Smith Devereux
Oak Knoll District • Napa Valley
Where You Choose Your Own Wine Adventure
📍LOCATION
Oak Knoll District
Napa Valley
📅 APPOINTMENT
Private Tasting
Reservations Required
💰PRICE RANGE
$25-100
🍇 WINE CLUB
Yes • Customizable
🍷SIGNATURE WINES
IBEX Merlot • Cabernet Sauvignon
WHY IT’S IN MY COLLECTION
My story with Smith Devereux actually began before I ever tasted a single bottle.
During the COVID lockdown, I discovered Ian Devereux through one of Gary Thompson’s Friday Happy Hours on Instagram. Gary featured Ian one week, and several weeks later Ian joined him live from the vineyard. I loved Ian’s story, his personality and his approach to wine so much that I did something I wouldn’t normally recommend—I joined the wine club without ever tasting the wine.
Thankfully, that gamble paid off.
When I eventually visited Smith Devereux, I discovered that tasting with Ian is just as much fun as I imagined it would be. There’s no feeling of being marched through a predetermined flight. Instead, Ian lets you choose your own wine adventure—talk about what you like, try something unexpected and see where the tasting takes you.
The IBEX Merlot became a particular favorite and one I’ve used when introducing people to just how good Merlot can be. The wines are approachable without being ordinary, and the experience feels personal, relaxed and refreshingly unpretentious.
My collection—and the wine clubs that are part of it—continues to evolve. But Smith Devereaux will always have a place in my wine journey because sometimes falling in love with the story comes before falling in love with the wine.
WINE DIVA FAVORITES
The bottles I reach for, recommend and happily make room for in my cellar.
Smith Devereux IBEX Merlot
Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
This is the bottle that made Smith Devereux memorable for me. Rich, expressive and anything but a forgettable Merlot, IBEX is one I’ve poured when I want to remind people just how good Merlot can be. It earned a spot in my Wine Diva wine education lineup for exactly that reason.
Charismatic Fool Rosé
California
Sometimes wine should just be fun—and Charismatic Fool delivers. Fresh, easygoing and made for those afternoons when you want something chilled in your glass without overthinking it. The name and label don’t hurt either.
Smith Devereux Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
A Napa Cabernet with the relaxed Smith Devereux personality behind it. This is the bottle I reach for when I want something richer and more structured, but still approachable enough to open over dinner and simply enjoy.
THE EXPERIENCE
Forget the traditional Napa tasting room. A visit with Smith Devereux feels more like spending an afternoon with a friend who happens to make really good wine.
Tastings are private, relaxed and conversational. Ian has a way of figuring out what you enjoy and letting the experience unfold from there. You might start with one wine, wander into another, talk about the vineyard, music, life—or whatever happens to come up along the way.
That’s why I call it “choose your own wine adventure.” There’s no pressure to know the right terminology or follow a prescribed tasting order. Come curious, ask questions and enjoy the ride.
INSIDER TIPS
What I’d tell a friend before their first visit.
BEFORE YOU GO
Reservations required
This is a private, personal tasting experience rather than a traditional tasting-room drop-in, so plan ahead and give yourself enough time to enjoy it.
THE WINE DIVA TIP
Let Ian help with your wine adventure
Don’t overschedule your day. Leave yourself some breathing room—this isn’t the tasting to squeeze between three other winery appointments. Give Ian time to take you on your own wine adventure.
DON’T MISS
The Gazebo
Ask Ian what he’s excited about pouring that day. Some of the fun is letting him take the lead and trying something you might not have chosen for yourself.
PERFECT FOR
Who will love this winery
THE CURIOUS WINE DRINKER
You like discovering smaller producers, asking questions and tasting beyond the obvious choices.
THE NAPA REPEAT VISITOR
You’ve done the grand estates and polished tasting rooms. Now you want something personal, relaxed and a little more off the traditional Napa path.
THE “WINE SHOULDN’T BE STUFFY” CROWD
You love great wine but don’t need ceremony with it. Come ready to talk, laugh, learn and let the tasting take you somewhere unexpected.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Memorable and personal
Pair Your Visit
Make a day of it
LUNCH
Gott’s Napa
Oxbow Public Market
Casual, quick and perfect before an afternoon tasting. Burgers, fries and a shake are a very good antidote to an otherwise wine-heavy Napa day.
DINNER
Ciccio
Yountville
Wood-fired pizza, pasta and a lively, unfussy atmosphere make this a great way to end the day. It also fits the Smith Devereux vibe—seriously good without feeling overly serious.
STAY
Napa Valley Railway Inn
Yountville
A quirky Wine Country stay in converted railcars, right in walkable Yountville. Memorable, relaxed and much more in keeping with this particular itinerary than a big luxury resort.
NEARBY WINERY
Darioush
Napa Valley
Pair Smith Devereux’s intimate, relaxed tasting with the striking architecture and polished experience at Darioush for two very different sides of Napa in one day.
GALLERY
Scenes from my visits
THE WINE DIVA VERDICT
My Final Word
THE VERDICT
Smith Devereux is Napa without the pretense. The wines are seriously good, but it’s Ian’s personality and the freedom to “choose your own wine adventure” that make the experience memorable. I joined the club before I ever tasted the wine—and somehow, that leap of faith became part of my wine journey. Come curious, leave room in your schedule and let Ian take it from there.
THE WINE DIVA STANDARD
Would I send my best friend here?
Without hesitation
WINE DIVA SCORECARD
Wine Quality — 4.5 / 5
Hospitality — 5 / 5
Experience — 5 / 5
Value — 4.5 / 5
Return Visit? — Absolutely
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Ready to experience it for yourself?
VISIT Smith Devereux →