A prominent Texas wine maker was arrested Saturday and charged with a DWI and unlawful carrying of a weapon, according to jail records.
John Rivenburgh, the 50-year-old owner of Rivenburgh Wine in Kerrville and president of nonprofit Texas Wine Growers, was booked into the Kerr County Jail after his blood alcohol content was found to be almost double the legal limit.
His high BAC — more than or equal to 0.15% — escalates the DWI charge to a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by fines of up to $4,000 and up to one year in prison.
Rivenburgh’s charges carried $3,500 and $1,500 bonds and he was released the same day, records show.
The Kerrville Police Department told MySA that the wine maker was arrested after a traffic stop along the 100 block of West Main Street in Kerrville. The stop reportedly occurred around 11: 43 p.m.on Friday, March 20. A firearm was also found in his vehicle during the stop, leading to the second charge.
He was booked just after midnight Saturday.
Rivenburgh’s winery brand includes the Wine Incubator, Kerrville Hills Winery and Hill Country Spirits. Google lists Rivenburgh Wine as “temporarily closed.”
A LinkedIn profile with his name and identifying information reads, “Drink Texas, Texas!” The profile also details his past experience serving on the Texas Wine Advisory Council through the Texas Department of Agriculture from 2015 to 2021.