Founder, Dr. Susan Mayer-Smith founded GrapeCraft Wine Marketing, LLC in March, 2004. She holds Masters degrees in Music, Education and Theology, and earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1995. Her learning curve in new endeavors in the wine industry has thus been steep and invigorating, but her instructor in the field is among the best: she moved to California after 20 years in France to marry Clark Smith in 2001, founder of Vinovation, Inc., and WineSmith. As a result of her immersion in psycho-sensorial therapeutic techniques practiced on 3 continents but unknown in the U.S., she has dedicated herself to the establishment of The American Vittoz Society in the United States. Sales of GrapeCraft wines fund this project. Susie and Clark promote WineSmith, CheapSkate, and several other wines measuring up to the GrapeCraft philosophy and standards, through personal relationships with hand-picked clients.
President, R. Brian Smith directs all activities of GrapeCraft Wine Marketing and its brands. He is a Systems Science Engineer (University of Pennsylvania, 1979), with extensive experience, including U.S. Navy nuclear submarine power operations and shipbuilding, nuclear utility facility engineering, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Reactor Operator License Exam conduct, and U.S. Army Chemical Weapons Disposal Program and safety management. Brian applies his skills to support the growth of Vinovation by developing documented systems and evaluating new technologies from the human aspect of machine operation and maintenance in support of safety, quality and reliability requirements. Brian oversees the daily business operations, research and development projects, business development activities as well as the operations of Oenovation International, LLC (our international sister company).
National Sales Manager, Ram Hatley, holds an undergraduate degree in Jazz Performance from Long Island University’s famous Brooklyn Campus, and has studied and performed with such legends as Eddie Palmieri, Carl Allen, Jimmy Cobb, Pete Yellin, members of the Trey Anastasio band in central VT and Michael Ray and Marshal Allen of the Sun Ra Orchestra. Despite studying wine on his own for 10 years, Ram did not discover his true passion for wine until venturing to the Northern California wine country in 2003. Returning to the New York restaurant scene, Ram met Darrin Siegfried, well known Master Sommelier and retailer, who brought him on as the assistant manager of Red, White and Bubbly in the heart of Park Slope. This environment fast tracked his understanding of both the industry and wine production methods and styles from around the globe, fueling a move to California to pursue winemaking up close. First attending courses at Napa Valley College in enology, viticulture and wine marketing, Ram has found a true calling in promoting the GrapeCraft mission throughout the country as the National Sales Manager for GrapeCraft Wines. Ram is a true believer in the ability of both wine and music to create a visceral, imaginative cognitive reaction that enriches the human experience and brings people together.
Winemaker, Clark Smith dropped out of M.I.T. in 1971, and has been in the wine industry ever since. Among the Clark 's claims to fame are the only perfect score ever in the Winetasting Olympics and being fired by Alice Waters. Twice. After graduating U.C. Davis in 1983, he served as winemaker for the R.H. Phillips Vineyard for its first seven years, taking it from 3,000 cases per year to 250,000. In 1990, he began Vinovation, now the world's largest winemaking consulting company, with over 1200 clients around the world. Clark and his staff at Vinovation named the practices they developed “GrapeCraft” a name adopted by his family’s winemaking venture, GrapeCraft Wines. These practices mainly center around building structure, integrating aroma, and promoting living soils. Clark spends his time dreaming up ways to improve his client's wines, rattling the cages of established wine industry icons and institutions, folksinging, and making his own line of eclectic brands including the astounding WineSmith line, the fun & friendly PennyFarthing wines, and the groundbreaking CheapSkate brand. Clark also miraculously finds time to teach courses in Enology at University of California at Davis , Napa Valley College , Fresno State University, Southwest Missouri State University, Florida International University, and l’Academie du Vin in Tokyo.
Assistant Winemaker, Petar Kirilov was born in Bulgaria and graduated in 2002 from the University Of Food Technologies with a Master of Beverage Technology degree with a specialization in wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks. He was a Beverage Technologist in the Bulgarian spirits company Bonidex Ltd. and after this with Nova Trade Co.Ltd where he managed technology and quality control. From 2003 to 2004, Petar put his education to work at Truchard Vineyards in Napa Valley. He joined the Vinovation team in 2005.
