La Buena Vida Vineyards in Springtown owned by Dr. Bobby Smith has recently been sold. Dr. Smith is one of the pioneers in the Texas wine industry who helped craft some of the early legislation. He bought a dairy farm in Smithtown and planted his vineyard in 1972. The winery was bonded in 1978 and the first wine was released commercially. Besides making wine, Dr. Smith also sells grapes from the vineyard to wineries like Eden Hill Vineyard to make award-winning wines.
After two years of being in Grapevine, the owners of Umbra Winery, John and Debbie Wilson, have bought La Buena Vida Vineyards. Dr. Smith is a friend and mentor to the Wilsons and they are honored to continue his 40 plus year legacy in Springtown. The winery will be renamed to Umbra Winery at La Buena Vida Vineyards.
The 49 acre estate in Springtown, approximately 45 minutes from Grapevine, will be home to Umbra Winery’s growing production facility. On the estate is nearly eight acres of mature planted and irrigated vines. The vineyard grows approximately eight varieties of grapes and they will likely add more in the coming years.
Plans for Umbra Winery are to develop an event center and small tasting room to house private events. The new owners will be evaluating past fruit purchases to other wineries from the vineyard and of course will be using some of the fruit for their own use.
Umbra Winery at La Buena Vida Vineyards will be sharing their progress and when the vineyard will be open to the public. Keep watching for updates and be ready to visit Springtown!
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