The entirety of Sam Spencer's career has been spent in the wine industry. It is all he has ever done and all he wants to do. Soil and wine run neck and neck in competition for his focus, and his attention is directed more by the time of the year than a choice of interest. Sam believes that it all starts and ends in the vineyard – period. The sites he has developed, Madder Lake Vineyard and La Herradura Vineyard, are true examples of his dedication and meticulous standards.

Sam's interest was first sparked while bartending in a restaurant in New Zealand. He was approached and offered an opportunity to work a harvest at the now world-renowned Cloudy Bay Vineyards – and the light went on. From there, he traveled to many wine growing regions: consulting in Chile and Argentina, exploring in Spain, making wine in the Napa Valley, learning what he could from both Old World and New World experiences.

In 1996 Sam co-founded Hayes and Vine Wine Bar in San Francisco's Hayes Valley. There, he had the opportunity to broaden his education and palate by tasting thousands and thousands of wines from around the world. But he would taste one wine that would make an indelible impression and solidify his commitment to the Rhône: John Alban's first vintage of Roussanne.

As a founder of Spencer Roloson, Sam has built the wine program around the Rhône Valley and wines of Spain, producing bold wines, true to their varietal character with enough finesse, elegance and focus to reveal the origin. The winemaking begins in the vineyard and ends in the bottle – all the while guided by Sam.