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If everything goes as planned, Smithville may soon be able to give Weston a run for its money in attracting the wine drinking crowd next year.

The Smithville Planning Commission approved a final site plan Feb. 4 to allow Galen Haddock to open a winery on his property on Pope Lane, complete with an 18-acre vineyard and tasting room.

Jack Hendrix, director of community development in Smithville, said Haddock had made the necessary changes to his property to allow for the construction of the vineyard and winery and he had heard no complaints from Haddock’s neighbors.

The final site plan will go before the Board of Aldermen Feb. 16 for final approval.

If he’s approved by the board, Haddock said he’ll begin work this spring installing the grape vines and could be ready for production as early as 2011, depending on the state of the economy.

“It all depends on the economy,” he said. “If the economy comes back this year, I’ll go forward and have it open in the immediate future. But it all depends on the economy and whether it comes back. If the indicators show good economic progress, we could have it open in a year.”

The winery will be named Rocky Point Vineyard and Winery, and Haddock said he hopes it will be not just a winery but also a destination spot where people will want to spend the day.

“I want to make my winery a destination for Smithville much like the Justus Drug Store has done,” he said. “And if we could add another winery, we could build a wine trail to really bring people to the community.”

When it opens, Rocky Point Vineyard and Winery will be the first of its kind in Smithville after the city changed its zoning rules last year to allow for wineries in agricultural districts.

Once he begins operation, Haddock said he plans to make estate wines — meaning the wines will be produced from grapes grown on site — from two varieties of white grapes and two varieties of red, including the state grape, the Norton.

As far as the expected volume of the winery, Haddock said he plans to make as much as the people want, leaving an exact number for the market to decide.

Staff writer Michael Westblade can be reached at 389-6636 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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written by A D Giarratana, February 11, 2010

I can't wait for this to open! I think this will be a great addition to the Smithville community. GOOD LUCK!!!

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