Neal Newsom
The funder of Newsom Vineyards
In 1986, Neal Newsom decided to make a move and start his adventure in wine grape growing on Texas High Plains. His family had been doing cotton farming for over a hundred years in Lubbock area, however he is always worried about water shortage in west Texas. He has been interested in the alternative crops and played around with peanut, alfalfa, pumpkins and soybeans. Finally he picked wine grapes. It was a big experiment, as not many people have idea about how to grow grapes in that part of world back to date. In 1989, three years after he planted, he harvested his first real crop. It fit in the trunk of his car. He drove it to a winery in Garden City and got a check for around $500.
By the end of 2016, the vineyards
Nolan Newsom
Building on the legacy
Nolan, the 3rd generation in Newsom Family, finally decided to start a completely new adventure opening his own winery, after working years as the vineyard manager for his dad. It is because he knows his winemaker wife always wants to make her own wines. He also knows he has more passions on working upfront, such as running business, talking to people about Newsom wines, and cooking private wine pairing dinner. It didnt take him too long to achieve his goal! After his 30th birthday, he registered his own company and received his winery permit. At the same time, he found a vacant 100-year old house he likes a lot in Comfort, Texas and remodeled it to the present tasting room. He is now a young entrepreneur in Texas Wine Industry, but he is also his own winery designer, handyman, and tasting room staff. It is never easy to run a business, but he enjoys it!
Levern Newsom
The story behind “LeVern’s Merlot”
LeVern Newsom is the 1st generation in Newsom Family to grow wine grapes. She is in her 80’s and people see many typical Texas farm girls’ traits in her, strong minded, hardworking and knowing a lot about the tough West Texas country life. Back to date, grape growing was all done by hands. She worked with Dr. Michiul