Spencer Smith of Argonne Cellars
Spencer Smith grew up in Pennsylvania not too far from his grandfather, Charles Smith. As a young boy, Spencer heard stories from his grandfather about his unit’s role in World War I. It wasn’t until he was older that Spencer understood his grandfather was part of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that finally brought the war to an end. The battle lasted from 26 September until 11 November 1918, and was one of the largest military operations in history. Over a century later in 2020, Spencer launched Argonne Cellars to pay homage to his grandfather and the members of his unit who did not return home in 1918. The phrase at the bottom of the winery’s logo says, “He took his first taste in 1918,” referring to the first wine that Charles Smith had ever drunk. Although he survived the war, he was never able to taste wine after that first experience, because a mustard gas attack destroyed his sense of taste.
This is not the only connection between wine and war in the Argonne Cellars story. The Argonne Forest in Northeastern France was the main site of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. One of the oldest Champagne houses, Henri Giraud, has used Argonne Forest oak for its barrels for years. The only other winemakers to use this oak for barrels is Argonne Cellars. The main cooperage in the Argonne area does not use trees less than 120 years old, so the trees used for the barrels were standing during WWI. Argonne Cellars has an online presence only, and focuses on handcrafted red wines from the Red Mountain AVA. They also make some whites and rosé from other parts of the Yakima Valley. In this interview we explore these award-winning wines, and the fascinating history behind Argonne Cellars.
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