Pedernales estate harvest at Kuhlken Vineyards

We have heard some great things about the 2019 harvest this year in Texas. For what was expected to be an average harvest, it is turning out that the harvest is bearing more quality fruit and wineries are scrambling to find space for it.

Here is some information from some of the Texas Fine Wine wineries on the current harvest. As a reminder, Texas Fine Wine will be holding their 2019 Texas Fine Wine dinner at 4.0 Cellars on October 18. Last we heard, there were still tickets available so grab them fast from their website! Be sure to check the Texas Fine Wine website for future events too.

Julie Kuhlken – Pedernales Cellars

We got our last 15 tons of grapes last week. After a growing season that started cooler and wetter than usual, the hot dry weather that started in late June strained the vines and slowed their ripening. Though harvest started in both the Hill Country and High Plains more or less at the usual time, it proceeded much more slowly than usual. We brought in the last lot from Kuhlken Vineyard (Hill Country) in early September rather than mid-August. Because of the slow ripening, fruit came in at slightly lower brix than usual (12.5-13% ABV most likely), but good quality. Some lots that stood out were the Sangiovese and Touriga Nacional from Kuhlken Vineyards, both of which will likely end up in our estate blend (Kuhlken Vineyards Reserve), Syrah from Lahey Vineyards, Mourvèdre from Desert Willow Vineyards, and Carignan from Lost Draw.

Dave Reilly, Duchman Family Winery

Everything seemed pretty typical until a few weeks ago when clouds and cooler temperatures moved into the High Plains. Montepulciano and Aglianico are still hanging at Oswald Vineyard. We will be harvesting those last two varietals tonight and tomorrow as a freeze is expected Friday (Oct. 11). As far as quality, I would rate this vintage as excellent.

Ron Yates, Spicewood Vineyards

Weather has been tough this year with the wet spring, followed by really hot and dry conditions, which has slowed ripening. We are excited about some spectacular Tempranillo fruit from Rusty Dutton in Tahoka (Texas Vineyard Management).

The post 2019 Harvest Updates appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Fiesta Winery, with locations in Lometa and Fredericksburg, now has a beautiful tasting room in the historic Old Oak Square in downtown Marble Falls, located at 309 Main Street. Though we had visited earlier this year when it opened, we were delighted to return and meet the owners, Steve and Sally Baxter. According to Sally, this opportunity found them in a way and after deciding to open there, the whole Baxter family worked together to finish out the tasting room in a record two weeks, doing most of the renovations themselves. A large marble-topped tasting bar is backed by shelves of wine boasting beautiful labels designed by the Baxter family daughter, Savannah. The tasting room is managed by Patrice Streit who was as gracious and welcoming on our visit as the Baxters themselves.

A family labor of love, production in Lometa this year topped 30,000 cases. Winemaker Weston McCoury’s lineup includes six recent medal winners in the 2020 Houston Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition to include two Bronze medals, three Silver medals, and a Gold for the 2016 Tempranillo. Although Fiesta Winery is known for their sweet wines, there is a wine for every palate, and we found plenty of whites and reds, both sweet and dry, to try. Steve says that often customers will come in wanting a big, bold dry wine and leave with a couple of bottles of sweet wine.

Steve and Sally Baxter

Texas Whites include (medals listed from Houston Rodeo competition):

• 2018 Albariño (Bronze medal)
• 2018 Viognier
• 2018 Riesling
• 2018 Pinot Grigio
• Mustang Sally – a new release blend of all four white varietals
• Lime in the Coconut – a Sauvignon Blanc with citrus and tropical flavors
• Texas Well Water – Pinot Gris with white cranberry
• Happy Trails – Chardonnay and peach
• Skinny Dippin’ – Riesling and apple

Texas Reds:

• 2016 Merlot (Bronze medal)
• 2016 Tempranillo (Gold medal)
• 2016 Sangiovese (Silver medal)
• 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2017 Country Road – Tempranillo, Ruby Cabernet, Sangiovese, and Merlot blend (Silver medal)
• Heart of Texas Red – blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, and Souzão (Silver medal)
• Back Porch Sittin’ – Cabernet and blackberry
• Home Sweet Home – Red Zinfandel and pomegranate
• Texas Summer Night – Syrah and blueberry

Blush wines:

• Tex Way Rose – Dolcetto
• Chicky Baby – blush blend with berry and melon notes
• Rhinestone Cowgirl – Malbec and Pinot Gris
• Sandia – characteristic of watermelon
• Savannah Rose – white Merlot with strawberry notes

Sparkling wines:

• Texas Bubbles
• Southern Sparkle
• Smile, There’s Bubbly – sweet Moscato

Dessert wines:

• Smokin’ Gun
• Decadencia
• Dulce Ray

A canned wine selection (Tex Way Rosé and Lime in the Coconut) as well as gifts which include stemware, hats, T-shirts, and wine accessories are also offered.

The tasting menu is arranged by sweetness scale, in order from the driest to the sweetest, and wines are also color coded. Fiesta’s sommelier, Erin Green, has helped to make the menu of 28 wines easy to navigate with tasting notes that are designed to help customers find the wines they’ll love. Tastings are offered at the bar or at a private table in the expansive tasting room overlooking the shaded patio out front. For a set fee, five wines are offered, and a souvenir stemless glass is yours to take home. The tasting fee is waived if you purchase three or more bottles of wine. Wine discounts are offered to no-club members for 6 and 12 bottle purchases. Wines by the glass are also offered. A tasting room menu is available, pairing expertly with several wine choices, and includes:

• Roasted Pineapple Habanero or Raspberry Chipotle over cream cheese, served with crackers
• Gourmet Meat and Cheese plate
• Chips and Salsa

Events at the Marble Falls location include a Knotty Night and Wine Down where customers can learn quick and easy massage tips while sipping on Texas wine. Although wine club parties will not be held at the Marble Falls tasting room, you can pick up your wine club selections from that location. A three-tiered wine club is available with allocations four times per year and includes complimentary tasting and discounts on wine. Steve and Sally want their customers to feel as comfortable here as in their own homes – and this new tasting room is the perfect setting for sittin’ and sippin’ while enjoying Texas hospitality!

The post Fiesta Winery Marble Falls appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Dilek Parr

Soul of the Land: A visit with Robb and Dilek Parr, December 26, 2019

A few years ago, I attended a comparison Tempranillo tasting at Lewis Wines on Wine Road 290 just west of Johnson City. We tasted 2012 Tempranillos supplied from Parr Vineyards in the Hill Country around Mason, Newsom Vineyards in the High Plains, Lost Draw Vineyards also in the High Plains, and a blend of the three vineyards. It was a great lesson of how the same grape grown in different places but made into wine by the same winemaker can have different nuances. Tempranillo wine is definitely one of my favorites and I remember specifically enjoying the one Duncan McNabb made from the Parr Vineyards’ grapes. This is one of the first events I remember that made me pay attention to where the grapes were grown.

Fast forward a handful of years and I’ve enjoyed Parr Vineyards’ grapes enough to take notice. During this time span, more and more vineyards are growing grapes for use in their own wineries. Robert and Dilek Parr are one of those vineyards. They planted their vineyard in 2006, had their first harvest in 2009, started making small batches of wine in 2015, and began their wine production in 2018. This year they opened their winery in their little town of Mason about 10 miles from their vineyard. I eagerly watched for their opening date and we were able to visit the day after Christmas. We headed north on Hwy 87 about 45 minutes north of Fredericksburg and found their tasting room just off the square.

We stepped inside and found Dilek and Robb in their very cozy and comfortably decorated tasting room that used to be a wool and mohair sales warehouse, and then it was the Mason Feed Store for a while. Lots of photographs from their vineyard adorn most of the walls as well as a grapevine that had come out of one of the rows. We asked about it and Robb told the story of how it and many of its cohorts had contracted a fungal disease and was unable to recover. As these vines were being removed to be replaced, Dilek wanted it for the tasting room. It makes a great show and tell discussion item.

While we settled ourselves in a seating cluster of a couch and chairs, Robb mentioned how he had spent the morning in the vineyard working on a wind machine trying to figure out why it wasn’t working. Farming isn’t only about the plants; it’s also troubleshooting and fixing things.

Dilek busily set out wine glasses and introduced the first wine: 2018 Semillon. Semillon is a white wine grape that originated in Bordeaux, France. This wine reminded me of a mild Sauvignon Blanc.

As we enjoyed the Semillon, Dilek set out a beautiful charcuterie plate with a great variety of meats, cheeses, spreads, olives, and crackers. She also told us about a set of scales that they’d found while they were cleaning out the warehouse that she would like to clean up and put on display in the tasting room. As we continued to enjoy the wines Dilek poured, Robb explained his prior work life was in engineering. This undeniably comes in handy when things need to be done around the vineyard, now the winery, while troubleshooting and fixing things as it seems something is always needing to be done.

One of my favorite things about visiting wineries “off the beaten path” is they normally aren’t crowded, and we usually get to sit and visit with the owners during the tasting and hear about their story and their plans. That was absolutely the case on this day with the Parrs. We got to hear about their grapes and their winemaking program. We talked about how things were going in the vineyard and how Dilek wanted to highlight the vineyard through photographs on their wine labels. We totally wine geeked out as we discussed vine spacing, bud break, and pH numbers at harvest. We talked about weather in the vineyard and also how the soil plays a part in the health, growth, and flavor of the grapes.

Olive oils

As Dilek poured wines, she would also bring another snack pairing item to the table. One thing she was very proud of was her herb infused olive oils. She kept them in decorative jars on a shelf behind the tasting bar. She served this with a lovely French bread in between the 2016 Touriga and the 2015 Mourvèdre.

