Umbra Winey's new vine: Umbra Winery at La Buena Vida Vineyards

Umbra Winery sent out a new 'vine', northwest of Fort Worth, when they purchased La Buena Vida Vineyards in Springtown several months ago. For John and Debbie Wilson, owners of Umbra Winery, the "buena vida" (good life) includes the building of a new event center and tasting room at La Buena Vida Vineyards. Their aspirations at La Buena Vida Vineyards will build on the legacy of Dr. Bobby Smith, a pioneer of Texas wine culture who previously owned the property and planted the vineyard more than 40 years ago.

The Wilsons not only bought a 49 acre vineyard, but they also inherited a much bigger wine production facility, and the opportunity to also produce mead. The mead is now on tap at Umbra in Grapevine-- which is fantastic by the way, and is a perennial mainstay at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie.

We paid our first visit to Umbra's new digs last weekend after having spent a fun (wine) filled day at a couple Red River Valley wineries the day before (write-up here). We've known John and Debbie since their CrossRoads days in Little Elm when their production facility also doubled as a tasting room, so when they told us of this new venture several months ago, we were ecstatic to say the least. Upon our arrival, John took us on a quick tour of their expansive new facility, and I noted that they could fit their old Little Elm wine making facility inside this area a few times over.

Afterwards, John let us wander among the vineyard, which is the third oldest in Texas behind Val Verde Winery in Del Rio, and those of Llano Estacado Winery up on the Texas High Plains. During our short stroll we saw vines of Pinot Blanc, Chambourcin, Syrah, Viognier, and Pinot Grigio. We were told that there are Albariño vines as well.

Is the Syrah getting close to harvest?

We came across the Memory Garden, a lovely place built by Dr. Smith, that greets folks as they come onto the property. The plaque that adorns the garden entrance is apropos for a Texas vineyard.

 

They should be breaking ground on the event center towards the end of July, but the process to dig out the wine cellar is to happen sooner. The event center is tentatively set to open in the spring of 2018. 

In the middle of this picture, off in this distance, is where the new event center will be built. I spy a 'cat'!

This 'cat' is ready to pounce!

As big fans of Umbra's wine, and of course of John and Debbie, we gush about our own personal excitement about their new journey, so we cannot imagine the excitement they feel. But there is still much more work to be done: new ground will be broken, buildings will be erected, grapes will be harvested, and a new Texas wine adventure will soon be born.

Above and below are architectural renderings of the new event center and tasting room. Can't wait!