The Jones family – over 35 years of creating exceptional wines
Founded in 2016, Iron Hub Winery is owned and operated by Tom and Beth Jones and their children. The Jones family loves Amador County’s preservation of its agrarian roots and rural character. Iron Hub Winery’s success is built on its commitment to creating elegant wines with an authentic legacy.
Tom and Beth purchased their current 33-acre property in 2014 after selling their interest in a previous partnership at Lava Cap Winery. The property had been known as Amador Foothill Winery and includes hillside vineyards in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley AVA of California.
With a Geology Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and UC Davis master’s degree in winemaking, Tom understood the importance of the estate’s granitic loam soil for superior wine grapes. Tom was drawn to the property, stating “there is no substitution for controlling the growing conditions in the vineyard and, most importantly, tasting the ripening grapes to determine harvest”. He added, “Our estate affords me creative control from the vine to the bottle”.
Son Spencer is following in his father’s footsteps by also graduating from UC Davis with a master’s degree from the Department of Viticulture and Enology. Today, the father-son winemaking team employs a hands-on approach to every aspect of the winemaking process, from tending the grapes in the estate vineyards to carefully crafting both red and white wines.
Spencer, Beth, and Tom Jones.
Iron Hub’s name developed from winemaker Tom’s annual tradition of taking a high mountain sojourn to rejuvenate after each grape harvest. On one such adventure, Tom discovered an antique, hand-forged wagon wheel hub in the remote outback. The iron hub exemplifies the artistry and beauty of hand-forged tooling of days past. Tom and Beth named their boutique winery on Steiner Road “Iron Hub” to reflect their joy of discovery and craftsmanship.
The name Iron Hub also reflects a welcoming place to gather. The new, modern tasting room opened in December 2017, making Iron Hub a special place to gather with family and friends to enjoy fine wine, great hospitality, and the beautiful Sierra views.
Thomas D. Jones, M.S.
Proprietor & Winemaker
Raised in Northern California, Tom graduated from University of California, Davis in the 1980s with a BS in Geology and a Master of Science degree in Enology & Viticulture. Tom was the founding winemaker for his family’s winery, Lava Cap Winery, in Placerville, California. For over thirty years, Tom has developed an approach to winemaking that blends science, art, and respect for the rich complexity of each grape varietal. Consistently sophisticated and well-structured, his wines have a bold and elegant style and have earned international acclaim. Tom lives with his wife, Beth, near the winery. In his free time he enjoys exploring the remote regions of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and playing golf.
Spencer T. Jones, M.S.
Assistant Winemaker
Spencer grew up in his wine making family, often working as a bar back or in the cellar at Lava Cap Winery in between soccer, basketball, and cross-country competitions. He graduated from University of Oregon in 2016 with a BS in Geology. Working with his father during his childhood, Spencer discovered his interest and enthusiasm for the vinification process. After college, Spencer joined with his father as they developed the new Iron Hub Winery together. Initial projects included establishing sustainable vineyard practices into the estate and planting a new vineyard block of Petite Sirah. Spencer completed the prerequisites for his graduate studies in 2017-2018 and was accepted for the Master of Science in Viticulture & Enology, University of California, Davis in 2019. Spencer enjoyed the coursework of the rigorous program and developed many lifelong friendships with his fellow graduate students. He happily graduated with a Master’s Degree from the Department of Viticulture & Enology, University of California, Davis in June 2021. Spencer enjoys working fulltime alongside his father at Iron Hub Winery and loves the optimism and collaborative nature of Amador wine country. Spencer lives near Iron Hub Winery with his dog Smokey and enjoys water skiing, snow skiing, and hiking in the nearby Sierras.