The wines available at the time we were there:

• 2018 Semillon
• 2018 Mourvèdre Rosé
• Wild Child, a luscious red blend of Touriga, Tempranillo, Cabernet, Graciano, Mourvèdre, and Viognier
• 2018 Tempranillo Joven
• 2016 Touriga
• 2015 Mourvèdre
• 2015 Touriga

Rob Nida is their winemaker and he has taken the estate grapes on an amazing journey from the vineyard to the glass.

We had a great time visiting with Robb and Dilek, and we look forward to coming back and spending another day in Mason when we can visit these amazing people, a couple more places, maybe shop the square, and find a cute place for dinner. I’d also love to take the short drive out to the vineyard and witness where some of the Hill Country magic happens.

Robb Parr, Laurie, Dilek Parr

Don’t be afraid to wander out of your way in order to add to your wine adventure.

The post Parr Vineyards – Winery appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

This past December my wife and I were looking for something to do for her birthday in February when we received an email from Texas Hill Country Wineries about their Wine Lovers Celebration Passport. It was perfect timing! Our last trip to the Texas Hill Country was almost a year ago (read about it here). My wife, daughter, and I were due for a trip back to one of our favorite places.

Texas Hill Country Wineries runs four Passports throughout the year. The Passport passes allow visitors to receive a free tasting at any of the participating wineries. The participating wineries change a bit for each Passport event, but there are typically forty or so participating wineries in each event. There is a maximum of four winery visits per day, but the Passport is good for a few weeks. We used a traditional paper Passport book, but the Passport is going digital for the Wine & Wildflower Journey Passport, which starts in late March. We found that most participating wineries served their regular full tasting flight for Passport participants, while a few had special Passport flights.

Becker Vineyards

We packed up our car and left our home in Houston on Sunday morning and started our drive to Fredericksburg. We made a stop for lunch and to stretch our legs, then stopped at Becker Vineyards in Stonewall for our first winery visit. I was a little apprehensive about visiting Becker on a weekend afternoon since they are known to pull big crowds. It all worked out well though. The staff had our Passport book ready for us moments after we arrived. The tasting room and outdoor tasting bars were well staffed, so we never had to wait more than a minute or two for a tasting pour. The weather was great, so many of their guests were enjoying their expansive outdoor space. After being cooped up in the car for hours, our now two-and-a-half-year-old daughter was ready to get the wiggles out by exploring the property.

My wife and I focused on Becker Vineyards’ varietal wines in our tastings. I hadn’t tried their Carignan yet, and it was a standout for me during this visit. We tried the following Becker wines:

• 2017 Counoise
• 2017 Cinsaut
• 2017 Carignan
• 2017 Dolcetto Reserve
• 2016 Grenache Reserve
• 2017 Petite Sirah Reserve
• 2017 Cabernet Franc Reserve
• 2017 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – Canada Family Vineyard

We then made our way into Fredericksburg where we checked into our cottage at the Hoffman Haus. We’ve always had great stays there, and the cottage we stayed in during our visit last year worked out perfectly as our home away from home. Our final stop for the day was for dinner at West End Pizza, our favorite pizza place in Fredericksburg. West End Pizza fans take note, they are moving to East San Antonio Street mid-2020.

Pedernales Cellars

We began our Monday winery visits at Pedernales Cellars. We hadn’t been there in a few years, so it was great getting to try the latest vintages of some of their wines. Their Carignan is new to Pedernales Cellars and is made in a nouveau style with minimal aging before bottling. It is an enjoyable addition to Pedernales Cellars’ line-up. I found it interesting that I had very memorable Carignan wines at back-to-back wineries as we started our trip.

The Pedernales Cellars tasting menu included:

• 2017 High Plains Vermentino
• 2017 High Plains Viognier Reserve
• 2018 Over the Moon Rosé
• 2019 La Pradera Carignan
• 2016 High Plains Tempranillo
• 2016 Tempranillo Reserve
• 2016 Family Reserve (Tempranillo and Malbec led blend)

Kuhlman Cellars

Our next stop was just down the road at Kuhlman Cellars. Kuhlman offers their regular tasting flight for Passport visitors, but they also allow upgrades to one of their food and wine pairings. My wife and I upgraded to the Casual Pairing, which includes four pairings of one of their wines with a bite matched to it created by their culinary team. After our visit, we see the upgrade as a must-do. It gave us a better appreciation for their wines, the pairings were thoughtful, and the bites were very good.

Our Casual Pairing flight included:

• 2018 Estate White (Marsanne and Roussanne blend) with a smoked salmon mousse
• 2018 Hensell (rosé of Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan) with pomegranate goat cheese on a beet cracker
• 2017 Marl (red blend) with Kuhlman’s famous herbed almonds
• 2016 Barranca (red blend) with brisket sausage topped with a drunken mushroom and sweet potato butter

Lost Draw Cellars

After an afternoon break we made a visit to Lost Draw Cellars for our last winery visit of the day. We enjoyed all of the wines with the Texas High Plains Mourvèdre being our favorite. The staff let us know that Lost Draw Vineyards is the biggest grower of Mourvèdre in Texas, so it makes sense that they are doing great things with that grape. We always seem to learn something interesting about Texas wine from the Lost Draw folks.

Our Lost Draw tasting flight featured:

• 2018 Grenache Rosé
• 2018 Gemütlichkeit (100% Riesling for this vintage)
• 2018 Albariño
• 2017 THP Mourvèdre
• 2018 Tempranillo
• 2018 Grady (Mourvèdre, Tannat and Malbec red blend)

To be continued in Part 2.

The post 2020 Wine Lovers Celebration Trip to the Texas Hill Country – Part 1 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

This is the continuation. Be sure you read Part 1.

We began our Tuesday at Old German Bakery & Restaurant to pick up some pastries for later in the day. Pastries for lunch is totally fine when on vacation. Our first tasting room stop was at Bingham Family Vineyards – Fredericksburg. Bingham has become a must stop for us. The quality of the wines is excellent and are some of the better values among the wineries in the area. While Bingham Vineyards wasn’t part of the Wine Lovers Celebration Passport, they will be participating in the Wine & Wildflower Journey Passport. Bingham offers several tasting flight options. My wife and I split two flights.

Bingham Family Vineyards

The first was the Red Wine Tasting flight, which includes:

• 2018 Turnrow (Mourvèdre and Dolcetto blend)
• 2016 Dolcetto
• 2017 Dolcetto
• 2017 Tempranillo
• 2017 Dirt Farmer (Tempranillo, Merlot, Carignan, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon blend)

We also tried the Taste of Gold flight which includes all Gold Award winning wines. This flight included:

• 2018 Cloudburst (Trebbiano, Albariño, Vermentino, and Roussanne blend)
• 2017 Windmill (Roussanne and Viognier blend)
• 2016 Dolcetto
• 2017 Dugout (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot blend)
• 2018 Reserve Moscato Giallo

Texas Heritage Vineyards

After concluding our visit to Bingham Vineyards, we made our first visit to Texas Heritage Vineyard.

During our visit we got to meet Jessica Allen, tasting room manager and daughter of owners Billy and Susan Johnson. Jessica shared that their family has over 12 acres of vines planted at their nearby vineyard, the partnerships they have formed with Hill Country and High Plains vineyards, and her family’s long history in the area. Be sure to check out the view from Texas Heritage’s back patio.

We had the opportunity to try:

• 2018 Time Traveler (blend of Roussanne and Viognier)
• 2018 Trebbiano
• 2017 Troubadour’s Edge (red blend)
• 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2017 Tempranillo
• 2017 Gotneaux Creek Alicante Bouschet (from the Gotneaux Creek vineyard in the Hill Country)

Ron Yates

Later in the afternoon we headed towards Johnson City with a stop at Ron Yates. I hadn’t had Ron Yates’ wines in a while, and I was happy to be able to try his latest wines. I like that Yates seems to explore the full winemaker toolkit, like using some new French Oak on the Viognier and taking the risk to use native yeast fermentation on the Tempranillo. Ron Yates did offer a special tasting flight for Passport participants.

The Ron Yates Passport flight featured:

• 2017 Viognier
• 2017 Sangiovese
• 2016 Amalgamation (red blend)
• 2017 Tempranillo

We also got to try the 2015 Acre Zinfandel and the 2016 Mourvèdre (Bingham Family Vineyards).

We had an early dinner at Bryan’s on 290, and everything was delicious. My wife had the Bryan’s half chicken with Gruyere Mac & Cheese. The Bryan’s half chicken is one of the best chicken dishes I’ve tried in years. I had the duck empanadas with a side of the grilled mushrooms. Our daughter, a connoisseur of French fries, ate most of an order of fries for dinner.

We spent some time on Wednesday morning driving around Fredericksburg looking at a lot of the pretty historic homes, then went to lunch at Emma and Ollie. We started with an order of the soft pretzels with pimento cheese dip, sort of like a Fredericksburg take on chips and queso. For our main course we had the pulled pork on a house made beignet. Being from New Orleans, even I pause at the idea of a savory beignet dish, but it was excellent. One can’t stop at Emma and Ollie without baked goods, so we got a few of those giant cookies to go.

Wedding Oak Winery

Wednesday was turning into a slow day, and we needed it since we were on the move so much since beginning our trip. We still wanted to make at least one wine stop, so it was off to Wedding Oak Winery at Fredericksburg tasting room later in the afternoon. Wedding Oak offers four different tasting flight options, covering red and white wines, all dry reds, all dry whites, and an option that includes some of their off-dry and semi-sweet wines.

