Smoky Hill Vineyard & Winery

Just a few years ago, the rolling slopes below the horse stables was land barren of the lush, fruit-laden vines that exist here today. In 1991, friends and business partners Steve Jennings and Kay Bloom invested in the abandoned stable and eighty acres of rich, Kansas soil. The men had a vision of what was to become known as Smoky Hill Vineyards and Winery. The men believed they could capture a bit of the past and cultivate a dream for the future. In true pioneer spirit, Steve Jennings and Kay Bloom hand-planted about an acre of vines in 1991. There were just four other wineries in Kansas at the time. Their initial goal was to keep it a small, retirement project and produce a few hundred gallons of wine each year. The first Smoky Hill Wine was sold in 1995. Nearly fourteen years later, there are over 5000 vines producing ten varieties of grapes. In vintage year 2003 Smoky Hill Winery produced 80,000 bottles of wine.