Spanish Valley Vineyard and Winery [May 2023]

Well, we are heading back up to Driggs, Idaho, for another summer [since last summer was so totally fabulous] and we decided to stop again in Moab, Utah. We love Utah and all the gorgeous parks in the area, but that is a story for another time. If I remember correctly, [and this is debatable... LOL] I found Spanish Valley Vineyards on a good old-fashioned Google search!! Even though it was a beautiful ride out to the vineyard property, I was a little skeptical after crossing railroad tracks and all the side/back road driving. However, I was pleasantly surprised, as you can see in the photo below.

When I started writing this week's blog, I discovered some pretty cool history. The Spanish Valley Vineyards and Winery initially began as an experiment back in the 1970s. [I mean, I’m totally down with wine experimentation... Haha!!] At this time, uranium mining was on the decline in Utah, and the leaders were looking for a way to bolster the local economy. After a little soil research, they reached out to Professor “Dutch” Zimmerman at Utah State University to plant test vines. It turns out the sandy, rocky soil and dramatic temperature changes were ideal for certain varietals like the German Gewürztraminer and Riesling style grapes.  

The vineyard grew, and soon over 300 acres were planted. Eventually, the university's experiment slowly transitioned into a commercial wine enterprise. It also significantly whittled down in size to only about 5.5 acres. In the late 1990s, the vineyard came into possession of the Dezelskys, and they added Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah vines into the mix. They took home the silver medal at the New World International Wine Competition with their first harvest!! Then in 2010, Curt, a structural engineer, and his wife Alesia Stripeika relocated to Moab and purchased the vineyard. They restored the property and focused mainly on managing the land.

Finally in 2018, The Spanish Valley Vineyards and Winery was bought by Jared Richards. He is the vineyards fourth and current owner, and today it operates as a true single vineyard estate winery. Meaning that every step of preparations, from growing, harvesting, fermentation to aging and bottling takes place entirely on site!! Now Jared runs the family business with his wine Jessica.[Aww!! Jared and Jessica... IYKYK!! LOL] After taking over, Jared and Jessica focused on climate adaptability, to learn how to work with the unique terroir [remember we learned about this word in a previous blog… Haha] of Spanish Valley.

Jared had to learn how to navigate the unpredictable desert weather patterns. A recent example from just this year: Moab had unseasonably warm winter temperatures, which caused the grapes to bud early. This left the buds exposed to the freezing temperatures that eventually came later in the season. He is expecting about a 50% decrease in volume from other years. I always think of Mother Nature and her antics when it comes to our business of hot air ballooning, but it never quite dawned on me that there are so many others who depend on her good behavior for their livelihoods as well!!

The Richards purchased The Spanish Valleys Vineyard and Winery with the goal of stabilizing operations and turning the property into not only a community space but also a tourist attraction. As the only winery in Moab, I’d say mission accomplished! The Vineyard is a gathering place for wine, celebration, and community in the desert. They like to say this is “where wine, land, and exploration meet.” Jared and Jessica also give back to this beautiful community of which they are a part. They have founded a nonprofit, Fight Against Domestic Violence, and have started a full scholarship fund to Utah State University for low-income students who want to study social issues.

The road that I was so skeptical about riding out to the vineyards is Zimmerman Lane, named after the university professor who planted the first vines on the property. Spanish Valley Vineyards and Winery gets its name from the geographic corridor on which it sits… Spanish Valley. The valley was named after the Old Spanish Trail, a 19^th-century trade route cutting through the area between Santa Fe and Los Angeles.

Let us not forget from last summer that Driggs, Idaho, does not boast any wineries or even wine tasting rooms. However, Wine with Wixy has found a bistro [because where there's a will, there's a way] that offers an amazing board and bottle during happy hour that is just to die for… we’ll see ya there next week!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!