I opted for the all dry red wine flight which included:

• 2015 Terre Rouge (a Rhone-style red blend)
• 2017 Sangiovese
• 2017 Tioja (Tempranillo and Grenache blend)
• 2017 Tempranillo Reserva
• 2016 Texedo Red (100% Dolcetto).

I continue to have a soft spot for their Tioja. Texas Wine Lover recently featured an interview with Wedding Oak winemaker Seth Urbanek. Check it out here.

On Thursday morning it was time to pack up and head back to Houston. We hadn’t made our stop in Hye yet, so we timed things to get to Hye Market for lunch. We really like their sandwiches which are made from top-notch ingredients, and the old Hye Post Office is such a cool setting.

Hye Meadow Winery

We had time for one last winery visit, so we went right next door to Hye Meadow Winery. My wife has an affinity for wines made from Italian grape varieties, and Hye Meadow does great things with these grapes. Hye Meadow has a beautiful outdoor space, but we were stuck with a cold and dreary day. We hope to visit again when there is better weather and when we have more time.

Hye Meadow’s tasting flight included:

• 2017 Trebbiano
• 2017 Junkyard White (white blend)
• 2016 Boooom (Negroamaro, Montepulciano, Aglianico, and Sangiovese red blend)
• 2017 Barbera D’Hye
• 2017 Tempranillo

We left with a bottle of their Dolcetto and Barbera D’Hye. A perfect way to wrap up my wife’s birthday trip.

The post 2020 Wine Lovers Celebration Trip to the Texas Hill Country – Part 2 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

If you are looking to experience some California wine – in Texas – then a trip to the Hill Country may well be in order. California wines that are “to die for” are the specialty of Graveyard Vineyards‘ new tasting room on Bell Springs Road, just off Hwy. 290 in Dripping Springs.

Manager Adam Campbell-Taylor was sent to Texas on a mission from his parents, owners Rob and Paula Campbell-Taylor, to introduce their family’s California wines from their ranch in the Pleasant Valley area of Paso Robles (central coast of California) to Central Texas. The tasting room in Dripping Springs inhabits a metal building that has had many past lives, but its current situation is light-filled and cozy with plenty of leather couches, cowhide rugs, and wine barrels that make for a sweet window table for two.

We were given a friendly welcome by Adam and his newly-hired wine steward who let us share a free-pour tasting of eight award-winning wines, including:

• NV The Ascender – a sparkling French Colombard and Chenin Blanc blend, their most popular wine, with notes of honey and orange zest
• NV Paso Tombstone White – an everyday white with Italian Falanghina, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Muscat. Crisp with delicious notes of stone fruit, it’s the perfect summer porch wine.
• 2017 Reserve Chardonnay – a dry white with notes of vanilla featuring a smooth smokey finish
• NV Paso Tombstone Red – a blend of estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Petite Sirah. Think pie crust and jam – a popular all-around big red.
• 2017 Estate Syrah – notes of plum, earthy and smooth
• 2017 Malbec – spicy and velvety, with cherry and white pepper
• 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon – a dark scarlet gem with pomegranate and red current notes
• NV Deliverance – a port style dessert wine, this one is served with a tootsie roll, and tasted like a chocolate cherry Dr. Pepper – amazing and delicious!

Among the many awards racked up by the wines on the tasting menu were several from the Texas International Wine Competition, including silver for The Ascender, Paso Tombstone White, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Gold medals were awarded to the Reserve Chardonnay and Paso Tombstone Red, with a double gold for Deliverance. The winemaker for Graveyard Vineyards is Jason Bushong, who has been with the family since 2005 and has also created a Bushong Brand offering varietals not found in the family vineyard, but featured on the website. Adam Campbell-Taylor has plans to create a Texas wine, but is still mulling over the direction to take. Many of the estate wines not listed on the tasting menu are available for sale in the tasting room.

The estate winery name comes from a small cemetery on the property in Paso Robles comprised of an acre of land donated by the original landowner in the 1860s to The First Presbyterian Church. Originally part of a small town called Estrella, the now-named Pleasant Valley Cemetery is still cared for by volunteer members of the community. The Campbell-Taylors purchased the property in 2003 in Paso Robles and have five acres, planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, all harvested by hand and processed on site.

Graveyard Vineyards’ new tasting room is dog friendly and there are picnic tables outside should you bring your own snacks. There is a small gift section featuring wall signs, hats, T-shirts, and coffin shaped wine boxes. There are some games located just inside the front door if you decide to grab a bottle and stay awhile. A wine club is available which includes 6 or 12 bottles twice a year, complimentary tastings, limited release wines, and discounts on wine and merchandise.

Adam Campbell-Taylor

Though the tasting room has only been open for eight weeks as of this writing, the Skeleton Key Wine Club is available for new members. (Currently there is a wait list at the California estate with 2500 members.) With the purchase of two bottles of wine, a tasting fee was waived so we took home two of our favorites. And according to Adam, in the next two weeks the tasting menu will have new wines to try including 2017 Psycho Petite Sirah, 2017 Mortal Zin, and 2017 Scream. All of the wines we sampled were fantastic and we are looking forward to visiting again soon!

While exploring the newly opened Graveyard Vineyards in Dripping Springs, we couldn’t help but notice – there are TWO wineries, side by side, featuring California wines! We just had to venture next door to check out Parmeson Wines, a boutique winery making elegant California wines in small lots from growers in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Sonoma Valley. We were greeted at the door by our friendly wine steward, Kristin, but soon were joined by none other than Tom Parmeson, winemaker and owner.

From the tasting menu of seven wines, we chose the following four to share (which were generous pours) and received a little extra education from Tom:

• 2017 Pinot Noir, Jack Hill Vineyard (Sonoma) – a cooler climate means red cherry, cranberry, and cedar with soft tannins
• 2017 Pinot Noir, Wildcat Mountain Vineyard – a micro-climate of early morning fog and late morning breezes on the Sonoma coast leads to flavors of warm baked cherries, plums, and cherry cola. Note: same grape as the previous wine, different vineyards, and totally different wines!
• 2016 Zinfandel, Alegria Vineyard – old vines produce a beautiful wine with black cherry, stewed plum, and vanilla bean notes. This one is a blend of mostly Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet.
• 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Munselle Vineyard in Alexander Valley – blackcurrant pie, baking spices, vanilla with soft tannins

Those on the tasting menu that we did not try were:

• 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Indian Springs Ranch Vineyard
• 2018 Rosé, Sonoma (Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Malbec)
• 2016 Chardonnay, Josephine Hill Vineyard (grapes from two areas of the vineyard yielding different flavors)

We loved all of the wines, but the Wildcat Mountain Pinot Noir came home with us!

Tom got started in the winemaking business when he realized his passion for wine after a visit to California. Five years of working in the vineyards during harvest on his vacation time and many classes later, he was permanently hooked on the idea of making his own wine. He moved his young family from Houston to California to build relationships with the growers and winemakers of Sonoma and has never looked back. Tom has long-standing relationships with the growers he buys his grapes from, likening them to family.

Carved Stone Inc

In the summer of 2019, he moved his wife Katie and three sons back to Texas to open Parmeson Wine in Dripping Springs next to a stone cutting business that shares a small piece of land and a winding drive with the tasting cottage. Across from the cottage are cut stone statues and art that make for a delightful stroll with a glass of wine; he invited us to visit again and experience that at sundown.

Stone garden

Tom showed me around the small building that provides them with storage upstairs, as well as a small and intimate events room that also functions as a wine tasting room for groups of six or more. No food is available for purchase, but there is seating outside in a beautiful setting looking out over the sculpture garden. Parmeson Wine is dog-friendly, too.

Although Parmeson Wines has only been open since August of 2019, a quarterly wine club is offered with three or six bottle commitments along with discounts on wine purchases and logo merchandise, as well as club-only events and complimentary tastings. A six-bottle club is available for California wine club members.

Tom Parmeson

The California contingent in elegant wine is well-represented by Parmeson, and though we love Texas wines for all they bring to the table, this small family-owned winery makes for a sweet addition to our Central Texas wine explorations – we will be back!

We received the product for review and all opinions are our own.

By now we all know things are difficult in the United States and around the world with most of us under a stay at home order to fight the spread of COVID-19. At Texas Wine Lover (TWL), we are wine lovers in general and Texas wine lovers specifically. We want to support the Texas wine industry. At the same time, many Texas wineries are being creative to allow us to enjoy Texas wine while also enabling us to support them. Several are holding virtual tastings where you can order the wine from them and then taste along with them. Several are also offering specials and/or free shipping during this time with a minimum order. For an extensive list see here.

Whether they are getting “stimulus” money or are simply in a position to do so, many have expressed interest above and beyond normal in supporting Texas wine. Additionally, others are supporting wineries small and large all over the world. We whole-heartedly support this.

In this spirit, we want to preview an Instagram virtual live tasting experience that will be hosted by Perissos Vineyard and Winery (@officialperissosvineyards) on April 23, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. This tasting experience will feature their just released 2017 Cabernet Sauvignons. Both Cabs are sourced from Nogalero Estate Vineyard in the Texas High Plains and were produced and bottled by Perissos’s owner Seth Martin and team. The difference between the 2017 Cab and the 2017 Reserve Cab is the reserve was aged in oak an additional year.

Can you get these bottles for the 23^rd Instagram tasting? Yes, depending on when you’re reading this, there may be time to order the wines. Perissos is offering bundle pricing for a limited time on these Cabs. Visit Perissos’s website to get yours.

Who will host the virtual tasting? Perissos Vineyard and Winery will be hosting the virtual tasting most likely with a special guest or two. Tune in to find out.

