The post Review of Spicewood Vineyards The Good Guy 2012 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Spicewood, Texas, is a quiet little town off Highway 71 in the Texas Hill Country. A few miles journey off the highway on 409 takes you to Spicewood Vineyards. Rows and rows of lush vines, fresh air, and wide open spaces welcome you to your destination. Edward and Madeleine Manigold founded Spicewood Vineyards in 1992. After winning a silver medal immediately with their very first Chardonnay, the Yates family took over and have grown the estate into a world class winery. The property has expanded over the years including a larger winery attached to the original building, more estate vines, and a traditional underground cellar that can store up to 400 barrels.

Ron Yates

If you ever have the pleasure of meeting the president, Ron Yates, you will never forget him. He practically has Tempranillo flowing through his veins! Is that a blood type by the way, type Temp positive? Ron wasn’t necessarily into wine or winemaking growing up, but an opportunity to attend school in Spain laid the foundation for the man he has become today. He saw how well the beloved warm climate grape did in Spain, and when he looked around he thought, man this grape would thrive in central Texas. His epiphany was dead on, and when he landed back on U.S. soil his mind was already made up…he was going to make wine, and he was going to make brilliant Tempranillo!

The wine I am reviewing is The Good Guy. There is a very special meaning behind the naming and tribute of this wine. Ron’s grandfather, Tommy Joe Yates, was the inspiration behind this spectacularly crafted wine. As far as the detailed backstory about how the “Good Guy” name came about, that is best told by Ron himself, which means you need to pay Spicewood Vineyards a visit very soon. But if you are unable to visit, we have you covered here with audio of Ron telling the story. Enjoy!

The Good Guy is a special wine club wine that will be released in early October 2014. This wine is a solid representation of not only what will grow well in central Texas, but what can be done with multiple varietal blending. This is one of those OMG wines from start to finish. Here is the run down my friends.

Once I twisted the cork away from its duty of guarding the precious liquid, I poured it slowly into the stemmed crystal cavern. In the glass this wine exudes a dark ruby center with a glowing magenta rim. Thick legs run slowly down the glass showcasing the sound structure. The nose is extremely complex. Notes of cherries, plums, blackberries, tart raspberries, fresh and dried gorgeous violets, as well as tiny hints of cinnamon and dill from the barrels tickle the senses.

The palate is much more straightforward and is more about the black fruits and fresh violets. The one thing that stands out to me more than anything else is the ample retained acidity of this wine. With every sip my mouth is watering, which is a characteristic I love in a wine. I cannot stress enough how important it is to maintain good levels of acids to not only give the wine structure and midpalate, but to offer cellaring potential. Tannins alone cannot provide enough to make for an age worthy bottle of wine, and there are far too many wines out there that lack solid levels of acidity on the palate.

Specifications:

• Spicewood Vineyards The Good Guy, 2012 vintage.
• Winemaker: Todd Crowell
• Appellation: Texas Hill Country AVA, Spicewood Vineyards
• Varietals: 30% Tempranillo, 30% Graciano, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Barrels: 12 months in 40% new French oak and 60% neutral French oak
• Clarity/Brightness: Clear/bright with no detectable flaws and no gas or sediment
• Tannins: Medium plus
• Acidity: Medium plus
• Alcohol: Medium
• Finish: Medium plus
• 13.5% alcohol by volume

Overall, The Good Guy is a well-rounded medium to full-bodied red wine. It is great enjoyed on its own or paired with a wide variety of foods. Head over to Spicewood Vineyards and tell them the folks at Texas Wine Lover sent you. This wine is well worth joining the wine club for in addition to many other award winning wines.

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.

The post Review of Spicewood Vineyards The Good Guy 2012 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Review of Kuhlman Cellars Texas Red 2012 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The renowned 290 wine trail that runs from Johnson City to Fredericksburg, Texas, is a world all its own. Many years ago there were open fields and a winery or two here and there scattered amongst the sparsely populated small towns within the region. In 2014, the change is very obvious. This is wine country, folks, and the gettin’ is good!

There is a new winery on Highway 290, one that will be providing world class Texas wines made by a well-known and prominent French winemaker by the name of Bénédicte Rhyne. Owners Christopher and Jennifer Cobb had a vision to open their own winery and to produce the best wines from the best grapes possible. Their vision is unfolding by the day as you pass the newly constructed winery just west of Hye on the south side of Highway 290. Soon, the winery will be completed and will officially be open to the public.

The 2014 harvest is already fermenting at home in the Kuhlman Cellars winery, while the final details of the building are being brought to life. Once complete, several blocks of estate vines will adorn the front and side lawns of the winery and these will not be show vineyards my friends. These, along with fruit from the family vineyard as well as other Texas vineyards, will be providing the grapes for the Kuhlman Cellars portfolio. The wines will be tasted in flights, sitting down and enjoyed with an assortment of carefully chosen food pairings. You can read about a sneak preview that Jeff was able to enjoy during his visit in May. The tastings are available by appointment. Kuhlman Cellars is all about the wine. The priorities will be to relax in the tasting room admiring the barrels and tanks in the connected winery and to frolic though the estate vineyards with a glass of wine on a nice day. Dirt, vines, grapes, strict and loving winemaking, fine stemware, and a passionate family at Kuhlman; that is what this is all about! Now on to the wine.

The Texas Red is a carefully crafted blend of five varietals, led by the beloved and powerful Merlot grape, which I call mama grape in the Bordeaux family. The bottle is adorned with a label that has the winery name printed in a very classy font if I may say so. The stemware used for tasting are etched the same, which already highlights the quality even before removing the cork. In the glass, the color is ruby red with a garnet rim. This wine offers medium concentration and a medium plus viscosity. To my awaiting nostrils, the nose offers notes of black cherries, tart raspberries, baking spices, and a nuance of cocoa. The palate is driven dominantly by red fruits with those gorgeous baking spices we have all come to love from the oak barrels. Oak is present both on the nose and on the palate.

