La Buena Vida Vineyards
Springtown
Dr. Bobby G. Smith, who is considered a pioneer of the modern day Texas wine industry, planted his vineyard in Springtown in 1972. His first wine was produced in 1978 winning a gold medal at the Eastern International Wine competition. He has continously produced quality, award winning wines since then. In 1982 Dr. Smith opened Texas' first winery tasting room in Lakeside, Texas, and moved it to Grapevine in 1995. Today, he is still growing grapes, making wine and operating his tasting room at the winery in Springtown. He is also the owner and Fromager of Nanie Bell Artisan Cheese Shoppe, located on the winery property, producing cheese by his mothers recipe as well as herb and breakfast spreads of his own creation.
The estate vineyard currently grows the following variatals: Chambourcin, Tempranillo, Vionger, Pinot Grigio, Shiraz, Albarino, and Pinot Blanc. Dr. Smith is the premier producer of Texas Ports and has won over 40 awards for his ports alone. La Buena Vida is Texas oldest producer of method champenoise Champgane (Sparling wine in the old tradition) with honors of being served to the Queen of England, and at the George H. Bush inauguration. La Buena Vida also produces Scarborough Mead, a honey wine proudly serve each year at Scarborough Renaissance Faire near Waxahachie.
With all this on his plate, Dr. Smith has been the chief legislator for the industry, writing some and lobbying for most of the legislation that has catapulted the industry into the 21st century. Due to his labors over the decades, he is responsible in some way for many of the State laws that allow wineries to be established anywhere in Texas, including area's otherwise dry for wine, to produce and sell Texas wine at that location, as well as to operate more than one location.When not looking after his medical practice, you can find "Dr. Bobby" either in the vineyard taking care of his grapes, in the winery producing some of Texas' finest wines, or making cheese. His passion for the vine is evident in his final product. Just follow the Winery/Cheese signs in Springtown.
| Address | 650 Vineyard Lane Springtown, TX 76082 |
| Phone | 817-821-6794 |
| Hours | Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday Noon-5pm Also by appointment. |
| La Buena Vida Wines | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sarborough Mead | Smith Estate Port | Tempranillo |
| Pinot Grigio | Pinot Blanc | Viogner |
| Seasonal Red & White wines | ||