Stone Cliff Winery Up for Sale

The future of a popular Dubuque winery is unknown.  Bob and Nan Smith, owners of Stone Cliff Winery, say they plan to retire.

Now the search is on for someone to take over the business in the Port of Dubuque.

When Jerry and Glenda Hatch travel to Dubuque for business, they have a special spot they love to visit.

Jerry Hatch said, "We kind of like to stop at the wineries just to see what Iowa's wines are doing."

Stone Cliff Winery owner Bob Smith says it's the tourists that made this business successful over the past ten years.

Bob Smith said, "it's all about the tourism. We have tens of thousands of visitors each year and that drives the other businesses in the Port of Dubuque."

But the winery is more than just a business for Smith. It's kind of like another child.

The Smith's first opened Stone Cliff in their home back in 2001.

They expanded to the historic Star Brewery building in 2007.

But now Bob says it's time to hang it up.

Smith said, "we are going to find the perfect people over the next 12 months that are going to come in."

Smith says the winery business is booming and he doesn't expect to have any trouble finding someone to buy Stone Cliff. But he won't sell it to just anyone.

Smith joked, "if someone has three of four million dollars, well then, bring it on!"

Smith is laughing and joking now, but says the search is serious. He's wants to find some to embrace the winery the way his family has, inside the historic building along the river.

When the Smith's first opened Stone Cliff in 2001, they were the third winery in Iowa.

There are now 81 in the state.

The Smiths do have two children, but they both work in other fields and are not interested in taking over the family business.