Some winery stories begin with a vineyard. The story of Bella Mia Winery began with a vineyard plan, but getting to the finish line required several unexpected pivots.
I recently visited Bella Mia Winery in historic downtown Pilot Point and sat down with co-owner Laurie Trevizo to learn more about the winery, its wines, and the long journey behind its new tasting room. I first met Laurie at the Sage’s Symposium held in 2019 by Sage’s Vintage, a custom crush facility. She filled me in on what had transpired since the Symposium.
The original plan was for Laurie and Roberto Trevizo to start with a vineyard in Grapeland, a town near Nacogdoches, in East Texas. They ordered vines in March 2020, only to have COVID-19 arrive shortly afterward. With so much uncertainty and the proposed vineyard about three hours away, they reconsidered. Laurie also had young daughters at home and questioned how the family could manage a distant vineyard along with everything else involved in starting a winery. They canceled the vines and began looking for another way forward.
The family knew they did not want to live in the city, so they purchased a home on five acres near Pilot Point. The property offered enough room for a small vineyard along with the possibility of a tasting room. However, after talking with people in Pilot Point, someone asked a question that changed her thinking.
Did she really want customers knocking on the door of her home on a Sunday?
So, it was time for another pivot.
Laurie started to learn what was available in downtown Pilot Point and what growth was expected in the area. That led her to a historic commercial building on South Jefferson Street.
The building and the property next door were owned by the same person. Laurie signed a lease around the beginning of 2022 and contacted Michael McClendon and Wes Jensen of Sage’s Vintage to begin producing Bella Mia’s wines. The first wines were made from the 2021 harvest.
Tasting bar and wine cellar in the far right
The tasting room, however, was nowhere close to opening. The landlord was also a general contractor and had agreed to complete the build-out. Work was in progress, but after three years, the contractor said he didn’t think he could complete the project. After three years of lost revenue, Laurie decided the best option was to purchase the building. She negotiated what she considered a good price, with the requirement that the work already completed had to pass inspection.
The purchase closed in December 2024, and Laurie brought in her own crew in March 2025. The building’s renovation was largely completed by spring 2026. Bella Mia Winery officially began welcoming customers around the Fourth of July.
The extended construction delays did produce one unexpected result. The wines made from the 2021 harvest had several years to age before the tasting room opened.
Tasting the Wines
At the time of my visit, these were the wines available:
- 2021 Trebbiano
- 2021 Dolcetto Rosé
- 2021 Tempranillo, Pepper Jack Vineyards
- 2021 Red Blend (Malbec, Tempranillo)
- 2021 Black Spanish
Bella Mia has plans to introduce the 2022 wines in the spring. Laurie sees the different vintages as an opportunity to create larger tasting flights and help customers understand how wines can change from one growing season to the next. Two glasses may look nearly identical, but the wines inside can be very different.
One wine that particularly surprised me was Bella Mia’s Black Spanish, which is served slightly chilled. I have tasted plenty of non-Port Black Spanish wines over the years, and I have not found many dry versions that I particularly enjoyed. Bella Mia’s was one of the exceptions. Laurie calls it the winery’s “Goldilocks wine” because it seems to fall right in the middle for a wide range of wine drinkers. It appeals to someone newer to wine, while still offering pleasure for people who normally prefer Cabernet Sauvignon.
Laurie Trevizo
The tasting room is nearly as interesting as the wines. The building dates to approximately 1885 and was once home to Flakes & Floppin Hardware and Stoves. Decades later the space was used as an automobile mechanic shop. When the Bella Mia remodeling began, the interior had been completely gutted. Laurie tried to preserve or reuse as much of the historical character as possible.
The original brick remains exposed throughout the tasting room. The cast-iron columns at the front were not originally part of the Bella Mia building, but they came from another Pilot Point building. Some of the old tin ceiling tiles were also saved. I have seen a number of historic buildings converted to winery tasting rooms, and I was very impressed with the outcome of Bella Mia Winery’s tasting room.
Of particular interest in the tasting room is the room in the back corner. The remodeling included a large wine vault that is chilled to protect all the Bella Mia Winery wines. It is an impressive space, with bottles lining both sides of the room from floor to ceiling.
Wine Cellar
Roberto and Laurie may not have followed their original plan, but each pivot brought the family closer to what they ultimately wanted: a welcoming place in downtown Pilot Point where people can gather and enjoy Texas wine.
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