What are the Perissos 2017 Cabs like? As I’ve mentioned many times on TWL when reviewing or commenting on wines, I’m not a sommelier or even pretend to be one. I just share my impressions. With that in mind, I’ve only opened the Reserve bottle at home and that was several weeks ago. My impression was that it was more “old world” in style. Not a “California fruit bomb” but an elegant balance of fruit, perceived dryness, and nice tannins. A structurally sound Cab. A really enjoyable wine in my opinion.

If you want something to do during this “lock down” go ahead and head over to Perissos’s website and get a bundle of the 2017 Cab and 2017 Reserve Cab to enjoy on the 23^rd during the live virtual tasting on Instagram. If you read this too late for the live tasting grab the bundle for a private tasting of your own.

Photos by Jeremy Wilson.

Late last year, the United States Department of Agriculture released a report on grape production in Texas in 2019. The report provides little in the way of analysis, but a few high-level findings are included:

• Texas wine grape growers produced 14,180 tons of grapes, an increase of 22% over 2017
• Bearing acres were up 11% from 2017 from 4,541 to 5,020
• The total value of wine grape production was estimated at $22.7 million, an increase of 20% over 2017

These data were collected from growers on acreage, production, and price for the 2019 crop. The Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association assisted with promotional efforts.

The report includes details on each wine grape growing region of Texas (High Plains and Panhandle, North Texas, Southeast Texas and Gulf Coast, Hill Country, and West Texas). For each region, the report lists every variety planted, bearing and non-bearing acres, production tons, and yield per bearing acre. I used this information, plus reports from 2017 and 2015, to look for trends in vineyard plantings and wine production. I conducted my own analysis to answer some important questions about the growth and diversity in Texas vineyards.

What grape varieties are Texas growers planting?

Since 2015, Texas has added approximately 1,220 bearing acres of vineyard. The largest additions have been from Mourvèdre (173 acres), Cabernet Sauvignon (170 acres), Tempranillo (120 acres), Sangiovese (99 acres), Tannat (92 acres), and Blanc du Bois (75 acres). No other varieties have come close to this growth. Red grapes varieties have far surpassed white in added bearing acres. In fact, white grape varieties have been responsible for fewer than 175 of the added 1,220 acres bearing fruit.

The varieties with decreasing acreage since 2015 are Sauvignon Blanc (57 acres), Chenin Blanc (55 acres), Muscat (55 acres), and Muscadine (41 acres).

Where are the new plantings?

Since 2015, bearing acres have increased 82% in the Texas High Plains and 11% in North Texas. Bearing acres have decreased in Southeast Texas and the Gulf Coast (down 27%) and in the Texas Hill Country (down 8%). Vineyard acreage in West Texas remains unchanged.

What are the Top 10 most planted red grape varieties in Texas?

Statewide, the most planted red grapes (listed in order) are Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese, Black Spanish, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Tannat. Cabernet Sauvignon plantings make up 17% of all red grape plantings in the state. From 2015 to 2019, Mourvèdre had tremendous growth from 77 to 250 bearing acres (+224%) and from 210 to 950 production tons.

The list of the top 10 grapes in Texas has been consistent with only slight movement since 2015 with one exception. Tannat replaced Zinfandel in the #10 spot in 2019.

Outside of the top 10, the state saw big growth in Alicante Bouchet (+322%), Touriga Nacional (+283%), Petite Sirah (+267%), and Cinsault (+250%).

What about white grape varieties?

Blanc du Bois, Viognier, Muscat, Chardonnay, Riesling, Roussanne, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc have been among the top 10 grapes in the state since 2015. Albariño is currently on the list, but that spot has also been held by Orange Muscat (2015) and Gewürztraminer (2017).

Blanc du Bois, in the #1 spot, makes up 15% of all productive white grape vineyards in the state. In 2015, both Muscat and Viognier had more bearing acres than Blanc du Bois. Blanc du Bois leapfrogged both of them in the 2017 report. 40% of the Blanc du Bois in the state is planted in Southeast Texas and the Gulf Coast.

Watch for Vermentino (+286%), Semillon (+73%), and Trebbiano (+71%). Although these varieties are not in the top 10, bearing acres are increasing.

Within the top 10 list, Albariño (+5600%), Roussanne (+53%) and Riesling (+49%) have grown most in bearing acres. Albariño wasn’t even on the list in 2015, so it had a tremendous percentage growth although it remains at a modest 57 bearing acres in the 2019 report. Sauvignon Blanc (-57%) and Chenin Blanc (-55%) both have declined substantially yet remain on the top 10 list.

Is the number of grape varieties planted in Texas growing or shrinking? Why does it matter?

It appears that the number of grape varieties planted across Texas has increased since 2015. There are 58 grape varieties on the 2019 grape varieties report, plus an unknown quantity lumped in the “Other/Unknown” category. Twenty varieties are white, and the remaining 38 are red. There were 26 on the 2015 report, plus “Other/Unknown.”

New red varieties included on the 2017 and/or 2019 reports include Sagrantino, Teroldego, Negroamaro, Carmenere, Sousão, and Graciano. New whites include Albariño, Marsanne, and Pinot Blanc.

A 2011 California Department of Agriculture report showed that 93% of Northern California appellations’ grapevines were planted to just eight popular grape varieties. This realization led to an effort to diversify plantings in hopes of encouraging consumers to drink other varieties outside of these Big Eight and of encouraging grape growers to replant these underappreciated varieties. A recent study indicates that California vineyards are indeed diversifying. The “Big Eight” have expanded to include a ninth variety. Further, those nine varieties now occupy just 88% of vineyard land, not 93%. Source SevenFifty.

By comparison, Texas has 34 grape varieties that make up 93% of its bearing acres. The top planted grape in Texas, Cabernet Sauvignon, still only makes up 12% of total productive acres. Consider this: more than 25% of Texas vineyards are planted to grapes that are not in the top 10 of red or white grapes by bearing acre. It seems that Texas is doing a good job at maintaining space for experimenting with new varieties and for small production wines. Texas consumers are becoming more familiar with grapes outside the familiar international varieties as well.

Why is this important?

Texas has a relatively new modern wine industry, and grape growers and winemakers are still determining the best use of its vineyard land. It’s that spirit of discovery that makes this state one to watch.

Understanding the complex Texas wine industry is never-ending challenge, but one I relish. Dissecting the grape variety reports led to fascinating findings, but brought up even more questions:

• Will Texas continue to experience the remarkable 32% growth reflected in these reports (in bearing acres between 2015 and 2019)?
• What varieties will emerge as top 10 contenders in the next report?
• Will white grapes varieties (as a whole) pick up after a period of stagnant growth?
• Will Texas growers start to develop a consensus opinion on what grows best and where?
• What trends are evident by region?

Back to the data I go…Stay tuned!

“If we have data, let’s look at data. If all we have are opinions, let’s go with mine.”
-Jim Barksdale, former Netscape CEO

The full reports are available here: 2019, 2017, 2015.

By Melanie Schwartz

Texas Hill Country wineries are reopening, but things are far from what they were before the pandemic. There are all kinds of rules for social distancing and every winery and restaurant is responding to them in their own way, depending on how their space configured. To accommodate the new rules, businesses will be operating at reduced capacity for the foreseeable future. They will only be able to accept so many visitors; it’s possible you could get turned away.

This state of flux means each winery’s hours and offerings are subject to change, making what used to be a carefree outing harder to plan. That’s where we come in. We are Booker & Butler, a private concierge serving Hill Country visitors. We find accommodations, book wine tastings, line up drivers and chefs, and make spa and restaurant reservations. Whatever you want, we make it happen, even with all the Covid-related challenges.

You might be thinking, What can a concierge do for me that I can’t do for myself? Fair question. After all, there are endless blog posts and magazine articles on the subject. A Google search of “What to do in Hill Country” yields over 2,030,000,000 results. And your social media feed is likely overflowing with winery hospitality pics. Clearly, there is no shortage of ideas. But that’s not really the point if what you need is a plan.

So, who needs a concierge? Anyone who values their time.

It’s important to note that Booker & Butler is not a tour company. We have no set itineraries, nor do we accompany you on your journey. Instead, we tailor everything to your specific needs and wants. Whether it’s a girl’s getaway, a weekend retreat, a birthday or an anniversary celebration, we put together customized itineraries so you can travel confidently on your own. With your travel arranged, your reservations made, and your itinerary mapped, you’re free to enjoy your Texas Hill Country adventure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit all of us hard. One of the most heavily hit businesses in Texas though are Texas wineries. Once Governor Greg Abbott decided that wineries were just like bars and issued Executive Order GA-28, the tasting rooms were forced closed and new business models had to be developed to help pay the bills. Online sales drastically improved along with offering curbside pickups for those customers who lived near wineries. TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) helped some months later by offering the ability for wineries to change their business model even more so they could meet the less than 51% of total sales from alcoholic beverage sales. Wineries then enhanced their existing kitchens to become more of a restaurant and third parties like food trucks were allowed to be counted toward the sales too.

Some wineries helped found the new Political Action Committee (PAC) called Save Texas Wineries. The goal is stated as: “It exists to support candidates and officeholders who share our vision of a Texas with laws that promote rather than inhibit the growth and prosperity of the Texas wine industry and to encourage public support of the industry and related businesses.” Consumers and businesses are invited to be involved with sharing the word especially that Texas wineries are not like bars. Customers come to winery tasting rooms to learn about the agriculture side of Texas wines and leave buying bottles of wine. The purpose is not to come to a winery tasting room and hang out all day (or night) like a bar. Unfortunately, it takes money to help with public relations and other costs, so donations are being accepted. Please check out #SaveTexasWineries.

