Our Story

Built by a farming Family

Rock Spur comes from a family whose life and work have long been tied to agriculture.

Raised in dairy farming and shaped by years of hands-on work, the family brought that same discipline, care, and long-view mindset to viticulture. What began with growing grapes for other wineries gradually became something more focused: a commitment to farming this site with intention and creating wines that reflect its full potential.

From the beginning, the vision was grounded in the vineyard. Rock Spur would be built around a single estate site and a belief that great wine starts with doing the best work possible in the field. Every decision, from farming to harvest, is guided by that standard, to grow the best fruit possible and make the most of it in the cellar.

Farming Roots

The Story in our name

Rock Spur brings together a family farming legacy, a single estate vineyard, and a thoughtful, site-driven vision for Idaho wine.

The name Rock Spur connects the vineyard to the land's history. It traces back to a former rail spur alongside the farm, tied to acreage once purchased from the BNO Railroad. Today, the old railway bed still runs near the property, serving as a lasting link between the land’s working past and the vineyard it is today.

That connection to agriculture also shaped the Rock Spur logo. Inspired by traditional cattle brands, it reflects the ranching and farming history of the surrounding area and serves as another link between the vineyard and the region’s working agricultural roots.

The people behind Rock Spur

Our Team

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a denim jacket and pink patterned scarf, smiling and holding a glass of red wine, sitting next to a black, white, and brown Australian Shepherd dog with its tongue out, against a dark gray metal wall background.

Jenell Kasper

Founder & Vineyard Manager

Raised in a multigenerational farming family, Jenell Kasper brings a lifelong connection to agriculture to Rock Spur Vineyards. She grew up on a dairy farm, helped transform a small family vineyard into a serious grape-growing operation, and has spent the past decade developing the site and growing fruit in Melba, Idaho. Before launching Rock Spur as an estate wine label, the family expanded plantings and supplied grapes to other wineries, building deep experience in both farming and vineyard development. Today, Jenell leads Rock Spur with a hands-on approach in the vineyard, an agricultural mindset, and a clear commitment to raising the bar for Idaho wine.

As she set out to create the best wine possible from her estate vineyard, Jenell approached winemaking with the same care and intention she brings to farming, building the right team to help realize her vision.

A man with glasses, a beard, and short hair standing in a vineyard with green grapevines in the background.

Ray McKee

Consulting Winemaker

Ray has spent more than three decades making wine, guided by a commitment to expressing the character of the vineyard in every vintage. Over the course of his career, he has worked with many of Washington’s leading vineyards and wineries, from his early roots at his parents’ winery, Tefft Cellars, to Columbia, Covey Run, and Chateau Ste. Michelle, where he served as Head Red Winemaker. Today, his consulting work reflects the same philosophy that has shaped his career from the beginning: great wines start with great grapes, and the winemaker’s role is to capture the character of the site, the growing season, and the people behind the fruit.

At Rock Spur, Ray helps guide key decisions around harvest timing, style, blending, oak, and vessels, bringing both technical depth and a vineyard-driven perspective to the wines.