In 1996, Nan and Bob Smith, future vineyard owners, decided to return to Nan’s hometown of Dubuque to raise their two daughters in a small town environment. They purchased Stone Cliff Farm near Durango, Iowa, and planned to farm the land conventionally. However, as happens in life, one thing leads to another, and one day, over a good bottle of wine, Bob and Nan Smith thought maybe they could do something different with their farm, like raise grapes and eventually operate a winery to turn those grapes into wine.
They immediately began attending conferences and taking classes to learn about the wine industry and the art of winemaking. With the help of family and the community, they planted their first 2,000 vines by hand.
In 2007, the winery was relocated to the “Port of Dubuque” in the historic Star Brewery building overlooking the mighty Mississippi. Our tasting room offers not only award-winning wines but also draft and bottled beer, as well as various food selections.
In 2025, Stone Cliff Winery entered an exciting new chapter as ownership transitioned to Dave Fritz and Chad Walsh. While the winery’s welcoming atmosphere, quality wines, and scenic charm remain unchanged, the new owners have expanded Stone Cliff’s horizons with a growing focus on craft beer. Building on the success of our Gold Star Golden Ale, we’ve increased distribution beyond the tasting room — it’s now available in local bars, retail stores, and in convenient 6-packs for fans to enjoy at home.
Our unique, historic location enabled the winery to expand into an event venue that hosts wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, business events, birthdays,
anniversaries, etc.
From our family to yours, we invite you to experience Stone Cliff Winery and Dubuque Star Brewery.
– Dave & Chad