I have made the comment that several of the Bordeaux style wines I have tasted in Texas really remind me of the famous growing region in Southwest France. This particular wine in a blind tasting would actually throw me off and make me believe it is in fact, a genuine Bordeaux wine. I have been drinking French wines since 2003 and the Bordeaux blends have always been my true love in wine. The Texas Red is about as genuine as it gets in regard to flavor profiles and structure. I know, I know, the blend is not a truly standard and authentic Bordeaux blend, but when you taste this wine, I think you will agree with my assessment regarding the French styling, and hey, when you have a talented French winemaker in Texas, would you expect anything less?

Specifications:

• Kuhlman Cellars Texas Red, 2012 vintage
• Winemaker: Bénédicte Rhyne
• Appellation: Texas
• Varietals: 49% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carignan, 11% Cabernet Franc, 10% Grenache
• Barrels: 18 months in French Oak
• Clarity/Brightness: Clear/bright with no detectable flaws and no gas or sediment
• Tannins: Medium
• Acidity: Medium
• Alcohol: Medium to medium plus
• Finish: Medium
• 14.1% alcohol by volume
• pH – 3.55
• TA g/l – 5.95

Tasting and appointment information:

Kuhlman Cellars will be open to the public beginning on October 3rd, 2014. Appointments are available Friday-Sunday from noon to 6 pm. Last appointments will be taken at 5 pm. The tasting fee is $20.00 per person for the flight of wines and the food pairings.

Appointments can be made via phone at 512-920-CORK (2675) or via email at appointments@kuhlmancellars.com.

Call and schedule your appointment soon to be one of the first in Texas to be able to try these gorgeous wines! Be sure to tell them the folks at Texas Wine Lover sent you!

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.

The post Review of Kuhlman Cellars Texas Red 2012 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Robert H. Fritz of Solaro Estate Winemaker Profile appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Robert H. Fritz is the winemaker and co-owner at Solaro Estate now with two locations. The primary winery is located in Dripping Springs and a new Urban Winery is in Houston. Solaro Estate has been winning many awards with their Texas wines including wines from their large estate vineyard. Robert Fritz answered our questions about his background and winemaking.

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

I am a State and Federal Trial Lawyer and am currently prosecuting five cases. I was featured in the 2014 Texas Bar Journal regarding the balance of litigation and wine making.

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

Since 2009, Solaro Estate has produced hand punched, barrel aged reds recognized as among the best in the world. It is a long term challenge to one day market these quality wines for the same price as wines of lesser quality from other regions.

Is winemaking an art or a science or both?

In 2008, Solaro Estate coined the phrase “The Art of Science.” Science can produce wines that taste the same in every vintage and this is the bulk of wines in the world. “Art” considers the natural characteristics of every vintage and it is Art that produces the best wines that are appreciated by the connoisseurs of the world.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing?

Is food paired with wine or is wine paired with food? It is one of life’s luxuries to consider this every day, as we gather to enjoy food and wine. Solaro Estate is a unique place in the world, situated between Spanish influence to the west and French/Cajun influence to the southeast. Some of the true, limited production wines indicate the region: Tempranillo, Chenin Blanc, Barbera, and Montepulciano are proving to pair with Northern Mexican, New Mexican, Cajun, and Texas fares better than any wines in the world.

Tempranillo = Northern-New Mexican. Chenin Blanc = Gulf seafood and blackened Cajun. Barbera = Texas black angus beef. Montepulciano = local organic everything. My favorite pairing is Solaro Estate grown Barbera (2014 Texas Class Champion) and medium rare Solaro grass fed, Black Angus rib eye. It doesn’t get any better than this, anywhere!

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

Practice law, drink wine, and visit wineries.

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

I have been making wine since I was 10 years old. My mother’s family has been producing wine in Europe for over 200 years. It is important that expansive Solaro Estate maintain sustainable agriculture and local agriculture in the Texas Hill Country during this period of commercial expansion and housing development.

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

Why do these wines taste better than the ones we are used to? Solaro Austin and Solaro Houston are asked this question multiple times every day.

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

Almost without exception, wine members which include neighbors, friends, and workers at other wineries, stop by the vineyards to hang out and enjoy what all of our lives, in the winemaking world, are about.

What’s the greatest part about being a winemaker?

Personally, my other world starts and finishes with a legal case. Winemaking encompasses history, patience, and the future of every vintage.

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

At Solaro, we make wine which exhibits the grape and terroir. Purity is at the heart of every Solaro bottle. Everyone at Solaro has the passion of vineyard, cellar, and cave. There are no shortcuts to International award winning, Sommelier class wines. Our mission has been successful in bringing Solaro wines to the World stage.

The post Robert H. Fritz of Solaro Estate Winemaker Profile appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Review of Westcave Cellars Reserve Merlot 2012 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Westcave Cellars is known for producing boutique, handcrafted wines using only Texas fruit.
Estate vines as well as vines from across the Lone Star State provide the fruit for the wine program. Tempranillo is not the staple grape variety chosen by owners/winemakers Allan and Margaret Fetty.

The estate vineyard on the winery property sits in a valley at a lower altitude than some of the surrounding area therefore the temperature is several degrees cooler in the afternoon and evenings. This does aid in the vines resting more at night and in turn produces nice fruit from the Bordeaux family, which are not always known to thrive in certain parts of the state. I have said it before and I will say it again and again, Merlot really surprises me in Texas. It really has adapted well in certain parts of the state and produces gorgeous grapes on vines in our unrelenting summers. We cannot leave them on the vines as long as other parts of the world of course, but nonetheless I am very pleased most of the time when I uncork a bottle and a stellar wine comes out to greet me.

