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The Family
Our winery is made up of people, vineyards and relationships.
 Chris Sparkman, Dad, Winemaker and Head Janitor, also works in the restaurant world as GM at Waterfront Seafood Grill in Seattle. He spent a couple of decades as sommelier and wine buyer in some of the finest restaurants across America, from Commander’s Palace in New Orleans to Michael’s in LA and Todd English’s Olives in DC. His Personal Management Team is headed by Stella Mae, 6 and Ruby Leigh, 4.
 Kelly Sparkman, Mom, Controller and Assistant Winemaker comes from a wildlife biology background and as wildlife biologist, worked in Spotted Owl, Peregrine Falcon and Salmon restoration programs and later as a veterinary technician in Seattle. Her magnum opus is her role as Chief Developer of Stella Mae, 6 and Ruby Leigh, 4.
 Erica Orr is Consulting Enologist and Educator. She has worked at wineries in Napa Valley (Cain and Rudd), Burgundy (Dujac), and Australia (Yering Station). Since 2005 she has been making wine in Washington State (Matthews, Mark Ryan, Baer). In addition to a master's degree in enology from UC Davis, Erica has a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley. She knows a lot of stuff.
 Stella Mae, 6, is Director of Toys and Crayons and a promising singer who is keenly aware that wine is for Mommies and Daddies, and that apple juice is better for you. She has started kingergarten, ballet and tapdancing.
 Ruby Leigh, 4, is Chief Mischiefmaker and Chocolate Thief. She is a big fan of making messes and is destined for life as a mountaineer, explorer and forklift operator. She goes to pre-school and is also a talented ballet dancer.
 Dick “Pop” Nauman is Chief Reality Officer and Assistant Winemaker, in charge of 6 am punchdowns and Tough Financial Questions, as well as many Answers…The Outlaw Merlot was made as a tip of the cap to the guy who got the ball rolling with his idea of a family business.
 Sarah “Baba” Nauman is Chief Harvest Childcare Director, tirelessly assisting in helping Kelly and Chris get Things done. She is also our culinary consultant. It’s sad how few of you will ever get to try her Eggplant Parmigiano. Ha! The recipe is on the Vittles page.
 Pat “Gaga” Sparkman is Co-Director of Southern Operations in Tennessee, with a specialized focus on vegetarian culinary development and grandchildren relationships. Her Aztec Bread is legendary and available to you on the Vittles page.
 Frank “Papa” Sparkman is also Co-Director of Southern Operations in Tennessee. Our future winery layout is knocking around in his head, waiting for a good pencil. He and wife Pat serve on the Tough Financial Questions and Answers Board.
 Lola is our loyal and trusted winery dog, in charge of security and scraps.
It happened like this.
Kelly’s Dad, Dick, upon learning that he was going to be a grandfather for the first time, suggested that we consider starting a family business. “How about a wine shop?” he asked us. “Cool!” we said. After a few months developing a business plan, researching the market and looking at locations, we had a change of heart. It came after Dinner With Charles. At Saito Sushi in Seattle Chris nudged a basic HOW TO START A WINERY algorithm out of K Vintners founder Charles Smith, took the cryptic numbers scrawled on a cocktail napkin back to The Family and with hat in hand, asked if anyone would be interested in doing a winery instead. After considerable conversation and more research it was concluded that what we needed was a winery. And so, in May 2004, Sparkman Cellars opened in Woodinville, Washington, with the hope that we would make some extra tasty vino.
Roots
We’ve had a lot of help along the way, from our first winemaker Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan Winery and all our informal consultants to our current consulting enologist Erica Orr. We enjoy the wine business as much for the people we get to work with as much as anything else. Farmers, field workers, vineyard managers, cellar rats, Volunteers, winery owners, friends and fans of wine all come together to make the wine industry a place we are proud to call our business home.
Shoots
We are honored to be partners with some of the best vineyards in Washington State. The birth of the winery was cemented with a handshake on Red Mountain, on a sunny day in August 2004 when Tom and Anne-Marie Hedges said, “Welcome into our vineyard family.” That was cool. The next year we added the spectacular Stillwater Creek Vineyard on the Royal Slope. In 2006 Patricia and David Gelles of Klipsun Vineyard on Red Mountain and Dick and Luanne Boushey in Yakima added us to their families of wineries. Last year Hugh and Kathy Shiels of DuBrul and Cote Bonneville, The Williamses of Kiona, the good folks at La Coye and Scott and Karen Greer of Sheridan Vineyard opened their vineyards to us. This year the Milbrandts showed us in to Evergreen and Jim Holmes finally let us into his vaunted Ciel du Cheval. Man, this is gettin' good. Each vineyard site has such an interesting personality. Hopefully you will hear their stories in our wines. We outline our vineyards on the Dirt page.
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