28}} founding the world's largest wine technology provider, Vinovation, and pioneering the implementation in American winemaking of micro-oxygenation,{{cite web|url=http://www.capewineacademy.co.za/dissertations/blaauw%20mox.pdf|title=Micro-Oxygenation in Contemporary Winemaking |publisher=Capewineacacdemy.co.za|accessdate=2012-09-28}} ultrafiltration, tartrate stabilization through electrodialysis, alternatives to sterile filtration.{{cite web|url=http://www.vinovation.com/ArticleWollanVA.htm |title=ArticleWollanVA |publisher=Vinovation.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}} Smith sold Vinovation and its technology.{{cite web|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080710/NEWS07/807100397 |title=Vinovation sheds Sebastopol business |publisher=PressDemocrat.com |date=2008-07-10 |accessdate=2012-09-28}} Smith has been busy writing on postmodern winemaking,{{cite web |url=http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=columns_article&content=82315 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209075816/http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=columns_article&content=82315 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-09 |title=Wines & Vines - Editorial Columns - Biodynamics and the Limits of Rationalism |publisher=Winesandvines.com |date= |accessdate=2012-08-21 }} which rejects the solution chemistry model of winemaking and the reductionist approach to sensory evaluation, instead centering on structural integrity,{{cite web|url=http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=columns_article&content=72070&columns_id=92 |title=Wines & Vines - Editorial Columns - Building Structure: The Tool Kit |publisher=Winesandvines.com |date= |accessdate=2012-08-21}} aromatic integration, graceful longevity and soulful resonance with the environment in which wine is consumed. These realms have opened inquiries into living soils, vine balance, proper maturity, co-extraction, uses of oxygen, balancing reduction, minerality, microbial balance, and the relationship of wine and music. "Wine is not science, it's cuisine – the ultimate slow food."[Quote: Clark Robert Smith]

Smith is recognized as a leading authority on the enhancement of wine structure and a vocal

proponent of living soil.{{cite web|url=http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-review/564/Natural-Wine.html |title=Natural Wine - America |publisher=Wine.appellationamerica.com |date=2008-04-25 |accessdate=2012-09-28}} His popular class on Fundamentals of Wine Chemistry has been attended by over 4,000 participants since 1984. David Darlington's biography of him in Wine & Spirits magazine won the James Beard award. He directs the Best of Appellation wine evaluations for AppellationAmerica.com, writes a monthly column, "The Postmodern Winemaker", for Wines and Vines magazine, and is an adjunct faculty member at California State University at Fresno and Florida International University. He was awarded "Innovator of the Year" by Wine Business Monthly magazine at their IQ Conference in March 2016.

Clark is often quoted as talking about finding the "sweet spot" in a wine,{{cite web|author=W. Blake Gray, Special to The Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/01/WI80SAPJB.DTL&ao=all |title=Music to drink wine by: Vintner insists music can change wine's flavors |publisher=SFGate |date=2007-11-02 |accessdate=2012-09-28}} which is the point at which wine has achieved its optimal taste and aroma or "nose". This is determined by the alcohol percentage in the wine.{{cite web|url=http://wine.appellationamerica.com/reader-feedback/466/Some-Like-it-Hot.html |title=Some Like it Hot - America |publisher=Wine.appellationamerica.com |date=2007-09-10 |accessdate=2012-09-28}}

In 1993, Smith started WineSmith.com to explore a range of California terroirs with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Roman Syrah made according to European principles. A long drive practicing wine maker Clark began making the wines for Diamond Ridge Vineyards in 2007, of a unique high altitude site in Lake County. Clark is an editor and contributing writer to many Wine related topics and Magazines. Clark is a contributing Writer, Columnist and Editor for Appellation America,{{cite web|url=http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine/editor/Clark_Smith.html |title=Clark Smith - Appellation America |publisher=Wine.appellationamerica.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}} Wine and Vines Magazine "The Postmodern Winemaker".{{cite web|url=http://www.winesandvines.com/sections/printout_article.cfm?article=column&content=74762 |title=Wines & Vines - Vineyard Enology: The Power of Showing Up |publisher=Winesandvines.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}} Clark has worked in six Universities and Colleges as an adjunct lecturer.{{cite web|url=http://enobytes.com/2011/03/16/wine-chemistry-with-clark-smith/ |title=Wine Chemistry with Clark Smith |publisher=Enobytes |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}} He has taught courses for over 20yrs, at University of California at Davis, Napa Valley College, Fresno State University, Southwest Missouri State University, Florida International University{{cite web |url=http://www.rawfair.com/speakers/clark-smith |title=Clark Smith |publisher=www.rawfair.com |date=2012-05-21 |accessdate=2012-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426103220/http://www.rawfair.com/speakers/clark-smith |archive-date=2012-04-26 |url-status=usurped }} and L'Academie du Vin in Tokyo.{{cite web |url=http://www.adv.gr.jp/cat/about/index_en.html#top |title=Feature of school History:ソムリエの資格/試験の対策はアカデミー・デュ・ヴァン |publisher=Adv.gr.jp |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901163613/http://www.adv.gr.jp/cat/about/index_en.html#top |archive-date=2011-09-01 |url-status=dead }}

In recent years, Smith has become increasingly interested in the study of the relationship of

wine and music cognition.{{cite web|url=http://wineeconomist.com/2010/05/16/money-music-war-and-wine/ |title=Money, Music, War and Wine « The Wine Economist |publisher=Wineeconomist.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}{{cite web|url=http://postmodernwinemaking.com/wine-and-music |title=Wine and Music |publisher=Postmodern Winemaking |date=2011-11-23 |accessdate=2012-09-28}} A composer and vocalist, He sings baritone for the men's chorus Sonoma Chanson, was elected President for 2017 of the Redwood Chordsmen, and sings baritone in the barbershop quartet, "Sound Logic". He is currently engaged in the production of a CD of original songs about real life in the Wine Industry. He resides in Santa Rosa, California.{{cite web|url=http://postmodernwinemaking.com/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=Postmodern Winemaking |date= |accessdate=2012-09-28}}

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