This particular bottle is the Reserve Merlot, 2012 vintage. It is the same grapes and yeast strain as the standard Merlot, but a different barreling program makes this wine noticeably different than its sibling. Allan has exclusively utilized French oak barrels since 2010 when they started making wine. Only recently has American Oak rolled into the winery in very small quantities; we’re talking a handful of barrels. The standard Merlot was aged in French oak only, while the Reserve Merlot spent 12 months in French Oak and another 6 months in just American oak barrels. This yielded a wine with more tannic structure, a bigger mouthfeel, and more dominant baking spices on the nose and palate. I feel this wine is a bit more dynamic versus the standard Merlot.

In my fine stemware, this wine is a deep ruby red with a garnet rim variation. The wine has a medium concentration.

The aromatics fill the air with notes of fig, plumb, black cherries, baking spices, and suede leather. The palate confirms the nose with the addition of tart raspberries, vanilla, and a sprinkle of black pepper. The dusty tannins are prominent and bracing.

Specifications:

• Westcave Cellars Reserve Merlot, 2012 vintage
• Winemaker: Allan Fetty
• Appellation: Texas High Plains AVA, Hendricks Family Vineyard
• Varietals: 100% Merlot
• Barrels: 12 months in French Oak, 6 months in American Oak
• Cases Produced: 50
• Clarity/Brightness: Clear/bright with no detectable flaws and no gas or sediment
• Tannins: Medium plus
• Acidity: Medium
• Alcohol: Medium
• Finish: Medium
• 12.2% alcohol by volume

This Merlot is a medium bodied wine that is fairly versatile. It is smooth enough to be enjoyed on its own, but it would complement a chicken or duck dish and even a grilled sirloin. A pairing we found quite delightful is kettle corn popcorn! We were shocked at how well the two complimented one another. This is a VERY limited release at 50 cases, so stop by and grab a bottle while they are still available.

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.

The post Review of Westcave Cellars Reserve Merlot 2012 appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Kuhlman Cellars appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

http://kuhlmancellars.com

Kuhlman Cellars is located in Stonewall and is owned by Chris and Jennifer Cobb. The winemaking is done by Bénédicte Rhyne. We were fortunate to get a preview of what would be offered at the winery when it was still under construction this past May.

Now the winery building is almost complete and they officially opened on October 3rd. At first they were planning on appointment only and then changed their mind to “by appointment please.” That means to fully appreciate your time at Kuhlman Cellars, an appointment would be preferred but if needed, they will take walk-ins. Appointments can be made on the half hour.

The whole concept behind Kuhlman Cellars can be summed up with one word: experience. They want to provide the best possible experience to their customers and for anybody who has visited wineries, there is no doubt that a determination one makes of a winery is always based on the experience received. That is the reason for preferring appointments.

So we made our appointment and arrived at the winery located right off Highway 290. Landscaping is still needed at the winery but the building is ready to accept customers. We met Chris Cobb on the front porch and while standing there, we enjoyed the beautiful view overlooking Lyndon B. Johnson State Park. That is great because it means there will not be anything built across the road to take away from the view they currently have.

Chris explained the different blocks of vineyard they will be planting which will eventually be a total number of seven acres. Marsanne and Roussanne will be planted first. Chris pointed out the gutters had just been installed and they will be using rainwater and recycled water for irrigation of the vineyard. A pond in the far corner of the lot will be filled with the rainwater coming from the winery’s roof.

We went inside the winery where tables were already set up for guests and met Jennifer Cobb in addition to our longtime friend Jennifer Beckmann. Chris gave us a quick tour of the winery. The tasting room is at the front of the winery and besides the kitchen, the production area with tanks and barrels complete the first floor. Walking upstairs reaches a loft which overlooks the production area and they are trying to decide what to do with the loft. The current thought is to use it for a wine club lounge. When the production building gets built nearby, the current production area in the winery will turn into a barrel room.

It was now time for our tasting and we took our seats at one of the tables which had been prepared for us. Chris called the table areas “pods” and there were different pods located in the tasting room and they could also be moved around easily as necessary.

There is a tasting fee of $20 but besides the personal experience provided, it also includes a food pairing for each wine. There is a total number of five wines offered and four out of the five wines are made with Texas grapes and there is no surprise with the fifth wine using Sonoma County grapes. Jennifer Beckmann, Certified Sommelier, poured the first three wines which were white wines in separate glasses using an aerator pourer on each bottle. They use multiple glasses for each wine to allow the guest to compare and also so one wine does not affect the taste of another. Jennifer explained the different wines one by one along with the food which was appropriately paired for that wine.

It was then time for the two red wines and they also had appropriate food pairings. During this time, I was thinking what a peaceful and relaxing experience this was instead of standing two to three deep at a tasting bar and trying to get a tasting guide’s attention. When you factor in the personal attention you receive along with the food pairing and the relaxing time, the little higher tasting fee certainly is reasonable.

While we were tasting, winemaker Bénédicte Rhyne arrived to do some punch downs on bins fermenting in the production area. It was nice we had a chance to see her again. I asked Chris about the amount of wine produced already and they have done 1,300 cases of wine.

It was no surprise that the wines tasted were the same ones we had tasted in May. The difference this time was there had been some age in the bottle compared to last time. These are the wines we tasted:

• Sauvignon Blanc 2013. 88% Sauvignon Blanc from Mesa Vineyards, Fort Stockton and 12% Sémillon from the High Plains. No oak was used.
• Calcaria 2013. 77% Chenin Blanc from Mesa Vineyards, 13% Sémillon from the Pheasant Ridge vineyard, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc from Mesa Vineyards. This is a blend they want to bring out every year.
• Roussanne 2012. 90% Roussanne from Oswald Vineyard in the High Plains and 10% Chenin Blanc from Mesa Vineyards. No oak was used.
• Alluvé 2012. 59% Carignan, 22% Petite Sirah, and 19% Grenache. The grapes came from Sonoma County.
• Texas Red Blend 2012. 49% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carignan, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Grenache.

There is a wine club called Vina Vita which means “wine life.” The wine club has three choices of bottle shipments: 3, 6, and 12. The best thing is the customer can select exactly the wines they would like in the shipments four times a year instead of the winery deciding for the wine club member.

