Stone Cliff Winery

Stone Cliff Winery is a brewery in Dubuque, IA. The winery produces award-winning wines and operates alongside Dubuque Star Beer, with a tasting room serving draft and bottled beer alongside various food selections. The business is rooted in the Smith family. Bob and Nan Smith returned to Nan's hometown of Dubuque in 1996 and purchased Stone Cliff Farm near Durango, Iowa. After deciding to pursue winemaking, they attended conferences and classes, then planted their first 2,000 vines by hand. They had their first product offering in 2001, and in 2007 the winery relocated to the historic Star Brewery building in the Port of Dubuque. In 2022, Bob and Nan acquired the rights to the Dubuque Star Beer name and began serving several flavors from its original taproom. In 2025, ownership transitioned to Dave Fritz and Chad Walsh, who have grown the craft beer side of the operation, expanding distribution of the Gold Star Golden Ale into local bars, retail stores, and 6-packs. The tasting room sits in the historic Star Brewery building along Star Brewery Drive, overlooking the Mississippi River. The Dubuque Shot Tower and the original Dubuque Star Brewery building stand about a tenth of a mile away, the Gavilon Main Terminal Dock sits roughly 220 metres from the door, and the Mississippi Riverwalk and Port of Dubuque neighborhood are each within a short walk. With a 4.4 rating across its reviews, the winery has built a steady local following for its wines, beer, and scenic riverside setting in the Port of Dubuque.