Jeff Smith is a man with a unique job. He describes himself as part private banker, part art curator, and part psychiatrist. Smith, who grew up in Beverly Hills and now lives in Bel Air, has become Hollywood’s go-to wine cellar consigliere. He helps industry luminaries and anonymous show business professionals alike with their wine collections, offering services such as organization, acquisition, downsizing, transportation, and security.
Smith’s journey into the world of wine began when he took charge of organizing his father’s wine cellar. His father, Joe Smith, was a legendary music executive who led Warner Bros. and Elektra/Asylum in the 1970s. Through his work with his father’s cellar, Smith gained initial clients who were family friends, including über-manager Irving Azoff, film producer Freddy DeMann, and Mel Brooks.
Brooks speaks highly of Smith, praising him not only for his advice on purchasing and auctioning wine but also for his friendship. “But more than that, he’s been a wonderful friend to lift a glass of good wine with,” says Brooks. Smith’s value proposition lies in his ability to organize a wine collection, turning a jumbled hoarding into a legible gateway. He categorizes wines by price, score, context, and perhaps most importantly, the drink-by date. “If you don’t know what you’ve got, you can’t enjoy it,” he says.
Smith’s client list is heavy on industry luminaries known by one name, as well as those whose work in the more anonymous sectors of show business has allowed them to amass a 20,000-plus-bottle collection. He helps them acquire sought-after wines and knows who is willing to part with rare bottles at the right price. Steve Elzer, a strategic communications consultant and former senior vice president of media relations at Sony Pictures, describes Smith as the “Willy Wonka of wine.”
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Smith became the chief wine officer of storage firm Vino Vault a year ago. The company was founded by Jeff Anthony, who had experience preserving master tapes and motion-picture film at records management company Iron Mountain. Smith’s knowledge lies at the intersection of information and time, and he is often called in during remodels or after floods and fires to assess and transport wine collections. He describes the process of transporting wine as similar to a heist because of its fragility.
Improper care of wine can lead to damage, as seen when Smith visited the home of the late Variety columnist Army Archerd. Although Archerd didn’t drink, he had accrued bottles as gifts over the years, including a prized 1961 Château Latour kept on a rack over the refrigerator. Improper storage caused the wine to deteriorate, rendering it practically worthless.
Smith’s fee scales for his work vary, but he sometimes charges a day rate or an hourly rate, or charges based on the number of bottles in a collection. One of his clients had their wines organized by the Left and Right Bank appellations in Bordeaux. Smith’s clients often have commonalities, such as living behind gates in houses where the staff outnumber the residents, displaying a picture with a U.S. president, and experiencing limited mobile phone reception in their cellars.
Smith’s knowledge of wine is expansive, and he is often asked for his recommendations. He suggests 2008 Champagne vintages, particularly Cristal and Krug, as favorites. He also recommends Grower Champagnes as a more affordable option. When it comes to Burgundy, Smith advises focusing on great producers and vintages such as the 2019 vintage. He highlights wines from Domaine Fourrier and suggests starting with Nuits Saint Georges from Chevillon, which can open as low as $80 a bottle.
In conclusion, Jeff Smith’s unique role as Hollywood’s wine cellar consigliere combines his expertise in wine with his ability to organize and manage collections for industry luminaries and anonymous show business professionals. His services range from acquisition to downsizing and transportation, and he has become renowned for his knowledge and ability to connect clients with sought-after wines. Smith’s passion for wine and organization has cemented his reputation as Hollywood’s go-to wine cellar consigliere.