Jennifer Beckmann, Bénédicte Rhyne, Chris and Jennifer Cobb

We had enjoyed another wonderful tasting at Kuhlman Cellars. As the winery gets more popular, they will be able to handle a maximum of 36 people an hour and still allow the customer experience.

If you want to enjoy a wine tasting with excellent wines, I would highly suggest making an appointment at Kuhlman Cellars. Their website is still being worked, but you can find all the information you need to make an appointment on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kuhlmancellars.

The post Kuhlman Cellars appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Podcast #4: Bending Branch Winery’s Flash Détente appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Bending Branch Winery has always been on the forefront of finding new grape varieties for Texas like Tannat for their now signature wine. They also do the same when it comes to technology to improve their wines and their latest piece of equipment is a Flash Détente unit from the Della Toffola Group.

Dr. Bob Young and John Rivenburgh with Flash Détente

Even though the technology has been in Europe for 17 years, there are only five units in the United States and the one at Bending Branch is the only one outside of California. Try doing some web searching on Flash Détente and you will not find much. This meant to get the real story, we had to visit Bending Branch Winery.

Dr. Bob Young

John Rivenburgh

Gloria and I met owners Dr. Bob Young and John Rivenburgh where we were taken to their new number three production building. Outside the building there was no missing the Flash Détente unit as it sits on the crush pad and would fill the entire cargo trailer of an eighteen-wheeler. That is in fact how the unit was shipped.

Flash window

This is Drink Local Wine Week and the Flash Détente unit will make Texas local wine better for Bending Branch Winery in addition to any other wineries that want to work with this exceptional technology.

Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the podcast.

Ipad for Flash Détente

See the video of the Flash Détente in action at Bending Branch Winery.

Subscribe on iTunes

Listen on Stitcher

The post Podcast #4: Bending Branch Winery’s Flash Détente appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Podcast #4b: Bending Branch Winery’s Flash Détente Video appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

iTunes apparently has problems with podcasts that have videos so here is the video of Bending Branch Winery’s Flash Détente in action. And be sure to check out the podcast episode. Enjoy!

The post Podcast #4b: Bending Branch Winery’s Flash Détente Video appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Fall Creek Vineyards announces Second Location in Driftwood appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

AUSTIN, TX, October 22, 2014 — One of Texas’ first and most respected wineries, Fall Creek Vineyards, is expanding by opening a new tasting room and production facility in Driftwood, Texas.

The second winery location will feature an elegant Hill Country estate on 17 beautiful acres adjacent to Onion Creek, and is well situated to become tasting destination for both tourists and locals alike.

Started in Tow, Texas, by co-owners Susan and Ed Auler 39 years ago, Fall Creek Vineyards is the third oldest winery in the state and continues to innovate with viticulture and wine production. The Aulers were also instrumental in establishing and securing the ‘Texas Hill Country’ American Viticultural Area (AVA) designation for the Hill Country, which is the second largest appellation in the country.

The new facility marks an important milestone in the winery’s expansion. Set to open its doors early next year, the tasting room is located on FM 1826, directly across the street from the popular Salt Lick BBQ.

“Driftwood is a gorgeous area and rapidly becoming a food and beverage destination with wineries, breweries distilleries, and restaurants in the vicinity,” says Susan, “It is a mere 25 minute drive from Austin, yet still feels like a peaceful country getaway. The property is currently undergoing minor interior renovation and we are excited to soon open the doors of our second winery tasting room to fans, friends, and wine lovers. It will be a fantastic place to enjoy wine and will also be available for special events and weddings.”

The tasting room will have a wide selection of Fall Creek wines for tasting and purchase by the glass, bottle or case. As a special feature, it will carry several single-vineyard designations wines from the new “Terroir Reflections Series.” This series, created by winemaker Sergio Cuadra, will debut with the release of the 2013 Fall Creek Vineyards Chardonnay, Certenberg Vineyard, Texas Hill Country and the 2012 Fall Creek Vineyards Tempranillo, Salt Lick Vineyard, Texas Hill Country. Select gift items and artisanal foods will also be available in the tasting room.

“One of the many reasons we chose this beautiful location is because it is adjacent to Salt Lick Vineyards – where the grapes for some of our single-vineyard designation wines are grown,” says Ed Auler. “We are also at the point where we needed to expand our operation. This location and its soil are well suited for additional vineyards. Nothing will change at the winery in Tow, and we will continue to host guests seven days a week with private tastings, monthly events, and nature excursions.”

About Fall Creek

Fall Creek Vineyards was established in 1975 by Texas businessman and rancher, Ed Auler and his wife, Susan. The vineyards are located eighty miles northwest of Austin in the Texas Hill Country where the sandy loam soil, warm days, and cool breezes off Lake Buchanan provide an excellent microclimate for growing premium wine grapes. The winery produces wines made with Chardonnay, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre grapes under the direction of winemaker, Sergio Cuadra.

The post Fall Creek Vineyards announces Second Location in Driftwood appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post October Texas Wine Month Road Trip appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

As you probably are aware, October is Texas Wine Month. That meant there was no doubt Gloria and I had to go on a road trip. We still had the Texas Hill Country Wineries season pass we won at the silent auction at the TWGGA Conference in February, so it was only fitting we head to the Hill Country.

Since Texas Wine Lover recently started a podcast (subscribe on iTunes or listen on Stitcher), our first stop was Bending Branch Winery where we would meet owners Dr. Bob Young and John Rivenburgh to discuss their new acquisition, a flash détente machine. John was tied up for awhile so Dr. Bob kept us entertained, and since we were on the Texas Hill Country Wineries October wine trail (tickets still available!), that meant we could get a full tasting which we did enjoy. When John became free, we found a quiet spot and recorded the podcast. It was my first time recording one and I definitely was nervous, but I’ll get better as the whole Texas Wine Lover team probably shares the task of recording podcast episodes.

