Ride that Tractor! Winemaker Dave Specter gets out in the dirt in his vineyard!
In this episode of Big Blend Radio, host Lisa Smith catches up with Dave Specter, the winemaker and co-owner (alongside his wife, Sara) of Bells Up Winery, a boutique estate located in Oregon's beautiful Willamette Valley — part of the exciting launch of the new Big Blend Media House platform.
Watch the conversation with Dave below or listen/download the episode on Podbean.
The Harmony of Wine, Music, and Math
Before transitioning to full-time winemaking, Dave spent 20 years playing the French horn and worked as a tax attorney. He notes that making wine utilizes both the creative and analytical sides of his brain, drawing a direct parallel between winemaking and musical composition. Just as a composer starts with raw instruments and notes to create something pleasing, a winemaker handles raw grapes to craft an enjoyable final experience. The winery's name reflects that musical connection — "Bells Up" refers to a dramatic classical music direction where a composer instructs horn players to raise their instruments and project sound directly to the audience for a standout, flourishing moment.
Bells Up Winery at Sunset
Building Bells Up Winery from the Ground Up
The Specters purchased their 10-acre property at the very end of 2012. Though it sits on a perfect south-facing hill ideal for grape growing, it was completely overgrown with dead Christmas trees and wild blackberries. It took a full year of what Dave calls the "3 Ds of Oregon vineyard development" — bulldozer, backhoe, and burn piles — before they could even begin planting. Their first vintage was produced in 2013 using carefully sourced fruit from small-scale local growers, and they officially opened their tasting room doors on Memorial Day weekend in 2015.
Dave also highlights the importance of airflow on a sloped property. Because cold air is heavier than warm air, it rolls down the hillside — a fact that proved critical during a severe late freeze in April 2022, when their hillside vines came through unscathed while the flat section at the bottom suffered frost damage. The 2025 harvest returned to a relatively normal timeline, with whites already bottled and reds aging in barrels.
Bells Up Winery Tasting Room in the moonlight
The Tasting Room Experience & Featured Varietals
Bells Up operates exclusively by hosting one group at a time for private, guided tastings — allowing Dave to personalize the conversation entirely to each group's comfort level, whether they are complete beginners or seasoned wine enthusiasts. The Willamette Valley's cooler, wetter climate makes it world-renowned for cool-climate grapes, and Bells Up leans into that with Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and their unique Seyval Blanc — the only one grown in the valley. Bells Up produces both a still and sparkling version of the Seyval Blanc, letting guests taste how the winemaking process changes the interpretation of the exact same grape.
Cheers! Wine Tasting with winemaker Dave Specter at Bells Up Winery
Dave's Philosophy on Tasting Wine
Dave encourages drinkers to shake off the snobbery often associated with wine culture. He believes wine should be a relaxed, joyful part of a balanced life — much like the communal lifestyle celebrated in Blue Zones.
When trying a new wine, he suggests a simple three-sip approach: the first sip cleanses your palate, the second gives you a pure sense of the wine's character, and the third confirms your impressions and reveals the subtle back-notes.
The Bells Up cornucopia of wine, corks, and of course, the French Horn!
The Big Blend Seven Questions
To wrap up the show, Dave answers our fun personal questions. His spirit animal is a Papillon dog, inspired by their beloved late family pet Moxy, who used to hide Dave's socks every morning.
For fun, he explores Oregon's natural beauty through hiking and beach trips, attends the local arts and symphony scene, and follows football and basketball as a self-proclaimed sports nerd.
His life lesson for the younger generation: never feel trapped in a career path — stay open-minded, because skills from one field always translate to the next. On his bucket list is a trip to Italy, skipping the crowds of Rome in favor of the hillsides and indigenous grape varieties of regions like Florence or Friuli.
His theme song would be Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 2 — fitting for a man who sees Mozart not as prim and proper, but as the rascal revolutionary he actually was.
At the dinner table, Dave passes on sugary desserts but draws the line at dark chocolate below 60%. And his contribution to the Big Blend Media House neighborhood? A dedicated heirloom tomato and basil garden — zucchini and cherry tomatoes strictly not invited.
Connect with Bells Up Winery To read their story, browse current releases, or schedule a private winemaker-led tasting, visit bellsupwinery.com.