Grower

Paraiso Vineyard

The Smith Family planted grapes at the Paraiso Vineyard, their home estate in 1973. Paraiso Vineyards and Smith Family Wines CEO Jason Smith took over for his father, Rich Smith, who was one of the visionary leaders in Monterey County viticulture who proposed and succeeded in establishing the Santa Lucia Highlands as an approved American Viticultural Area in 1991. With over 800 acres planted here, the Smith family is largest grower in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. While there is new ownership at Paraiso, the Smith Family and Valley Farm Management (Rich and Claudia’s son Jason Smith runs Valley Farm Management) continue to farm it as they have since 1973.