Today we’d like to introduce you to David Besgrove.
David, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Cowtown Winery opened in June of 2010 in the historic Stockyards in Fort Worth. Cowtown Winery has a sister winery, Grape Vine Springs Winery, in downtown Grapevine which opened in 2004, I spent most of my professional career as a sales manager or vice president of sales for various printing companies in the DFW area. I decided, in 2013 I was ready to leave that industry and take over both wineries. Until that time, I had managers operating both wineries.
My passion for wine started about 30 years ago when a co-worker mentioned he made wine at home. I was curious and had many questions for him. I began my own research and decided to give it a try. Picking wild grapes here in Texas is not the best way to go but it gave me a basis for the process and the education I needed. And, by the way, that first batch was horrible. But, I did not give up. My wine improved over the years and even gifted bottles to my printing clients for the holidays. In early 2003 I decided to take the leap and open my own winery. You never stop learning in this industry. It is a complex and fascinating business because wine is a living organism and changes over time. With the climate and conditions in Texas I never considered growing my own grapes. Currently all grapes are sourced from vineyards throughout Central California. This allows us to make many kinds of wine and does not limit us to the varietals that would only grow in Texas.
Wine was produced at each location until about 2 years ago when we realized production could not keep up with demand. We have since moved all production of the wine into a large warehouse and currently have over 35 stainless steel tanks for wine fermentation. I do miss having the production on site at the tasting rooms because customers always enjoyed smelling the fermentation when they visited.
Cowtown Winery produces several Red wines, red blends, White wines, Sweet wines and dessert wines. We offer flights each day for tasting, gourmet cheeses and meats, wine by the glass or bottle, quarterly wine club and blending classes. We are also home to the Stockyard ghost tour that we conduct each Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It is a walking tour through The Stockyards where you learn about the hauntings and history. You take a glass of wine with you on the tour.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I think every business owners have a few bumps in the road but they have all been great leaning experiences.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are the only winery in the Fort Worth Stockyards and one of our specialties are higher end, fruit, sweet wines. We have eleven different flavors of fruit wines and so many of our customers have their favorites. Stockyard Peach, Wild West Berry (blackberry), Rodeo Red (black cherry) and Ambush (Tropical fruit) just to name a few.
What were you like growing up?
I always had the entrepreneur spirit, even as a kid in grade school. Several small opportunities along the way gave me my desire to have and build my own business one day.
Pricing:
- Tastings – a flight of 3 wines is $8 and a flight of 4 wines is $10
- Our bottles range from $15.99 t0 $29.95
Contact Info:
- Address: 112 W. Exchange Ave.
- Website: www.cowtownwinery.com
- Phone: 817-626-1011
- Email: cowtownwinery@dvinewineusa.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cowtownwinery/
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