I have been working remotely at home since March 13th, hmm…Friday the 13th. Maybe that was a sign of the things to come. I rarely ventured out of the house except for things like groceries and a couple short day trips. Gloria, along with her brother Lucho and wife Patricia, were getting antsy to get out and visit the Hill Country again. With everyone getting used to taking precautions by wearing face masks, social distancing, and more, I agreed to take the chance. Gloria’s cousin, Tony along with Suzy from New Mexico, joined us for a Labor Day weekend trip to the Texas Hill Country.

The first thing I realized after all these months is during these times especially, you really need to check with each winery you are thinking about visiting to understand their new rules and operating hours. Some only take appointments now and a lot have different operating hours. Be sure to do your research first by using tools like the Texas Wine Lover winery map, winery Facebook pages, and winery websites. If you find this all too difficult, then use a service like Booker & Butler which is a new concierge service to Texas and will help you plan your trip.

After weeks of planning and contacting wineries to confirm times and make appointments, I came up with a plan of wineries to visit. We had not been to the Hill Country in 2020 and there were a lot of new wineries or changes to wineries that we hadn’t seen yet. That was the primary focus for our trip, and we headed out early Saturday morning of Labor Day weekend from Houston. Our first stop is always Buc-ee’s for a short break, but especially to buy beef jerky for the trip. That keeps us going on the way to the different wineries.

Adega Vinho

We arrived at our first winery Adega Vinho in Stonewall. A lot of people had mentioned the winery on social media, and we couldn’t wait to visit. Rob Reynolds greeted us and since we had made an appointment, a location was already set up for us. Aleida Elwell led our tasting along with information about the winery and wines from co-owner Andy Bilger.

Andy Bilger

The winery likes to focus their wines on Portuguese varietals and so the winery name Adega Vinho is actually Portuguese. I learned the pronunciation of Adega but am still struggling with Vinho. I need to say that looking throughout the tasting room, everybody was socially distanced from the other groups and face masks were being worn until actually tasting. Our group was impressed with the wine selection and the quality of the wines which already includes winners from international wine competitions. The selection of wines included two whites, three rosés, and seven reds. Of course, foods are offered like a charcuterie tray. Also nice are tastings-to-go that allow you to buy small taster-size containers to bring home and taste there. It was a great start to the long weekend!

Kalasi Cellars

Next up was Kalasi Cellars in Fredericksburg. I have been waiting for them to open for awhile now after meeting owners Greg and Nikhila Narra Davis at the TWGGA (Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association) annual conference years ago.

Greg and Nikhila Narra Davis

Narra Vineyards was first planted in 2014 and currently provides all the grapes for the winery’s wines. A small vineyard of Teroldego was planted this year at the winery. The winery has two labels of wines: Heritage Collection and Reincarnated Collection. Heritage are wines we all know like Malbec, Sangiovese, and Roussanne. Reincarnated are wines that aren’t as well-known, but we will still love like Carménère and Teroldego. We look forward to visiting again after the winery has been open longer.

After a quick stop to Andreucci WineRoom to buy some Prosecco, we went to our next appointment at Slate Mill Wine Collective. Slate Mill is in the old location of 1851 Vineyards and has made tremendous changes since then. I made appointments for a tour which includes some wine sampling and was pleasantly surprised when we learned co-owner Randy Jones would be giving our group the tour.

Randy Jones

Another couple joined the six of us and we toured the production facility, crush pad, and then the barrel room. It was interesting hearing Randy describe the goal of Slate Mill Wine Collective and how they have multiple winemakers making the different labels offered at the winery. We then enjoyed a tasting of a few wines including some barrel samples. Randy described their other winery currently under construction, Slate Theory Winery, and how that will be located on U.S. 290 at the former Torre Di Pietra location. We all enjoyed the wines and will definitely make a point to return in the future.

Most wineries at this time were closing on a Saturday and I had expected us to have dinner at Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa. Along the way back to Carter Creek though, we decided to stop at Hye Cider Company and do a tasting since Tony and Suzy said they liked cider. We started a tasting with co-owner Travis Graham and then I learned they meant real apple cider that is not fermented. Oh well. They and all of us still enjoyed the cyser (apple and honey fermented) tasting while watching people enjoy the food purchased at the adjacent Hye Thai food truck.

At Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa, the restaurant at the resort was open along with being able to have their wine and beer along with dinner. Due to COVID-19, dining was outdoors on the patio where people could remain socially distant. After placing our order at a desk, we were directed to our table on the covered patio. The staff told us ahead of time that they were a little backed up so there would be a delay, and we enjoyed a bottle of Tempranillo while we waited for our food. When the food arrived, none of us was disappointed as it was very tasty. The dinner and wine were a nice ending to our first day back in the Hill Country.

Sandy Road Vineyards

On Sunday, I had previously made an appointment at Sandy Road Vineyards for noon. I knew the winery does not have a tasting room and they do their tastings in a treehouse adjacent to their vineyard, but I did not mention that to the others. We had taken two cars and when we drove along the road with the treehouse in the distance, I was wondering what the others were thinking. I soon found out as we got out of the cars and they loved it! We met co-owners Reagan Sivadon and Bryan Chagoly who led us upstairs to the treehouse.

Reagan Sivadon and Bryan Chagoly

Everybody thought it was such an unusual and unique opportunity, and the tree itself made the day much cooler along with the breeze gently caressing the vineyard. Some of the wines the winery has are Roussanne, Sangiovese Rosé, Sangiovese, and Mourvèdre. Everyone kept raving about the experience in the treehouse along with the excellent wines. In fact, Lucho and Patricia joined the wine club. Definitely make your appointment to visit Sandy Road Vineyards.

Arrowhead Creek Vineyard

We then headed back into Stonewall to visit Arrowhead Creek Vineyard. The sun had started shining brightly and we were getting hot walking from the parking lot trying to find the tasting room. People were outside under a pavilion enjoying live music. When we found the buildings, we ran into co-owner Clara Aspra who I had previously emailed to learn of their hours. She led us around the building to the other side where the front doors of the tasting room are located. Arrowhead Creek has two options for tastings, and we all selected option two with some slight modifications. The wines are from Texas and California, and they have a couple wines from their estate vineyard.

Another appointment was waiting for us, but since we had a little time, we stopped at Ron Yates, always a favorite, where a glass of wine was enjoyed by all.

12 Fires Winery

Our appointment was at 12 Fires Winery. 12 Fires doesn’t have a tasting room yet, but they have tables set up underneath trees outside a tasting trailer. We heard that normally service would be in the trailer but of course with the current pandemic, they are serving outside. We met co-owners Duke Meadows and Mike Nance who shared their vision of what will be coming in the upcoming years for 12 Fires Winery. We all plan on being there! The wines were very impressive, and everybody enjoyed them and the experience.

It was getting close to dinner time, but there was a little more time left, so we stopped at one of the few wineries open past 5 p.m. on a Sunday. Co-owner Daniel Kelada was serving people at Vinovium and we opted to share a bottle of sparkling wine to end the day of visiting wineries.

Busted Oak Cellars

Monday came and it was time to head back to Houston. I learned of another new winery on the way home and we decided to stop there. That was Busted Oak Cellars in Carmine, right off 290 east of Giddings. We found the winery and there are a couple log-style houses there forming the winery next to a two-acre vineyard. The decision was made to sit on the back patio. The group made separate decisions with some doing a tasting, some enjoying the sangrias, and some having a glass of wine. All was enjoyed while snacking on a delicious charcuterie board. Co-owner Sherrie Cooke was our tasting guide and she enjoyed sharing her wines with the group. Everybody had a wonderful time, and we vowed we would definitely be back.

That was our experience visiting Texas wineries during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Texas Hill Country. Every winery we planned on visiting was new to us and they are showing they will be a nice staple to the Texas wine industry. All wineries were serious in maintaining all the safety precautions during this time and we enjoyed many snack plates while sipping on some delicious Texas wines. I would suggest if you have been hesitant on visiting Texas wineries during these times, do your planning, be safe, and you will have an enjoyable time as always.

I frequent Fredericksburg often enough that friends consider me an unofficial local and reliable tour guide. Although my must do list is ever changing and always evolving, William Chris Vineyards (WCV) has remained a constant over the years. I first stumbled upon WCV with the predominant objective of supporting fellow Aggie alumni. Gig ’Em. What I didn’t realize originally was that I’d venture back repeatedly to taste amazing wine and soak up the dreamy atmosphere.

WCV has grown significantly over the years and the vibe in Hye is simultaneously kid friendly and romantic-day-date worthy. One of the most respectable and intriguing characteristics of William Chris Vineyards is that all their wines are 100% Texas-grown grapes. Under federal law, a wine can only be labeled with a state appellation of origin so long as 1) 75% of the grapes used to make the wine came from that state and 2) the wine was fully finished in the state of Texas. According to the WCV team, we should push for a stricter policy when claiming something to be truly Texan. You will notice all their labels display their personal war hymn: Real. Texas. Wine. Moreover, for many proud Texans, I believe that authenticity is an important characteristic for deeply passionate Texas wine lovers.

Along with many others, the Texas wine industry was impacted heavily by the government-mandated shutdowns across the state due to COVID-19. Without the option to welcome guests in person to experience the tasting room atmosphere or buy wine directly, it made business difficult to say the least. This forced many businesses, especially in the food and beverage industry, to get creative.

Although virtual happy hours, wine tastings, and Zoom events seem so common now, William Chris Vineyards was one of the first in the market to begin and build this concept throughout the pandemic. The tasting room is slowly opening back up – and visitors have options to once again spend time at the property – but if you’ve got a good thing going, why fix something that isn’t broken?

