12/11/2025
This week, we broke ground on something we have dreamed about for years, the future Spence Vineyards tasting room on Howell Mountain. And in many ways, it feels less like the start of a project and more like the continuation of a pattern this place has always held.
This little building has consistently been repackaged for beginnings. It was the beginning of Jacalyn and Allen’s winemaking on the property, the spark that set Spence Vineyards in motion long before we ever imagined what it could become.
It was the beginning of my own journey with Keeley, the place that first welcomed us to Napa Valley when we took a leap of faith and moved into the small studio apartment inside these very walls. It grounded us in this community and shaped our understanding of what it means to build a life, and a business, on Howell Mountain.
Living here was a complete immersion into the (sometimes noisy and messy) reality of winemaking; harvest in the wee hours of the morning, equipment firing up bright and early, the constant mess of processing fruit, the noise, and the beautiful chaos that dictates your entire life for months at a time. It grounded us in the work, the rhythm, and the responsibility of carrying a wine business forward.
It was even the place we chose to share with our families and friends on our wedding day, a symbolic anchor for one of the most meaningful moments in our lives, even if the weather kept us from celebrating here in person. The intention was the point. This place has held our early chapters, our risks, our hopes, and our young roots.
And now, once again, it becomes a beginning. The start of an entirely new era for Spence Vineyards - one where we can finally welcome guests to Howell Mountain in a way that reflects the heart, history, and vision behind our wines.
We are humbled by how far this little building has carried us, and energized by what it will allow us to share with all of you for years to come. As always, thank you for supporting our family business.
