Soledad, Calif.—Larry Brooks is the new winemaker at Smith Family Wines in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA of Monterey County. Brooks is the former vice president and chief operating officer of the Chalone Wine Group and most recently ran his own consulting business. Early in his career, Brooks purchased grapes from Rich Smith, the founder of Paraiso Vineyards, and became consulting winemaker for Paraiso in the early 2000s. Smith Family Wines still produces wines under the Paraiso Vineyards label. Brooks will work with Justin Murphy, who is a third generation vintner of the Smith family, and creator of the family's Irie brand.