Our virtual experience was confirmation that they certainly have a good thing going. My fiancé and I have been tooting the Tannat horn for a while now, so when we saw that a WCV October virtual tasting highlighted their best Tannats, we didn’t hesitate to sign up. The process is simple. You sign up and pay online, the wine ships directly to your house, and the link for the live tasting shows up in your inbox.

The virtual tasting approach allows a unique opportunity to spend your afternoon with the owners and get a small look into their family, personalities, and philosophy about wine. As everyone settled in, the live Facebook hang out began with co-owners Chris and Katharine Brundrett’s two young daughters decked out in their Aggie gear serenading the crowd while dancing proudly with a large Texas flag. We continued the entire tasting with an environment that presented itself as a genuine opportunity to spend time with Chris and Katharine.

They focused less on the educational aspect of the wine and treated the experience as friends hanging out and sharing their love of wine together. The couple often engaged the audience by answering questions, presenting giveaways and sharing personal stories. Chris joked about his continuously greying-but-still-thankfully-there hair. Katharine, with her bright smile, discussed the excitement of being a soccer mom again after so many months of no sports. During these engagements, it became clear that the William Chris families have an abundance of meaningful relationships with many of the participants. We felt like a part of the tribe.

So, why Tannat? Despite Katharine’s playful disapproval, Chris refers to the Tannat grape as the bastard grape of Bordeaux. This was one of many instances were Chris and Katharine’s flirtatious relationship was highlighted. Tannat was historically grown in southwest France, but its more recent popularity emerged out of South America in Uruguay and is now considered the national grape.

I discovered this grape during a work trip to the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo, back in the summer of 2018. Upon my return to the states, I was delighted to find that Tannat was not only thriving in Texas, but that many Texas wineries were increasing their production of both Tannat and Tannat blends. Chris took some time during the beginning of the tasting to explain the extremely tannic characteristics of Tannat, which is almost implied by its name.

Here’s a breakdown of the wines in the order that Chris and Katharine presented them:

2019 Roussanne, La Pradera Vineyards. A popular white Texas grape, 90% Roussanne leads with strong tropical notes. The couple encouraged us to let the wine “warm up” by taking the bottle out of the fridge (or off ice) and allowing it to sit for 20-30 minutes. I was skeptical of letting white wine go lukewarm, but sure enough, it opened up and intensified the aromatics and mouth feel of the wine.

2015 Tannat, Lahey Vineyards. The first of our Tannat experience, the Lahey brought softer tannins, described as “big but not harsh.” Chris suggests it would pair well with fatty meats to help cut the tannins. He mentions, “We were extremely lucky to get these grapes as this is a killer vintage.” A fellow taster mentioned a boysenberry syrup although the wine is not at all sweet. Others mentioned getting licorice notes.

2017 Tannat, Timmons Estate Vineyard. Surprisingly for something so tannic, this wine leads with “blue fruits.” Katharine mentioned violets as well as blueberry and described it as elegant. Chris mentioned that two years ago you could not even drink it because it was so tannic, but now it’s smoother and softer. As are most good things in life, it was certainly worth the wait.

AND THE WINNER IS: 2017 Tannat, Hye Estate Vineyard

The Hye Estate was not only the WCV favorite, but many of the audience as well. This was not surprising to me as last time we visited we purposefully ordered the “local” Tannat. They are growing two blocks of Tannat vines right outside the tasting room, and this intrigued me because I had really only seen this grape grown in the Texas High Plains. While there, we enjoyed the 2013 Tannat, Hye Estate. This wine was described as having “edgier tannins” with tastes of brown sugar and molasses. A velvety approach to tannins with insane depth, Chris crowned this “the belle of the ball.” This was by far our household favorite, and one of the better Tannats we’ve had from Texas.

Final thoughts:

Tannat is a great “bang for your buck” wine. You will get a fruit forward wine with edginess that makes your typical Cabernet seem boring. Additionally, according to Chris, the life and texture of the Tannat will age gracefully over a period of the next 10 years.

Temperature does matter! The couple strongly suggests storing these wines under 70 degrees. All WCV wine is stored at 58 degrees and served chilled. Don’t forget to let that Roussanne warm up a bit to enjoy it at its finest.

The virtual tasting is a unique experience, even post-COVID life. I feel we got a total steal of a deal with the combination of the virtual experience and the price for the four bottles of wine. Additionally, they always provide a $20 discount for signing up early! A huge thank you to the William Chris Vineyards team, especially Chris and Katharine for welcoming us into their lives. I applaud the work you have done for your members and those who enjoy your wine. It was never hard to stay engaged with your team (and our favorite wines) during these already difficult times. I will continue to highly suggest WCV to anyone passing through Hye or the Fredericksburg area.

Overall, the tasting (beyond the incredibly delicious wine) allowed for a large group of people from all over the country to bask in a social wine experience with the people who know it best. It was an enjoyable way to spend our Saturday afternoon and to ultimately distract an Aggie from the yearly Alabama beat down.

It was announced effective immediately that William Chris Vineyards (WCV) and Lost Draw Cellars (LDC) have merged. With a shared vision and set of values, this merger is an evolution of a long history of close partnerships between WCV’s Chris Brundrett and LDC’s Andrew Sides, including the founding of Yes We Can Wine Sway Rosé, the Lone Star State’s first Texas-grown canned wine brand.

While the brands will maintain separate winemakers and portfolios, the merger will allow both operations to leverage an expanded array of tools to make wine more efficiently for their collective fans. More importantly, together, the companies will expand benefits across the teams, including comprehensive health insurance, wine education programs, and personal development training. Shared access to the best vineyards across the state will allow for more streamlined and efficient production practices while strengthening the merged company’s wine program as a whole.

“Andrew and I have been advocating for each other’s businesses and brands, as well as scouting vineyards together for years. It’s natural to bring our two companies together and provide more resources that will create an amazing place for our teams to work as we continue to share incredible, intentional, Texas-grown wines with the world. This merger just makes it all official. We have been talking about this move for a few years and almost had it wrapped up before COVID hit, but now we’re finally able to take this next step. Lost Draw Cellars is doing incredible work in the Texas wine industry, and we look forward to expanding our shared footprint in the overall North American wine landscape.” said Brundrett.

Added Sides, “The key ingredients here are our shared vision and values. At Lost Draw Cellars, we’ve always focused on the grape growing side of winemaking. We believe that expressing in the bottle what our vineyards are capable of here in Texas is the best way to continue gaining recognition and credibility, not just in the US, but worldwide. At the end of the day, the most important thing for us is to create a place where people are fired up to come to work and be part of something meaningful. We don’t want to just be in this industry, we want to help build, shape, and evolve it.”

William Chris Vineyards and Lost Draw Cellars are both leaders in producing 100 percent Texas-grown wine. Both vineyards pride themselves on producing premium, terroir-driven wines alongside a memorable, world-class experience. As part of the merger, the William Chris and Lost Draw brands and wine programs will remain distinct entities. The individual winemakers will remain in place and will have control over the wine being produced under each roof, and the wine clubs for each of the vineyards will also remain unchanged with independent benefits and releases.

The merger of William Chris Vineyards and Lost Draw Cellars will fall under a new parent company, William Chris Wine Company. In addition to Brundrett and Sides, who will take the lead on all day-to-day operations for the company, founding partners Bill Blackmon of WCV, along with Andy Timmons and Troy Ottmers of Lost Draw Cellars, will continue to hold advisory roles within the organization.

This announcement came along with the recently announced virtual tasting on Saturday, October 24th at 4 p.m. Chris Brundrett and Andrew Sides will be together on Facebook Live to share an incredible line-up of for the Texas Wine Month Special Edition Virtual Tasting.

If you join the virtual tasting on October 24th, you will have a chance to win 1 of 5 Texas Wine Month Prize Packs, and there are 2 left. This certificate includes:

• Library Tasting for 2 people at William Chris Vineyards
• Reserve Tasting for 2 people at Lost Draw Cellars
• Private Barrel Tasting for 2 with Chris and Andrew at “Miracle Mile” this fall (available dates will be shared on Oct. 24)

Wines for October 24th Virtual Tasting:

• William Chris Vineyards, 2018 Mourvèdre, Texas High Plains
• Lost Draw Cellars, 2018 Sangiovese, Alta Loma Vineyards
• Lost Draw Cellars, 2018 Tempranillo, Texas High Plains
• William Chris Vineyards, 2018 Hunter

BONUS WINE:

• Lost Draw Cellars, 2019 Counoise Rosé
• William Chris Vineyards, 2019 Roussanne, Texas High Plains

Shipping is included so order today from the William Chris website!

Fiesta Vineyard and Winery owners Stephen and Sally Baxter along with their children are using their expertise in hospitality to embark on their greatest adventure yet, the four-phase resort project Arch Ray. The ceremonial groundbreaking will take place on October 16th at the future location of the resort.

The Arch Ray resort is located about three miles from the Fiesta Winery 290 tasting room at 312 Schmidtzinsky Rd, Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

The winery will also be celebrating their 10-year anniversary in business on Saturday, October 17, at their Bend/Lometa location. Live music and delicious food will be happening all day!

• 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. – The Self Family Band
• 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Kristen Gibbs, the very talented Harpist

The much anticipated “Sippin’ on the Edge of the Hill Country” event (rescheduled from April) happened Saturday, October 24^th at Stoneledge Vineyard and Winery in Lometa. Admission included 10 tastings from five wineries and a souvenir wine glass. The event featured live music, food trucks, and some beautiful wines from Stoneledge, 7 Creeks Vineyard, Wedding Oak Winery, Texas Legato, and Torr Na Lochs.