Flash Détente at Bending Branch Winery

It was off to our next planned appointment which was William Chris Vineyards. I had arranged to meet with co-owner Bill Blackmon for another podcast episode. I was on a roll! We found Bill and quickly recorded an episode which will be available soon. Even though Bill was running a little late for an appointment, he took the time to show us their new estufa where assistant winemaker Joshua Fritsche helps make their Madeira. Inside the estufa is even a tasting bar to enjoy the wine. We thanked Bill for his time and headed to our next appointment.

Our next appointment was not for a podcast recording though. It was for new winery Kuhlman Cellars in which you are highly encouraged to make an appointment so they can provide the best possible experience for you. We had been invited to do a preview of their tasting menu in May and we were excited to do the resulting tasting in their newly built winery. We were not disappointed and had a great experience which we wrote about earlier.

After an enjoyable tasting and food pairing, we headed next to Six Shooter Cellars. It had been a while since we were there last, and since that time winery Texas Legato had joined the Six Shooter Cellars tasting room. We shared a tasting and tried some wines from wineries which aren’t around the Fredericksburg area.

We enjoyed our tasting and it was time to see our friend Vinny Lupo, tasting guide extraordinaire and now General Manager at Inwood Estates Fredericksburg. I had seen Vinny recently at Inwood Estates but Gloria had not, so she enjoyed seeing him again. Of course, tasting the excellent Inwood Estates wines was just icing on the cake.

Vinny Lupo

We could finally check into our hotel which was good because we needed to change for dinner. Reservations had been made at Cabernet Grill where we always love eating. The food is great and they have a huge selection of Texas wines. What a great combination! Executive Chef and owner Ross Burtwell follows me and I follow him likewise on Twitter, and he was expecting our arrival. We did not see him in person initially, but the server said the chef suggested a meal for us. Who were we to disagree? What followed was a delicious dinner paired with excellent Texas wine. We then got to meet Chef Ross and had a pleasant conversation. Let’s just say this is probably not the last time you’ll hear about Cabernet Grill here. We can’t wait to visit the restaurant again!

Saturday came and all night we could hear the rain coming down. We had made an appointment at 8 a.m. to take a sneak peak of Lost Draw Cellars, and since the building was still under construction, I was afraid I would be getting a text canceling the appointment. Fortunately that didn’t happen, and unfortunately the rain didn’t stop, but we had a great visit at Lost Draw Cellars meeting both General Manager Matt White and co-owner Troy Ottmers. Make sure you read our preview of the winery because this will be another winner in Fredericksburg!

After a brief rest back at the hotel, it was time to hit the wine trail again. Thankfully the rain had stopped and the first stop was Pontotoc Vineyard which has a tasting room on Main Street in Fredericksburg. We arrived while owner Carl Money was in the middle of a tasting with another couple and he kindly started a tasting for us. Watch the website for more on our visit at Pontotoc Vineyard.

Back up Highway 290 for our next visit was Messina Hof. As VIP members of Messina Hof, it is always a good time at either location. I can’t think of another winery that has a VIP club and I don’t understand why. But we look forward to the upcoming Grapevine location and being treated like part of the “family” when we visit there too.

Onward to 4.0 Cellars which again is always a good bet for some new great wines. How can you go wrong with three excellent wineries in one tasting room? We had the same tasting guide as the last time we visited 4.0 who is Gary Hahne. Gary owns White House Winery which was originally in Navasota, Texas, and we helped him bottle wine before. He told us last time we saw him that he was close to opening up again, and on this visit he said it would be very soon. He also told us where the location was going to be, but we’ll keep that to ourselves just in case there is a delay. There are three tasting sheets which can be selected at 4.0 Cellars and Gloria chose one while I selected another. As usual, both sets of tastings were very good. After collecting our bottles to take home, we saw Cathy Locke of Cathy’s Fine Chocolate who we often see in a tasting room with her wonderful truffles. If a winery/tasting room is looking for something special to offer their customers, Cathy’s Fine Chocolate certainly fits the bill.

4.0 Cellars

When we were at Grape Creek Vineyards last time, we took their tour. This time we would take advantage of the full tasting offered because of the Texas Hill Country Wineries October wine trail. There was a small tasting bar available in the end of the main tasting room for wine trail customers, so we found a spot to enjoy our tasting. During our visits to the wineries, we were using the TX Wine Passport app on our phone to collect stamps which would lead to rewards. We were surprised Grape Creek was not on the app because they have an excellent gift shop and that is how you use the rewards from the TX Wine Passport program. We had to quickly go through our tastings because we had an appointment (yes, another one) at the next winery.

The next winery was Becker Vineyards and we had made an appointment for the 1:00 p.m. Library Tasting. From their website, the Library Tasting promised a tour of the production area and ending with special library wines in their underground barrel cellar. The session is limited to 20 people and since Becker Vineyards’ tasting bar is usually full on the weekend, this would be quieter and relaxing. General Manager Bret Perrenoud gave the tour and tasting, and we even had the treat of Dr. Richard Becker tasting from some tanks with us at the beginning of the tour. It was a wise choice to do the Library Tasting and we will explain more about the session in an upcoming post.

Becker Vineyards

Our last stop of the day was going to be Compass Rose Cellars to enjoy the view on their patio, but since it was on the way, we had to stop at Hye Meadow Winery to see our friends we made before the winery opened on a sneak preview of the winery (hmm, looks like we really enjoy sneak previews of upcoming wineries). Since we did not have time to do a full tasting, we bought a glass of wine and were then told a couple women would like to see us on the patio. We headed to the patio and there we met Judith Raven, owner of Esperanza Vineyard, and her niece Tina Kersten DC. Judith and I had messaged each other earlier in the week about possibly meeting at Compass Rose, but I wasn’t sure if she would be able to make it. In the end, they made the same decision as we did which was to stop at Hye Meadow before ending at Compass Rose. We had a fun and enjoyable conversation with them and winemaker Jeff Ivy before we all had to leave.

