Spicy Vines: A Family-Owned Healdsburg Winery Making Wine Tasting Fun Again
Spicy Vines isn’t just a winery — it’s a movement. Female-founded, family-owned, and fearlessly committed to honest winemaking, made for those who live (and drink) on their own terms.
It All Started With A "Wild" Idea
Spicy Vines started with a bold decision — and an even bolder vision.
In 2011, Crystalyn Hackett walked away from a competitive equestrian career to chase a bigger dream: building something new, disruptive, and unforgettable in the world of wine.
Driven by her entrepreneurial spirit and inspired by her travels through Europe, she revived the ancient craft of spiced wine, giving it a bold California twist as her first creation. What began as a leap of faith quickly caught fire, earning Spicy Vines a cult following and a reputation for wines that make a statement.
In 2014, Crystalyn met Doug Hackett, a seasoned winemaker who shared her relentless drive and entrepreneurial spirit. Together — as partners in life and business — they set out to challenge the industry and build a winery that lives outside the lines.
Today, Crystalyn and Doug have grown Spicy Vines into one of Sonoma’s most exciting boutique wineries — known for award-winning, small-lot wines that are bold, playful, and anything but traditional.
And they’re just getting started.
Minimalist Winemaking. Maximum Expression.
At Spicy Vines, we believe the best wines are born when nature leads — and the winemaker listens. No heavy-handed manipulation. No unnecessary additives. No BS. We source fruit from celebrated vineyards across Sonoma, Mendocino, and beyond — selecting sites full of character. Then, we step back, letting the grapes and the land speak for themselves.
At the heart of it all is our head winemaker and partner — Doug — the craftsman behind every bottle. With over 27 years of experience, he embraces a minimalist philosophy: guiding each wine with patience, honesty, and deep respect for nature’s rhythms.The result? Wines that are raw, real, and full of life — just like the people who drink them.
More Than a Winery — A Place to Live Out Loud
Spicy Vines isn’t just a winery — it’s a gathering place for those who believe wine should be fun, creative, and alive.
Our tasting room buzzes with energy — blending handcrafted wines with live music, local art, and an unforgettable atmosphere. Every Saturday, we turn up the volume with live performances, transforming traditional tastings into lively, memorable experiences.
For those who love to push boundaries, our signature wine cocktails offer a bold twist on the traditional pour — because great wine should never be limited by outdated rules.
Whether you visit us in person or follow along from afar, when you raise a glass with Spicy Vines, you’re not just tasting wine — you’re part of something real.
Join the Movement
We’re first-generation winery owners who didn’t wait for permission to create something different — and neither should you.
This is your invitation to drink boldly, live fully, and celebrate often.
The rules are old. The wine is new. And the best stories are just getting started.
Come write yours with us.
Our Roots: A Wild Idea
What Makes Us Different
Minimalist Winemaking, Maximum Expression
Where Wine Meets Creativity
Be Part of Something Different
From Grit To Glass: The Spicy Vines Journey
2010 – Crystalyn backpacks across Europe with her “idea book.” Inspired by her travels and her mother’s advice to “bring something back,” she notes an idea that would spark it all: spiced wine.
2011 – Back in California, she recreates the mulled wine she loved in Germany. Spicy Vines is incorporated with nothing but determination and a recipe worth sharing.
2012 – After months of persistence, the TTB officially recognizes Spiced Wine as a wine classification. The first bottles of Spicy Vines are released.
2015 – Crystalyn meets Doug, a seasoned winemaker. They fall in love, and together expand the portfolio into artisan, small-lot wines.
2016 – Spicy Vines opens its first tasting room in downtown Healdsburg and launches its first wine club, building a vibrant community.
2020 – Crystalyn and Doug buy out their largest partners, cementing Spicy Vines as a first-generation, family-owned winery built on independence, creativity, and grit.
2022 – A milestone year: Spicy Vines launches its spirits collection, Crystalyn and Doug welcome their daughter Ellie, and Doug’s son Declan steps in as tasting room manager — making it a true family operation.
2010
Crystalyn backpacks across Europe with her “idea book.” Inspired by her travels and her mother’s advice to “bring something back,” she notes an idea that would spark it all: spiced wine.
