Bells Up Winery: A Conversation with Dave Specter
An Evening with Dave Specter and the Story Behind One of Oregon's Most Personal Winery Experiences
One of the best parts of what we do at Drink The Bottles is connecting with the people behind the wines. While nothing quite replaces standing in a vineyard with a glass in hand, virtual tastings have become one of our favorite ways to discover exceptional wineries from across the country.
What began as a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into something much more. Today, virtual tastings allow wine lovers to connect directly with winery owners and winemakers from the comfort of their own homes, often creating conversations that are every bit as personal as an in-person visit. There is something special about gathering friends around the table, opening the same bottles, and sharing an evening with the person who crafted them.
That was exactly our experience during a recent one-hour virtual tasting with Bells Up Winery co-owner and winemaker Dave Specter.
By the time we poured our final glass, we had discovered far more than six outstanding wines. We had the opportunity to hear the remarkable story of how Dave and his wife, Sara, walked away from successful careers to build one of Oregon's most intimate and respected boutique wineries.
When Success Isn't Enough
Listening to Dave share his story, one thing became immediately clear: Bells Up Winery wasn't created because he wanted a career change. It was created because he wanted a different life.
For years, Dave enjoyed a successful career as a corporate tax attorney. From the outside, it looked like everything was going according to plan. Yet the demanding pace of the profession left little room for the creative outlet he had discovered through home winemaking. The hobby that began in the basement of their Cincinnati home slowly became something much bigger than either Dave or Sara ever imagined.
Around the same time, Sara experienced the heartbreaking loss of a close mentor to pancreatic cancer. Moments like that have a way of changing your perspective. Together, they began asking themselves a question that many people quietly wonder but few are willing to answer with action: What if we spent the rest of our lives doing something we truly love?
That question eventually led them nearly 2,500 miles west to Oregon's Willamette Valley.
The move wasn't based on blind optimism. Dave immersed himself in every aspect of winemaking, studying enology, working harvests, learning from experienced vintners, and refining his craft long before Bells Up Winery officially opened its doors. Their dream was built on years of preparation, countless hours of hard work, and a willingness to leave behind comfortable careers in pursuit of something more meaningful.
Today, it's hard to imagine Dave and Sara doing anything else.
The Meaning Behind Bells Up
One of our favorite moments of the evening came when Dave explained the story behind the winery's unique name. Long before wine became his profession, music was one of his passions. As an accomplished French horn player, Dave was familiar with the musical instruction "bells up," a cue directing horn players to lift the bell of their instrument upward during especially powerful passages to project their sound with greater intensity.
When Dave and Sara eventually purchased property on Bell Road, the phrase suddenly carried two meanings. It honored Dave's musical background while perfectly representing the bold leap they were taking into an entirely new chapter of their lives. The French horn has since become the centerpiece of the winery's logo, serving as a constant reminder that sometimes life's greatest moments begin by having the courage to raise your sights and take a chance.
Dave and Sara Are Bells Up Winery
Many wineries proudly describe themselves as family-owned. Bells Up Winery takes that concept to another level. Dave and Sara aren't simply the owners. They are the vineyard managers, winemakers, hosts, marketers, shipping department, and just about everything in between. That's an impressive feat in its own right. Then consider that they produce approximately 700 cases of wine each year. For a two-person operation, that's nothing short of remarkable.
They manage the vineyard, produce the wines, host tastings, bottle the finished product, package shipments, handle marketing, answer emails, and greet guests who visit the winery. Every bottle reflects their hands-on approach and personal commitment to quality.
Producing only a small number of cases each year allows them to focus on craftsmanship rather than volume. Instead of trying to become the biggest winery in Oregon, they've concentrated on becoming one of its most personal.
After spending an hour with Dave, it's easy to understand why so many visitors become loyal supporters.
A Winery Experience That's Becoming Increasingly Rare
As Oregon's wine industry has grown over the past several decades, many wineries have expanded into large hospitality operations with tasting rooms staffed by knowledgeable employees. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But it also means opportunities to sit down with the actual owner, winemaker, and vintner have become increasingly uncommon. That's one of the things that makes Bells Up Winery so special.
Every tasting is private and by appointment, allowing guests to spend time with the very person who planted the vineyard, crafted the wines, and built the winery from the ground up. Questions become conversations. Stories replace rehearsed presentations. Instead of simply tasting wine, visitors gain an appreciation for the people and passion behind every bottle.
Our virtual tasting captured that same feeling. Even through a computer screen, Dave made everyone feel like they were sitting around the same table, sharing great wine with an old friend.
Wine Is More Than What's in the Glass
One of the things that stood out most during our conversation with Dave was his philosophy on wine. He isn't interested in impressing people with technical tasting terminology or rattling off a checklist of aromas, flavors, or tasting notes. He readily admits he'll leave that to the critics. Instead, Dave believes wine is about the experience it creates.
Throughout the evening, he spoke about wine as something that brings people together, sparks meaningful conversation, and creates lasting memories. Rather than telling us exactly what we should be smelling or tasting, he encouraged us to simply enjoy the journey each wine takes you on and pay attention to how it makes you feel.
That perspective was incredibly refreshing.
