LODI , CALIFORNIA
Rooted in Tradition - Evolving for the Future
120 years
Since 1902, the Spenker family has been farming in Lodi, CA. Grapes have always been our primary crop. Our location on the west side of Lodi in the Mokelumne AVA is perfectly situated for growing Zinfandel grapes.
Hundreds of years ago, much of our land was riverbed making today’s soil a fertile, rich, sandy loam that is perfect for farming. Warm days and nights cooled by a Delta Breeze coming right off the SF bay make for happy grapes.
Sustainability
Lodi’s industry leading sustainability program “Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrape Growing” was the first of it’s kind in the nation and is the model for other sustainable winegrape certifications.
Our estate vineyard has been “Certified Green” since the program’s inception in 2006. A Certified Sustainable designation helps consumers know that not only are farmers being good stewards of their land, but also of the wildlife, their business, and their community.
Pioneering Lodi Wine
Chuck and Bettyann took their winemaking hobby out of the basement and ventured into the commercial wine industry in 1994, to showcase their amazing estate grown Zinfandel wines.
Their 1995 Spenker Zinfandel was the first Lodi wine to score a “90” in the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine (Aug 1997)! The writers and judges were so impressed Chuck and Bettyann got their picture in the magazine that issue.
Their success inspired others to strive to produce premium wines from Lodi grapes. They worked closely with other Lodi wineries to develop tourism and recognition for the area through collaborative tasting events, wine trail maps, education, and more.
Today, though you can find many varieties of wine in Lodi and at Spenker, Zinfandel will always be the one that started it all!
We make wines to be enjoyed
Enjoyed on their own ~ enjoyed with food ~ enjoyed with friends
The wine drinking experience should remind us to slow our fast-paced life and take time to savor the moment, the food, and the companionship that makes life special.