Judith Raven, Tina Kersten DC, Jeff Ivy

Even though Compass Rose was right up the road from Hye, I don’t know how we missed the turn especially since owner Mark Watson had given us a preview (that again!) of the tasting room while it was under construction. But we eventually found the tasting room and joined Judith, Tina, and others who were already on the back patio. Even Sean and Robin English-Bircher of the Vitis Poema blog had joined the group and it was nice seeing them again. It was getting chilly but Mark was prepared with individual blankets for everybody. We enjoyed a full tasting of their wines while under the covers, looking at the view, and having a great conversation with everybody. It was definitely a nice end to the winery hopping for the day and you will hear more about Compass Rose Cellars in a future post.

We now needed some food in our stomachs and have seen many people rave about Otto’s German Bistro in Fredericksburg. We were told it was going to be a 45 minute wait, but it probably was only 10 minutes. We had a nice corner table overlooking the cozy restaurant and enjoyed a nice dinner to end our day.

It had been a nice two days in the Hill Country on the Texas Hill Country Wineries wine trail to celebrate Texas Wine Month. The month isn’t over yet and you can still take advantage of the wine trail, so we would recommend buying some tickets and enjoying some Texas wine.

The post October Texas Wine Month Road Trip appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Podcast #5: Bill Blackmon of William Chris Vineyards appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

In Podcast #3, Jeremy Wilson talked to Chris Brundrett of William Chris Vineyards. Chris mentioned how co-owner Bill Blackmon handled the vineyard management at William Chris, so it was only natural that we visit again and talk to Bill.

We asked listeners what they wanted to hear on the Texas Wine Lover podcast and one suggestion was to understand the process and communication between a winery and the vineyard during the growing season. Since Bill certainly knows vineyards and the winery end, he made the perfect choice to provide that information.

Bill Blackmon

As we asked before, please let us know what you want to hear on the Texas Wine Lover podcast because we want to bring topics that are of interest to you.

Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the podcast.

Subscribe on iTunes

Listen on Stitcher

The post Podcast #5: Bill Blackmon of William Chris Vineyards appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Seth Martin of Perissos Vineyard and Winery Winemaker Profile appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Seth Martin is the co-owner, winemaker, and viticulturist at Perissos Vineyard and Winery in Burnet, Texas. With the large estate vineyard, the wines produced at Perissos are mostly Estate wines. We had the chance to ask Seth Martin questions about this background and philosophy of winemaking.

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

We had a custom home building business in Austin, Texas.

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

Because we farm the vast majority of our grapes for our wines on our property, the biggest challenge is always the weather. Each year it varies so much that the inputs of raw materials are always unpredictable in terms of quantity and quality. One year we could have a huge tonnage of amazing grapes, and the next year, nothing. You have to stay on your toes and keep your eyes on the long-term picture.

Is winemaking an art or a science or both?

From the farming point of view, I see it as nearly 100% art, as it is the overall weather season that is going to determine how the grapes develop and ripen. We take what is given to us, then prune and train the vines, trying to coax the very best fruit from them. From a winemaking point of view, I think it largely science, as we are trying to simply convert the grapes into wine and capture the essence of that season.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing?

Hmm, having five young kids along with a vineyard and winery, we have exceedingly busy lifestyles. That translates to not having sophisticated wine and food dinners on a regular basis. We eat a lot of casual meals. That being said, I love Roussanne paired with fish tacos, Racker’s Blend paired with a tender steak, and a nice beef stew complemented by Syrah.

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

Farming is really attractive to me at this point in my life. I’m creative by nature, so I am sure I would be building something if I were not farming. This is where God has me for the moment, so I am not sure what I would do if not for this. Farming and making wine has the potential to be multi-generational, so I see myself doing this for many years, God willing. Hopefully our kids will get the bug and see something meaningful in this for themselves and for their children.

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

I guess the one word that explains what captured my interest in winemaking would have to be Alchemy–the process of taking something common and transforming it into something special and enduring. As a winemaker, I get to be a part of the process of converting perishable grapes into wine, which if made properly, should have a very long shelf life. We made our first batch of wine in 1999 from six vines planted next to our house. We now have over 12 miles of trellis on 16 acres of vines.

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

At the winery it would be, “What is the name of the dog?” Otherwise it would be, “How did you get into this?”

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

I always enjoy hanging out with the family and just playing in the yard with the kids. Getting away for a quick sail or a ride on the bike are always top of the list and a bonus if time allows.

What’s the greatest part about being a winemaker?

I love the thrill of seeing harvest bins overflowing with fruit from a fresh harvest, and seeing the potential of what that fruit will become. The concept of making beautiful wine from simple fruit is truly satisfying.

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

We have no product orientation at Perissos Vineyards. By that I mean that we simply are trying to let people taste what happened in the vineyard from one year to the next. The same vine in the same location will never make the same glass of wine. Our focus is on being really good stewards and using the best fermentation practices and technology possible to capture the essence of each individual vintage. I guess you could say that we don’t over-manipulate the fruit to achieve a certain flavor, but rather, we strive to release what is naturally occurring in the fruit for that season in the vineyard.

Anything else you would like to add? 

I love being both grape grower and winemaker. While it is extremely labor intensive, and often times exhausting, it is also rewarding in so many ways. I especially love working on the land and pondering the potential fruit of my labor. There are so many spiritual lessons in grape growing and wine making. I am humbled to get to do this for a living!

The post Seth Martin of Perissos Vineyard and Winery Winemaker Profile appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Pontotoc Vineyard appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

http://pontotocvineyard.com

Pontotoc Vineyard is located in Pontotoc with a tasting room in downtown Fredericksburg. The winery is owned by D. Carl and Frances Money. We visited the winery under construction back in May, 2013, and our last visit was to the tasting room in Fredericksburg.

A vineyard is located at the Pontotoc winery location which was first planted in 2006. Carl’s uncle Ronnie Money helps manage the estate vineyard. Winemaker Don Pullum provides the winemaking skills for Pontotoc Vineyard. Pontotoc Vineyard bottled their first vintage of 300 cases from the 2011 harvest.

