Spenker Family Farm, located in Lodi, CA, is the home of Spenker Winery, which was founded in 1989. In 1994, there was a brand-new Grade A Goat Dairy. Wine and cheese are made on the farm.
Their items are all handcrafted. The wines are made entirely from estate grown, hand harvested, certified sustainable grapes. And the creamery makes small-batch, fresh cheeses from the milk of their own dairy goats.
Visitors to the farm can see the process behind the delicious food because everything is made right here. You can see the silly goats, watch cheese being made, and picnic under the trees by the peaceful vineyard.
They’re a small, family-run farm. Look for the large red barns set back in the vineyard.
Their Estate Vineyard is used to make all of their wines. They will continue to be a boutique winery in order to keep things fun and family-run! They enjoy getting to know their customers, showing and telling them about the vineyard, and introducing them to their wines.
The Spenker family has owned and farmed the 60-acre property west of Lodi for more than a century. Chuck and Bettyann met and fell in love at a home winemaking party. They founded the winery in 1994 as a result of their desire to preserve and demonstrate the high quality of their Zinfandel grapes.
Kate and Sarah, the winery’s daughters, grew up helping their parents run the business, doing everything from sloshing in the mud to explaining the finer points of wine-making to customers. They returned to the family business after college, bringing their own spin to wine presentation and customer relations.
The Fan-leaf Virus (which causes vines to stop producing fruit) wiped out the economic viability of the existing grapevines in 2000. After removing the vines, a disease-tolerant rootstock was chosen, and the vineyard was replanted in 2004. The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing program was being developed while they were replanting. This was California’s FIRST third-party accredited Sustainable Agriculture program! Their vineyard was one of the first to receive Certified Green status. The program is still the foundation for long-term programs throughout the state.
A rosé with flavor! Made from a 50-50 combination of Zinfandel and Syrah grapes.
The soft texture of French oak and the hearty toasted vanilla of American oak combine to underscore this wine’s rich berry flavors.
They are known for their fresh goat milk cheese. Bettyann Spenker, the resident cheesemaker (and winemaker), handcrafts each one in small batches using milk from their own herd of dairy goats. From start to finish, they take special care to ensure that their cheeses have the best flavor possible. The goats are fed the highest quality feed, resulting in milk that is sweet and creamy. From the milkline to the vat and throughout the cheesemaking process, the milk is quickly chilled and handled with care. Because the milk is not “standardized,” it varies seasonally for a truly artisan food experience.
Members receive 4 bottles of wine 3 times per year at a 20% savings, plus other perks. Shipments are made in February, June, and October. No membership fee. Payment is made at the time of each shipment. Membership automatically renews. They’ll select the wines, or you can customize your shipment each time.
Members receive a rotating selection of products from their creamery (CHEESE!) each month for 3 months. Shipments are made the 3rd weekend of each month. Payment for all 3 shipments is made at sign-up. Other farm goodies such as eggs, veggies, and honey will also be available for add-on each month. Membership does not automatically renew (but we hope you do!). Also a great gift option!
It is time to get back to the basics and reconnect with nature. At Spenker Family Farm, you can enjoy a wide variety of activities on our beautiful grounds including picking your own produce at the farm market or touring our dairy operation. We offer membership that provides discounts for all family members and free access to special events like animal feedings! Call us today for more information about how we can help you create memories that will last a lifetime.
San Joaquin County in California is blessed to have some amazing attractions you shouldn’t miss on your next trip. Here’s a short list of some of our favorites:
After visiting these amazing places make sure to stop by Remote Fill Systems on Murphy Parkway in Lodi and say “Hi!”