Soaring

for the past 20 years, Soaring Wings Vineyard and Brewing has served as a destination for entertainment, relaxation, and celebration. Owners Jim and Sharon Shaw have grown the family business into a venue known for concerts, award-winning wines and brews, and breathtaking views that overlook the hills of Springfield, Nebraska, just 10 miles south of Omaha. Now the Shaws are ready to retire and pass the baton on to new owners who will take Soaring Wings to the next level.

To New Heights

Jim Shaw has been a brewer for most of his life. When he and Sharon moved to Nebraska in 1998, they decided to take advantage of the state’s Farm Winery Act that encouraged the growth of vineyards and wineries across the state. In 2001 they found the ideal land in Springfield—close to Omaha, right off the highway, and “the view was unreal,” Jim Shaw said. When they approached the farmer, he agreed to sell for a reasonable price. “The farmer thought it’d be a hoot to grow grapes. It was a homerun.”

The name Soaring Wings was a tribute to Jim Shaw’s time serving as a pilot in the Air Force and his career as a commercial airline pilot. The Shaws planted their first vines in 2002, made their first wine in 2003, and opened the tasting