The Pontotoc location is being converted into multiple tasting rooms including the Wines of Dotson-Cervantes. The Moneys were originally planning on having the winery be their only location, but since they live in Fredericksburg and Carl Money is still practicing law, they decided to open a tasting room in Fredericksburg to be closer to home. The winery location will still be used for special events though.

Carl Money

We arrived early on a Saturday at the tasting room and Carl Money was already in the process of providing a tasting to a couple. The couple was sitting at the tasting bar and we sat in a pair of adjacent chairs.

Carl said he currently had three wines for tasting and in an unusual situation these days, the tasting fee is complimentary. The tastings were poured from the uncorked bottles and we enjoyed the wines in addition to the conversation.

Pontotoc Vineyard only does vintage wines and the first wine tasted was the 2013 Estate Tempranillo which is 100% Tempranillo. Carl decided to enter this wine in our Battle of the Texas Tempranillos and the wine was rated 5th best out of 28 Texas Tempranillos.

The next wine was the San Fernando Academy 2013. This win is made from 60% Tempranillo, 20% Alicante Bouschet, 13% Syrah, 6% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot.

The last wine was the Smoothing Iron Mountain Tempranillo 2013 which is made from 75% Tempranillo, 21% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot.

Pontotoc Vineyard only used Hill Country fruit in 2013 and Carl doesn’t think there are too many 2013 wines from the Hill Country because of the weather problems in 2013. Pontotoc Vineyard produced 500 cases of wine in 2013 and expects to produce 1,200 cases in 2014.

Pontotoc Vineyard has a wine club called Vino mas Fino.

The tasting room for Pontotoc Vineyard is bristling with activity since the building has five families with businesses in the one location. In addition to the wine, businesses also present provide coffee, bread and breakfast tacos, beef, and produce. Make plans to stop by the Pontotoc Vineyard tasting room in Fredericksburg.

The post Pontotoc Vineyard appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Compass Rose Cellars appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

http://www.compassrosecellars.com

Compass Rose Cellars has their production located in Mason but the tasting room is in Hye. However, the plan is to eventually move the production to Hye also on the 35 acre lot. The winery is owned by Mark Watson and Robert Nida is the winemaker. The winery opened January 28, 2011, and the tasting room opened in the summer of 2014.

While visiting Hye Market and Hye End Tasting Room one time, we ran into Mark Watson who volunteered to show us how his tasting room was coming along. We jumped in his truck and he drove us up the road where the tasting room was at foundation level. We could see why he was excited with the location since it does have an excellent view of the area.

Since that visit, we have visited the tasting room a couple times. As mentioned, the tasting room is located up the road from Hye and after driving up a dirt road to the top of a hill, the tasting room comes into view.

Inside the tasting room, there is a tasting bar where you can do a tasting. There is no seating inside the tasting room because the best place to sit and do a tasting is outside on the patio with the gorgeous view. That is what we did the first time we visited.

Since it was a little chilly at that time, Mark Watson had things planned and ready. He gave everybody a blanket to use while sitting on the comfortable patio chairs and couches, and then proceeded to provide a tasting for us of their wines. Since then I have seen they have heaters for use on the patio, but the blankets still made a nice cozy way to enjoy wine on the patio.

There is a tasting fee for the wines being offered. The wines are poured from uncorked bottles into stemless wine glasses which is perfect when sitting outside on the patio. The winery only uses 100% Texas grapes and our first visit included four wines. On my last visit there were two more wines added. These are the wines which were available on my last visit:

• Chenin Blanc 2013 – Mesa Vineyards, 109 cases
• Pinot Grigio 2012 – Tallent Vineyards, 343 cases
• Syrah 2012 – Tallent Vineyards, 97 cases
• Jaquez 2012 – fortified dessert wine, 50 cases
• Merlot 2012 – Granite Hill Vineyards, 50 cases
• Blanc du Bois 2013 – Las Nubes Ranch, 32 cases

I was told there is more wine being aged in barrels: Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.

Food available for purchase are items like a small cheese plate, large cheese & meat plate, hummus plate, assorted truffles, almond bark, and mocha crunch.

Dinner events are often held at the tasting room and the winery has a wine club called The Journey.

Next time you are in Hye and want to just relax with a beautiful view, stop by Compass Rose Cellars and enjoy the view and hospitality.

Robert Nida and Mark Watson

The post Compass Rose Cellars appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Pemberton Cellars appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pemberton-Cellars/1963402563800457

Pemberton Cellars is located in Granbury and is owned by Jeff and Lynn Pemberton with their son Dax Pemberton. The winery opened on June 14, 2014.

I first met Jeff Pemberton at Newsom Grape Day and later had a chance to visit him at his winery. Pemberton Cellars is very easy to find with a large 7.5 acre vineyard planted in front of the vineyard. As I learned later from Jeff, the vineyard was planted in 2009.

I met Jeff Pemberton in the tasting room and at the time of my visit, he had two wines to taste. One was a Texas Viognier and the other was a 2012 Texas Tempranillo, both from the Pemberton Cellars vineyard. Tastings are done while standing at the tasting bar. There is a small tasting fee and the wines are poured from the uncorked bottles. While I was starting my tasting, Dax Pemberton arrived and I had the opportunity to meet him.

Jeff said they had more wines to bottle and had just finished bottling one in the adjacent production room the previous day. Other wines to be bottled were a Cabernet Sauvignon, Ruby Cabernet, Riesling, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

All of Pemberton Cellars wines use 100% Texas grapes. Jeff and Dax Pemberton share the winemaking duties and Jeff takes care of the estate vineyard. In 2012, they produced 250 cases of wine and in 2013, they produced 500 cases.

Dax and Jeff Pemberton

A concert was held for the winery’s grand opening. Jeff said when the current wines are all bottled, they will have more entertainment at the winery.