The turnout was impressive, and people seemed to be having a great time! Upon our arrival, Stoneledge winemaker Meghan Brasington gave us a warm welcome and let us know that you could use your tastings tickets however you liked – at each of the wineries or just a few. Naturally we started at her table! Between my Hubby and I, we enjoyed all of the wines she and Vanessa were pouring:

• 2017 Tempranillo
• 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (my favorite!)
• 2017 Sangiovese (Hubby’s favorite)
• 2017 Isabella Rose (Sangiovese)
• 2018 Roussanne

Later we enjoyed a bottle of her 2017 Texas Red Pearl – a blend of 50/50 Tempranillo and Sangiovese while enjoying the views from the ledge. The next event at Stoneledge is The Great Guided Gobble, a Thanksgiving themed wine and food pairing on Nov. 13^th. (tickets on their website)

At the 7 Creeks table, Maggie poured:

• 2019 Roussanne
• 2019 Malvasia Bianca
• 2016 Alicante Bouschet
• 2017 Tannat

7 Creeks Vineyard has beautiful wines and knowledgeable wine stewards. Join them on Halloween for their Ghouls, Grapes, and Guitars event wearing your favorite 80’s fashions and listen to live blues music!

Next up was Wedding Oak Winery, poured by wine club manager, Diana. She was offering:

• 2018 Texedo Red (primarily Dolcetto)
• 2018 Bridal Blush (Muscat Canelli, Riesling, Orange Muscat, Trebbiano, with a touch of Tempranillo)
• 2019 Bridal Veil (Trebbiano and Chenin Blanc)
• 2018 Bridal Bliss (bubbly Muscat Canelli)

Being red wine drinkers, we really enjoyed the Texedo Red, but we love the concept behind the Bridal Suite wines at Wedding Oak. Next up, they are hosting Venison and Vino dinner and music nights November 6 in San Saba, and November 7 in Burnet.

The next table were two friendly ladies from Texas Legato pouring:

• NV Family Reunion (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot)
• 2017 Pinot Grigio
• NV Sweet Peggy Sue (sweet white wine)
• Dreamcicle (a sweet and sparkling dessert wine made for Texas Legato by Thirsty Mule Winery that tastes exactly as named)

Texas Legato has a lot of sweet wines, but they also make a couple of big, dry reds, and they have one of the friendliest tasting rooms we’ve ever visited! Legato will host the annual hunter’s welcome at the Lampasas HEB on November 6 and participate in the Christmas Wine Affair Trail.

Last, but not least, wine club manager Jessica of Torr Na Lochs (and her Hubby!) was pouring:

• 2017 Dolcetto
• 2017 Malvasia Bianca

It was great to try Malvasia twice at this event – there may well be a changeover to white wines in my future for a little something different! Torr Na Lochs will be hosting a Halloween movie night featuring Young Frankenstein with popcorn and candy, and will host the 4^th annual Sip N Shop on Nov. 14^th.

After sampling the wines, we enjoyed some Chicken and Waffles from Ray Ray’s Kitchen while we listened to live music under the pavilion. Bottle sales were offered at each table and you could enjoy them on site. There was plenty of seating just outside of the tasting room and on the ledge as well. Though the day had started out sunny, it was a somewhat overcast afternoon but that did nothing to dampen anyone’s spirits! A couple of gift vendors had tables set up outside of the tasting room and people were also playing horseshoes and sitting around a firepit. It was just a lovely afternoon spent tasting great wines, and one I’m hoping they will make a regular fall event!

View from the ledge

Rae Wilson is familiar with those rosé lovers who first discovered Dandy Rosé. Rae has gone on to also produce brands La Valentía and The Grower Project which is a collaboration with Andrew Sides of Lost Draw Cellars. All the wines made are 100% grown and produced in Texas. It is our pleasure to feature Rae Wilson as this month’s featured winemaker!

1. What did you do before becoming a winemaker (if anything)?

Before winemaking I was a musician and worked as a sommelier, then had a consulting business for restaurants and wineries.

2. What is the toughest challenge about being a winemaker in Texas?

It’s a young industry in a large state, so industry services are short, and logistics are tough.

3. Is winemaking an art or a science or both?

Definitely both. Coming from an artistic background, I approach it with a creative view, but science is of course a part of the process.

4. What is your favorite food and wine pairing?

Watching a wine’s expression change entirely due to the other flavors present and the environment in which it is experienced.

5. If you didn’t make wine, what would you do?

Design is a passion of mine. I’ve always had a sensitivity to physical space and a desire to interweave beauty and art into our everyday experiences.

6. What first attracted you to winemaking and how long have you been doing it?

After studying wines from all over the world, learning the production side was a natural next step for me.

7. What is the most common question you are asked as a winemaker?

What it’s like being a female winemaker, and although I understand it, I look forward to a day when there are enough women in this industry that the question is no longer necessary.

8. After a long day in the winery or vineyard, what do you do?

Enjoy food and wine with friends. There are few things that make me happier.

9. What’s the greatest part about being a winemaker?

Feeling connected to the ground under my feet and getting to create something that connects people to that and each other as they enjoy it.

10. What is your winemaking philosophy, that is, what are you trying to achieve with your wines?

I hope for the wines to tell a story and for them to convey a sense of place.

11. Anything else you would like to add?

I believe Texas has a very bright future as an emerging wine region on the world’s stage, and I’m grateful to be able to contribute to that.

Randy Hester of C.L. Butaud and I are opening a shared tasting room about 30 minutes west of Austin on Fitzhugh Road, which is also home to some nationally known producers like Treaty Oak Distilling and Jester King Brewery. We’ll be the only wine producers in the area, and we’re looking forward to offering an elevated Hill Country experience with tasting flights and farm to table food. Both Randy and I produce wines from 100% Texas grapes, and we’ll both continue doing our production out of Slate Mill Wine Collective in Fredericksburg.

4.0 Cellars, the unified tasting room, retailer, and wine club featuring Texas wine pioneers Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars, has relaunched as the Texas Wine Collective. The move allows them to take Texas wine to new heights through enhanced vintner collaboration, expanded tasting room capacity, new guest experiences, and the ability to develop innovative wine brands that express the region’s unique character.

Founded in 2010, 4.0 Cellars was created to provide the ultimate Texas wine experience by offering guests access to three award-winning wineries under one roof. In its first ten years of business, it has hosted over 250,000 guests in its tasting room in Fredericksburg.

Having established 4.0 Cellars as a cornerstone experience of the Texas Hill Country, the ownership teams of Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars decided to build upon that success. “I like to think that the McPherson family is one of the first winemaking families of Texas. My father started growing grapes in 1968 up on the High Plains,” said Kim McPherson, Owner and Winemaker of McPherson Cellars. “After the success of our McPherson brand, we were able take our customer experience to the next level with 4.0 Cellars.” The inspiration behind the relaunch is to “continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible when we work together, with an even more comprehensive tasting room experience, new brands, better resources, and more winemaking collaboration.”

This winter, Texas Wine Collective will add an additional 100 guest seats to its outdoor tasting space on the Fredericksburg Wine Road 290. It plans to utilize the expanded hospitality space to introduce fresh educational experiences. “We will implement Rhône varietal blending sessions, blind tasting seminars, and a selection of private wine and food pairings,” reports Dave Bryant, General Manager. The collective will also host “inspiration tastings,” in which guests taste Texas wines side by side with wines from some of the greatest regions in the world, including Napa, Bordeaux, and Rioja. “We want to know, and we also want our customers to know, how we stack up compared to the greats,” said Bryant. “The leadership team hopes that all of these improvements provide our guests with a complete Texas wine experience, from vine to cellar to table.”

Additionally, the collective will launch new wine brands crafted by the Texas Wine Collective team. “We have an amazingly creative team, and with our pooled resources we can be opportunistic with sourcing, vinification, and blending, which will allow us to handcraft wines we know our customers will enjoy, while still featuring our core brands,” said Bryant. With these innovative new brands, the group can highlight viticultural and winemaking techniques that are ideal for Texas ’unique terroir. “Comparatively, we have such a wealth of knowledge at our fingertips with these three winemaking teams. They represent decades of growing and winemaking that span many different varietals, soil types, and cellar methods in this young and burgeoning region,” Bryant continued. “With this new chapter, we will focus on turning those insights into new, high quality, and affordable wines for the consumer, by making calculated advancements with our winemaking techniques.”

Texas Wine Collective Founders Pat and Trellise Brennan, Gene and Judy Estes, Roxanne Myers, and Kim McPherson have been humbled and inspired by the growth of the wine industry in the Lone Star State. “Our region is at an exciting point in its development where we are gaining recognition on the national stage at both the trade and consumer levels,” says Roxanne Myers, President of Lost Oak Winery. “Our hope is that as the Texas Wine Collective we will add to that momentum with a best-in-class hospitality experience and innovative new wines crafted from the group’s collective knowledge.”

Texas wine industry luminary, John Rivenburgh, recently purchased Kerrville Hills Winery and he is transforming it into a winery incubator. That conversion allows Rivenburgh to realize one of his central career ambitions of fostering the development of highly talented winemakers. The celebrated winemaker is also releasing the first wine vintages made under his guidance.

The Kerrville Hills Winery incubator is now a home for winemakers to manage the capitalization of their business, learn winemaking techniques, and work in a collaborative environment. Kerrville Hills Winery differs from a custom crush facility in that member winemakers are intrinsically involved in all production aspects. It is akin to an educational think tank for collaboration, sharing ideas, and fostering creativity so various winemakers can make their best products. Rivenburgh provides project and program oversight, access to an industry network developed over 14 years, as well as winemaking guidance and mentorship.