At Drink The Bottles, we certainly appreciate the craftsmanship behind every bottle and enjoy discussing tasting profiles. But Dave reminded us that the greatest wines aren't always remembered because someone identified notes of cherry, baking spice, or forest floor. They're remembered because they became part of a celebration, a conversation, or an unforgettable evening shared with family and friends.
After hearing Dave describe his philosophy, we found ourselves approaching each pour a little differently—not searching for the "right" tasting note, but simply enjoying where each wine took us.
The Wines
There wasn't much debate among our panel after tasting Joy. Within moments, several people around the table made nearly the same comment:
"This may be one of the best sparkling wines I've ever had."
That's not something our group says very often. In fact, you don't hear that from most wine reviewers.
Sparkling wine can sometimes lean too heavily toward crisp acidity or become overly rich with extended aging. Joy managed to strike a beautiful balance between elegance, freshness, creaminess, and pure drinkability. Every sip invited another, making it incredibly easy to understand how this wine earned its name. This is 100% Seyval Blanc constructed from 9-year-old vines.
What made Joy especially memorable wasn't simply its quality—it was the way it changed the mood of the evening. We think that's exactly what Dave hopes people remember and what he intended. Conversations became a little more animated. Glasses emptied surprisingly quickly. Everyone smiled.
It's not whether the wine showed a particular citrus note or delicate brioche character, but how it brought everyone together around the table. Long after we finished the tasting, Joy remained one of the most talked-about wines of the night, and for several members of our panel, it now ranks among the finest sparkling wines they've ever experienced. You read that right - one of the best ever tasted!
ABV: 13.5%
Winery: Bells Up Winery
Chehalem Mountains AVA
37 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $48.00
Drink The Bottles score: 97/100
2024 Rhapsody Estate Pinot Blanc
Fresh and expressive, Rhapsody showcased beautiful purity of fruit with lively acidity and wonderful balance. It demonstrated Dave's philosophy of allowing the vineyard to shine while maintaining elegance throughout the palate. Made from 4-year-old vines of Pinot Blanc. This wine proves there is more than Pinot Noir in Oregon!
ABV: 12.4%
Winery: Bells Up Winery
Chehalem Mountains AVA
87 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $38.00
Drink The Bottles score: 91/100
2022 Titan Estate Pinot Noir
Titan offered excellent depth and concentration while remaining refined and approachable. Rich layers of savory red fruit, subtle earthiness, and polished tannins made this one of the evening's standout Pinot Noirs.
ABV: 12.9%
Winery: Bells Up Winery
Chehalem Mountains AVA
88 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $52.00
Drink The Bottles score: 93/100
2022 Jupiter Estate Pinot Noir
Dave affectionately refers to Jupiter as a "chameleon," and after spending time with the wine, we couldn't agree more. It's adaptable and it changes greatly throughout the tasting experience.
With each swirl and every passing minute, new aromas and flavors continued to emerge. The wine seemed to evolve throughout the tasting, rewarding patience with additional complexity and making every return to the glass a new experience. Baking spices showed their hand against a lingering and slightly pepeery finish. Lovely!
ABV: 13.7%
Winery: Bells Up Winery
Chehalem Mountains AVA
158 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $52.00
Drink The Bottles score: 94/100
2022 Candide Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
Candide combined finesse with remarkable balance. Elegant fruit, thoughtful structure, and a lingering finish made this another memorable wine from an already impressive lineup. Sweet spices, lightly tanned leather, ripe red raspberry and just a hint of floral bouquet on the palate. We mentioned to Dave that we noticed (and appreciated) his Pinot Noir expressions were not overly floral like so many tend to be. It was quite refreshing!
This bottle is available exclusively to Fanfare Club members.
ABV: 13.3%
Winery: Bells Up Winery
Chehalem Mountains AVA
72 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $58.00
Drink The Bottles score: 93/100
2022 Maestro Estate Reserve Pinot Noir
Maestro served as a fitting conclusion to the evening. Richly layered yet graceful, it reflected the precision, patience, and attention to detail that define every aspect of Bells Up Winery. It starts off very light on the palate like many Pinot Noir. Layers of flavors - blueberry, red raspberry, baking spices, hints of citrus and cedar slowly evolve like a John Williams masterpiece, resulting in a journey that truly moves you throughout the tasting experience. The finish lingers long and puts a satisfying smile on your face. Bravo!
ABV: 13.7%
Winery: Bells Up Winery
Chehalem Mountains AVA
97 cases produced
Suggested retail price: $58.00
Drink The Bottles score: 95/100
Final Thoughts
Some wineries impress you with beautiful facilities while others impress you with exceptional wines. Bells Up Winery manages to do both while offering something that has become increasingly difficult to find: authenticity.
Our evening with Dave Specter never felt like a sales presentation. It felt like sitting down with someone who genuinely loves sharing his craft, his story, and the wines that he and Sara have devoted their lives to creating. Perhaps that's the greatest takeaway from our virtual tasting.
The bottles were outstanding and the conversation was unforgettable.
If you ever find yourself planning a trip through Oregon's Willamette Valley, Bells Up Winery deserves a place on your itinerary. And if making the trip isn't possible, don't overlook one of their virtual tastings. As we were reminded during our hour with Dave, great wine has always brought people together—and thanks to technology, sometimes all it takes is opening a bottle and logging in from home.
