We started the process to purchase the vineyard and began plans for the event space we had been seeking.

We connected right away and knew the meeting was destined. Smith was a pioneer in the industry helping craft and shape legislation that remains today. The vineyard is the third oldest in Texas and Dr. Bobby Smith the founder and owner of La Buena Vida Vineyards. Largely curious but also open to the idea of living on a vineyard, we met with Dr. Fate once again intervened when we received a flyer in the mail for a vineyard for sale an hour west of Grapevine.

The Grapevine location did well and a few years later we found ourselves contemplating additional space to allow for weddings & events that we could not accommodate there. John likes to say it represents our coming together: he the dark and I the light. The вЂ umbraвЂ™ is the shadow created when the moon and other celestial bodies pass. Almost two years later and with a stroke of luck, we leased a space in historical downtown Grapevine under the newly rebranded name of Umbra Winery. After a few months, John quickly learned we would need to relocate to drive the traffic needed to keep the place alive. Shortly thereafter, we found ourselves the owners of a small Texas winery. We had traveled to Napa and Tuscany and I had grown up in Southern Italy so the idea of a winery wasnвЂ™t completely foreign although neither of us come from such a background. We discussed it and decided to look into it. John began a search for a new occupation and in doing so discovered a local winery for sale. After a beautiful candlelit proposal in a courtyard on New Years Eve, we made plans for John to move from Longview, Texas to Dallas where I lived. At that time, neither of us were in the wine field and in fact, we didnвЂ™t even live in the same city! As romantic stories go, we fell in love and knew we would need to make some location and vocational changes to be together. John and I met, coincidentally, at a wine tasting. WeвЂ™re thrilled that youвЂ™d like to learn more about who we are and how we can help make your wedding day all that youвЂ™ve dreamed of!ДЄ little about us and how we got here. Welcome to Umbra Winery at La Buena Vida Vineyards.

Umbra winery