“The wine industry is innately collaborative,” says John Rivenburgh, winemaker, and owner of Kerrville Hills Winery. “I benefited from the guidance of people in the industry when I started my career in winemaking and from many more industry friends when I launched my own label and consulting firm, Rivenburgh Wine. This experience helped me fully appreciate the need for a facility for consulting winemakers to make high-quality wine. I’m glad to have a role in it because I like teaching people, and I really like helping people succeed. Helping people achieve their goal of putting great wine in a bottle is a thrill for me.”

Kerrville Hills Winery incubator members include:

• Ab Astris Winery
• Antima Cellars
• Fly Gap Winery
• Kalasi Cellars
• Siboney Cellars

“Having a passion and a drive to make high-quality Texas wine is only the beginning,” says Barbara Lecuona, winemaker of Siboney Cellars. “Even with years of education and several years of hands-on experience, it takes a lot to build a winery and a label, not to mention the financial means to outfit a production facility. While we are in the process of building our own facility, we have made our wine in shared spaces. When our small wine label outgrew our space with friends at a boutique winery, we knew we had to take it to the next level by working with John Rivenburgh and his experienced team at Kerrville Hills Winery. Now I’m supported not only by John and his expert knowledge, but by his fantastic crew and by other Texas winemakers establishing great Texas labels. This wine-brain-trust fosters the shared quest to craft world-class wines, gain knowledge, explore, experiment, and pursue quality while providing access to the best equipment and practical experience.”

Before purchasing Kerrville Hills Winery, Rivenburgh widely planted the grape variety Tannat and created award-winning wines with it. Tannat, a grape grown widely in France and South America, is loved for its deep color and tannins that give wine structure and complexity. Rivenburgh helped plant dozens of acres of Tannat in more than 20 vineyards in the state. He is one of the first winemakers in Texas to win international awards with Tannat wines including the 2011 Tannat CM, Bending Branch Estate Vineyard which was awarded Double Gold, Texas Class Champion, Class Champion, and was named Top Texas Wine at the 2014 Houston Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition. In addition, he has won prestigious awards with Tannat wines from multiple wineries and vineyards such as Reddy Vineyard, Rustic Spur Vineyard, Texas Heritage Vineyard, 1851 Vineyard, Hoover Valley Vineyard, and Newsom Vineyards. This extensive development of Tannat has cemented his reputation as a leading innovative winemaker and viticulturist responsible for elevating its status to become a heralded varietal in Texas.

It is no surprise that Tannat is among the first new wines made by Rivenburgh at Kerrville Hills Winery a year after the purchase. New releases are:

• 2017 Tanat, Rustic Spur Vineyard, Texas Hill Country
• 2017 Sagrantino, Narra Vineyards, Texas High Plains
• 2017 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards, Texas High Plains

Each of the newly released wines are available online and at the winery.

A scenic drive down 290 just outside of Johnson City brought us to the secluded 12 Fires Winery on Durango Road, just between Carter Creek Winery Resort and Spa and 290 Wine Castle. Owned and operated by three A&M Corp of Cadets alumni, you might miss it if you weren’t looking for the sign. And you might even think you missed it entirely, tucked in as it is at the end of a caliche road.

Road to 12 Fires Winery

But find it we did, and we enjoyed the back story and the hospitality of co-owner Duke Meadows, “Thinker,” and his partners. Co-owner Mike Nance is the “Winemaker and Worker,” while co-owner Zach Huyge is the “Motivator” responsible for marketing and a strong fire logo that has meaning for A&M Alumni and a reference to lives lost in the Aggie bonfire collapse of 1999.

Duke Meadows

Duke walked us through a thorough tasting of 100% Texas wines from the current tasting menu:

• 2017 Albariño (Texas High Plains, blended with Orange Muscat)
• 2018 Blanc du Bois (Tara Vineyard, Athens)
• 2019 Blanc du Bois (Cat Spring Vineyards)
• 2018 Besito (Tara Vineyard, sweetened and delicate Blanc du Bois
• 2019 Besito (Cat Spring Vineyards)
• 2019 Soledad (Mourvèdre rosé from Buena Suerte Vineyards, Plains)
• 2019 Rosè of Black Spanish (Kiepersol Vineyard, Tyler)
• 2017 Malbec (Sprayberry Vineyards, Midland)
• 2019 Mourvèdre (Bingham Family Vineyards, Plains)
• 2017 Tempranillo (High Plains Vineyard, 25% Tannat blend)

Wine tasting outside

A tasting is six wines, but the two of us experienced a total of eight different wines at a table under shady oaks. There is also a small tasting bar located in a colorful refashioned shipping container.

Shipping Container Tasting Room

We enjoyed all of the wines (both Rosé wines were amazing) but left with a 2018 Besito and the 2017 Tempranillo—both popular choices at the winery as well. According to Duke, the reds sold out the first year they were open, in 2018. Mike’s Special Blend, a 2017 mulled red wine, was also available by the glass. 12 Fires also has a Winter Whites Special, six-pack or case of 2018 Blanc du Bois and Besito, and a discounted price on a case of 2017 Malbec.

12 Fires is still growing—plans for winery expansion include a Grand tasting Room, a Tasting Cave, a terrace, event venue, a Barrel Tunnel, and Bungalows. Currently they are storing wine at Adega Vinho in Stonewall, Ron Yates is selling their 2018 Besito, and you can find them at a couple of businesses in College Station near the university.

View from the shipping container

Currently there are two acres which were planted in 2018 with a 2/3 Mourvèdre and 1/3 Albariño split. Duke says they will harvest their own grapes to use by the fifth year mark. They have three standard levels of wine club with discounts on wine, merchandise, free glasses or tastings, and access to new releases. But their Legacy Club Levels go much further with the chance for members to help them from the ground up, becoming an integral part of the winery’s growth, and enjoying years of wine club benefits. (Full details can be found on their website)

There is no food listed on the tasting menu but check with 12 Fires before you bring outside food. Reservations are not required, and they can also ship wines. Their website has a gift shop with gear ranging from shirts and hats to yoga pants and fleece blankets. Take the detour just off the beaten path and say howdy to Duke, Mike, and Zach while you sip 100% Texas wine from a winery with big plans!

We passed through Johnson City, wanting to see if the Alex Anthony Vineyards tasting room was open—yes! Nestled inside a white stone Texas historical building just across from the courthouse we met Darrin Cheraso, co-owner with wife Carla Villarreal, and his general manager, Sandy Lee. (Darrin and Carla also operate a B&B in Stonewall, Texas named Alexander’s Haus.)

Picture windows in the tasting room provide a view of the courthouse with eateries, galleries, and other places to visit just a short walk away. We settled in at the bar to try a few wines from the current tasting menu:

• Texas Albariño (light, dry, citrusy)
• Love Song (semi-sweet sparkling Moscato that is crisp and floral)
• 2018 Texas Viognier (aromas of fruit and flowers, full-bodied)
• Texas Peach (semi-sweet floral and peach, gentle finish)
• 2017 Moscato (floral notes with apricot and peach)
• 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Washington state grapes, black fruits, and dark chocolate, smooth finish)
• 2017 Midnight Moon Merlot (full-bodied and smooth, Hubby’s favorite!)
• Alexander’s Red Blend (Washington Cabernet Sauvignon and Texas Tempranillo)
• Sweet Alexander (fruity and spicy, sweetened Alexander’s Red Blend)
• 2018 Texas Sparkling Gewürztraminer (100% Texas – think grapefruit, apricot, citrus)

A flight of six wines from the tasting menu is free with any purchase of three bottles or more, and includes small containers of oyster crackers, Ghirardelli chocolate chips, and Darrin’s wine wit. Being a lover of reds, my favorite was Alexander’s Red Blend – a full-bodied glass of half Cabernet Sauvignon and half Tempranillo that was smooth and fruit forward, aged in American Oak. We also really enjoyed the Texas Albariño, which was crisp and delicious.

Snacks are available and include meat and cheese trays with Prasek’s summer sausage or smoked turkey with a variety of cheeses and crackers. Since sidewalk consumption is legal in Johnson City, you can also purchase insulated or twinkling wine tumblers with a pour of wine included for $8-$12 – fun for sippin’ and strollin’ the square which we will definitely add to our list of things to do, especially in December when the square puts on its holiday best. Their current wine promo is Picnic in a Bag which includes wine, snacks, cups, and a cozy blanket. Wine tours and groups are welcome to the tasting room with advance notice.

The winery, which opened in October 2020, was named for Darrin and Carla’s son Alexander, who passed away in 2015. Their young daughter, Lauren, is featured in many photos around the winery and on the website. Darrin has partnered with a custom wine facility with 1,100 acres in Brownfield. Mentoring him are Anthony Mosely, Michael Hellman, and Cary Franklin, who also oversee bottling. Production was slow in 2020, but the new year will kick that into high gear. The work of local artists hangs on the walls of the tasting room and handmade pottery wine chillers sit in the front windows. The inside space has cozy seating, sparkling crystal lights, and soft music—truly relaxing and comfortable, just off the beaten 290 wine path. There is also outside seating at tables on the sidewalk where you can sip and watch small town comings and goings. Pull up a chair and let Sandy, a longtime Johnson City resident tell you tales from the Civil War.

Darrin Cheraso, ready to pour Gina a glass!

A wine club is available with either a three or six bottle level and includes a complimentary tasting or glass every time you visit, as well as discounts on wine, invitations to member events, and education opportunities. Look for the historical marker outside to read more about the building from which the tasting room is located. And at the courthouse, seek the artillery memorial at the corner of E. Cypress and N. Nugent avenues to find Alex Anthony Vineyards “under the gun.”