Kings Carey Wines

Kings Carey Wines is owner and winemaker James Sparks’s small-production label in California’s Santa Barbara wine country, built around single-variety, single-vineyard wines. Sparks also makes the wines at Liquid Farm; his résumé includes assistant winemaking at Dragonette Cellars. At Kings Carey, grape selection, harvest timing, and meticulous cellar work take priority over adjustments later in the process. The aim is less manipulation, not more winemaking machinery between the vineyard and the bottle.

Grenache offers a particularly useful introduction, with vineyard-specific bottlings from Perry Sioux Vineyards and Spear Vineyards in California’s Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area. The Spear bottling uses organically farmed grapes. There is range beyond Grenache, too: private tastings span sparkling rosé, Sémillon, Chardonnay, ‘To Market’ Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Philadelphia illustrator Hawk Krall, whose work often celebrates food, gives the bottles their distinctive label art.

Visits are private and by appointment only, making Kings Carey a planned stop rather than a drop-in tasting. The six-wine tasting costs $30++ per person, and reservation requests go directly to [email protected]. Wine club members receive complimentary tastings, also by appointment.