2010
Crystalyn backpacks across Europe with her “idea book.” Inspired by her travels and her mother’s advice to “bring something back,” she notes an idea that would spark it all: spiced wine.
2012
After months of persistence, the TTB officially recognizes Spiced Wine as a wine classification. The first bottles of Spicy Vines are released.
2016
Spicy Vines opens its first tasting room in downtown Healdsburg and launches its first wine club, building a vibrant community.
2022
A milestone year: Spicy Vines launches its spirits collection, Crystalyn and Doug welcome their daughter Ellie, and Doug’s son Declan steps in as tasting room manager — making it a true family operation.
2011
Back in California, she recreates the mulled wine she loved in Germany. Spicy Vines is incorporated with nothing but determination and a recipe worth sharing.
2015
Crystalyn meets Doug, a seasoned winemaker. They fall in love, and together expand the portfolio into artisan, small-lot wines.
2020
Crystalyn and Doug buy out their largest partners, cementing Spicy Vines as a first-generation, family-owned winery built on independence, creativity, and grit.
2010
Crystalyn backpacks across Europe with her “idea book.” Inspired by her travels and her mother’s advice to “bring something back,” she notes an idea that would spark it all: spiced wine.
2012
After months of persistence, the TTB officially recognizes Spiced Wine as a wine classification. The first bottles of Spicy Vines are released.
2016
Spicy Vines opens its first tasting room in downtown Healdsburg and launches its first wine club, building a vibrant community.
2022
A milestone year: Spicy Vines launches its spirits collection, Crystalyn and Doug welcome their daughter Ellie, and Doug’s son Declan steps in as tasting room manager — making it a true family operation.
2011
Back in California, she recreates the mulled wine she loved in Germany. Spicy Vines is incorporated with nothing but determination and a recipe worth sharing.
2015
Crystalyn meets Doug, a seasoned winemaker. They fall in love, and together expand the portfolio into artisan, small-lot wines.
2020
Crystalyn and Doug buy out their largest partners, cementing Spicy Vines as a first-generation, family-owned winery built on independence, creativity, and grit.
2010
Crystalyn backpacks across Europe with her “idea book.” Inspired by her travels and her mother’s advice to “bring something back,” she notes an idea that would spark it all: spiced wine.
2011
Back in California, she recreates the mulled wine she loved in Germany. Spicy Vines is incorporated with nothing but determination and a recipe worth sharing.
2012
After months of persistence, the TTB officially recognizes Spiced Wine as a wine classification. The first bottles of Spicy Vines are released.
2015
Crystalyn meets Doug, a seasoned winemaker. They fall in love, and together expand the portfolio into artisan, small-lot wines.
2016
Spicy Vines opens its first tasting room in downtown Healdsburg and launches its first wine club, building a vibrant community.
2020
Crystalyn and Doug buy out their largest partners, cementing Spicy Vines as a first-generation, family-owned winery built on independence, creativity, and grit.
2022
A milestone year: Spicy Vines launches its spirits collection, Crystalyn and Doug welcome their daughter Ellie, and Doug’s son Declan steps in as tasting room manager — making it a true family operation.
2010
Crystalyn backpacks across Europe with her “idea book.” Inspired by her travels and her mother’s advice to “bring something back,” she notes an idea that would spark it all: spiced wine.
2011
Back in California, she recreates the mulled wine she loved in Germany. Spicy Vines is incorporated with nothing but determination and a recipe worth sharing.
2012
After months of persistence, the TTB officially recognizes Spiced Wine as a wine classification. The first bottles of Spicy Vines are released.
2015
Crystalyn meets Doug, a seasoned winemaker. They fall in love, and together expand the portfolio into artisan, small-lot wines.
2016
Spicy Vines opens its first tasting room in downtown Healdsburg and launches its first wine club, building a vibrant community.
2020
Crystalyn and Doug buy out their largest partners, cementing Spicy Vines as a first-generation, family-owned winery built on independence, creativity, and grit.
2022
A milestone year: Spicy Vines launches its spirits collection, Crystalyn and Doug welcome their daughter Ellie, and Doug’s son Declan steps in as tasting room manager — making it a true family operation.
