When Ron and Janan Benefiel purchased 56 acres of land on Tucker Road from Michael Tucker in January of 2014, Ron surprised his wife with a Valentine’s Day dinner at the top of the hill, a spot with a bird’s eye view of Parker and Tarrant County, even downtown Fort Worth on a clear day. The couple raised their glasses of wine to toast their new venture, a vineyard with a venue chic enough to host elegant weddings and other special events.
A large West facing lawn and fire pit where visitors could see the stars ... A place where guests are transported to wine country without ever leaving the Metroplex ...
“It’s a big leap of faith,” Janan admits, “but we are following our passions: a love of wine, a love of the land and being part of a community where people take living at a different pace.”
Ron and Janan have long had an affinity for the green kingdom, with Ron an enthusiastic vegetable gardener and Janan a floral designer who’s also worked in a plant nursery.
The couple’s pathway into viniculture stems from Ron’s growing interest in winemaking kits over the years as well as visits to vineyards and wineries, including LightCatcher Winery in Fort Worth.
The Azle residents have worked hard to cultivate their vision, building a road and drilling holes in the heavy clay soil to plant some 2,200 California-bred rootstalks.
The Benefiel’s vineyard has piqued the curiosity of many a motorist since the first T-post went into the ground.
“We’re going to give California a run for its money,” Janan said.
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Dove Ridge Vineyard
