About the Spenkers

All our wines are made from our Estate Vineyard. We remain a boutique winery to keep it fun and family run! We love getting to know our customers, introducing them to our wines, and showing and telling them about the vineyard. Many of our best friends we met through winemaking and in the tasting room!

The 60 acre property west of Lodi has been owned and farmed by the Spenker family for more than 100 years. At a home winemaking party Chuck and Bettyann met and fell in love. They started the winery in 1994 as an outgrowth of their interest in maintaining and demonstrating the high quality of their Zinfandel grapes.

Daughters, Kate and Sarah, grew up helping Mom and Dad run the winery, doing everything from sloshing in the mud to explaining the finer points of wine-making to customers. After college, they returned to the family business bringing their own spin to wine presentation and customer relations. 

In 2000, Fan-leaf Virus (which causes the vines to stop producing fruit) eliminated the economic viability of the existing grapevines. After pulling out the vines, a disease-tolerant rootstock was selected and re-planting of the vineyard began in 2004. While we were in the process of replanting, the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowingprogram was being developed. This was the FIRST third-party accredited Sustainable Agriculture program in California! Our vineyard was among the first to be Certified Green. The program continues to be the basis for sustainable programs throughout the state. To learn more visit our "Sustainability"  Page.