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JSL Wines owner/winemaker Joseph Smith.
JSL Wines is a new Lodi-based brand, founded in 2021, but is far from new in respect to its owner/winemaker, Joseph Smith.
If you have enjoyed the wines of Klinker Brick Winery over the past decade and a half, for instance, you are very familiar with Mr. Smith. He has been the head winemaker of Klinker Brick since 2007.
In recent years Klinker Brick has come to be known for far more than the Zinfandels upon which the brand was built, now sold in 49 of the fifty states. Most significant, as a bow to the entire nation’s rapid embrace of lighter, sleeker, fresh and pure styles of wines, Klinker Brick has become known for its Albariño, Grenache Blanc and authentic style of dry rosé⏤the latter, crafted from Southern French grapes and finished in a minerally, flower petal nuanced style reminiscent of classic rosés of France’s Provence, tasting more like a Provençal style rosé than most rosés imported from Provence.
The hands and brains behind these impeccably conceived, contemporary style wines? None other than Joseph Smith.
The Smith family: Joseph, Sanaya Saignée and Lorraine. JSL Wines.
Therefore, it’s been no surprise that Mr. Smith has recently ventured out on his own, even while remaining at Klinker Brick. JSL Wines was established in partnership with Smith’s wife, Lorraine. There is a 10-year old daughter, Sanaya Saignée. If all goes well, JSL will eventually become Sanaya’s brand as well (let’s give her a few years).
