Tasting Room - Spear Vineyards & Winery

Spear Vineyards & Winery is one of the most exciting new producers growing and making wine in Santa Barbara County, California. Their picturesque estate consists of 1000 mountainous acres in the heart of the Santa Rita Hills AVA, 34 of which are currently planted to grape vines. These vineyards boast plantings of various clones of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah, as well as some Grenache and even Grüner Veltliner. Topsoils on the Spear estate are extremely sandy and rest atop the ancient diatom-rich seafloor that makes this region so special. A single glance at the property is all it takes to realize that Spear sits on a nearly ideal plot of land for winegrowing.

While the estate itself may be flawless it is the team running the show that makes Spear truly special. Owner and vigneron Ofer Shepher has spent years making his project perfect. From the selection of the site to the design and layout of the winery & vineyards Ofer has had his hand in every aspect of this adventure - and the care and intentionality he has poured into each detail is obvious. Winemaker Kat Gaffney brings her sharp wit and adventurous spirit to the team and her energy is a perfect fit for the young operation. Consulting winemaker Greg Brewer was also brought in to aid with Spear's inaugural 2016 vintage. The wines in Spear's introductory line up are young and come from ultra-young vines but are already showing limitless potential. Beaming acidity, restrained fruit, and a certain delicate strength are characteristic of the entire line up. Seek out these wines or better yet pay Spear a visit next time you are in Santa Barbara.