Even though Pemberton Cellars just opened in June, I could tell that you need to keep watch on this up and coming winery.

The post Pemberton Cellars appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Fall Creek Vineyards at Driftwood appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

After 39 years of winemaking in Tow, Texas, owners Ed and Susan Auler have opened a second Fall Creek Vineyards location in Driftwood, Texas. The property is a perfect fit for the Aulers who were looking to purchase land to build a green (energy saving) building in close proximity to Salt Lick Vineyard.

A gorgeous and very spacious home with property recently became available and it was quickly fashioned into what is now the new tasting room. The new building features multiple spaces both indoor and outdoor for tasting and relaxing. There is a full kitchen for catering and food events, and there are also separate quarters where guests will soon be able to stay and enjoy Fall Creek for much longer than just a quick tasting.

The driveway to the new building is directly across FM 1826 from the northern driveway of Salt Lick BBQ and Salt Lick Cellars. The vines of Salt Lick Vineyard, which provide tons (literally) of fruit for Fall Creek wines, are easily visible while standing in the front courtyard of the tasting room. A large part of the Fall Creek portfolio is available for tasting in Driftwood, including but not limited to award winning Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, and GSM, both Salt Lick Vineyard, and the Meritus, the muscular yet refined Cabernet Sauvignon. A food program will also be part of the experience in Driftwood which will include a variety of tummy filling Chef inspired delights.

Ed & Susan Auler and Sergio Cuadra

Things to look forward to in the very near future at the Driftwood location:

• A VERY limited release Texas Chardonnay, showcasing the new “Terroir Reflection” label.
• The completion of the guest quarters, which will serve as an Inn for overnight/multiple day stays.
• Vineyard plantings in front of the building, as well as behind the building. The view off the back porch that will overlook the rear vineyard is absolutely breathtaking by the way.

Congratulations from the entire Texas Wine Lover team to the Aulers, Sergio Cuadra, and the entire Fall Creek Vineyards staff on this exciting new adventure. I highly urge each of you to pay a visit to the new Driftwood location as soon as you have the chance.

The post Fall Creek Vineyards at Driftwood appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post December Hill Country Road Trip appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

For the conclusion of using our Texas Hill Country Wineries season pass, the last wine trail event was the 2014 Holiday Wine Trail. The trail would include the booklet for marking down the four full wine tastings per day like in the previous wine trail event, but the Holiday trail also included a Christmas ornament. We started the trip on a Friday just like last time as Fridays give a more pleasurable experience at a winery without the crowds.

We planned the trip and tried to determine what wineries to visit in Driftwood on the drive from Houston to Fredericksburg and surrounding Hill Country wineries too. The problem we found with any wineries in Driftwood was they did not open until 11 a.m. instead of the common 10 a.m. like on Highway 290. This meant one less hour of being able to visit especially when factoring in the driving time between wineries in the Hill Country.

Gloria decided our first stop would be Duchman Family Winery where we would pick up the wine trail booklet and wine trail Christmas ornament. We used our first stamp in the booklet for a wine tasting and as usual, we enjoyed all the wines we tasted. We had an enjoyable time talking with the tasting guide who had recently moved to Texas a few months prior. She had not had the opportunity yet to visit other Texas wineries so we gave her some suggestions on local ones to visit.

Our next stop was Perissos Vineyard and Winery in the northern part of the Hill Country. When we parked, coincidentally owner Seth Martin was outside who greeted us and led us into the winery. Perissos had done a large building expansion last year which gave a large tasting room and could also be used for events. We were surprised when Seth told us he was expanding again.

He showed us the blueprints for what will be a new building near where the current parking lot is located. It will be a two story building with the first floor for case storage and a covered bottling pad entrance. The entry door on the bottling pad is designed for a mobile bottler to back into the building which will provide a convenient means for bottling right next to storage of the finished bottles. Seth said last year Perissos produced 1,500 cases of wine but this year it will be 6,500!

The second floor of the building will have townhouses available for rental by guests. The Martins who currently live over the winery will eventually be moving off-site and that will give more space for people to stay at the winery. We look forward to staying overnight at the winery sometime in the future.

After another stamp in the booklet for a tasting at Perissos, it was off to a new winery which had recently opened: Wines of Dotson-Cervantes. We have met owners Alphonse Dotson and Martha Cervantes a few times and was looking forward to visiting the winery. Unfortunately Martha was not able to be there but we had a fun time with Alphonse. Look for a post soon about our visit.

The last stop of the day was the newly opened Lost Draw Cellars. We were anxious to visit since we had done a preview of the winery and they had the top Tempranillo in our Battle of the Texas Tempranillos. Part of the anxiousness was to see the first place medal we mailed them after the competition hanging on one of their Tempranillo wine bottles. We met co-owner Andrew Sides, general manager Matt White, and the rest of the staff. It was close to closing time due to all the driving we had done, but they allowed us to do a tasting. It was then that we learned they had never received the medal. It was never returned by the post office so somebody is enjoying it somewhere. The next morning I ordered another medal and had it shipped directly to the winery in a few days so they would have it by the following weekend. We did hear they successfully received the second medal. Since we had done a quick tasting, we promised we would be back the next morning for the start of our Saturday visits.

We enjoyed dinner for our first visit at the Navajo Grill and then checked into our hotel, the Hangar Hotel, another first for us.

Our first stop on Saturday as promised was Lost Draw Cellars. This time we enjoyed a glass of wine since we had done a tasting the previous day. We decided to purchase a wine tasting for somebody on their Pour It Forward chalkboard (described in our post on Lost Draw Cellars) which was for a person who did a Like on the Texas Wine Lover Facebook page. We saw later in the week somebody had claimed it so maybe we’ll learn from that person who it was and that they enjoyed it.

Matt White and Andrew Sides

One advantage to visiting the winery twice was the chance to do a barrel tasting of the 2013 Sangiovese. The Sangiovese came from the vineyard of Mike Timmons. We are used to wineries using a wine thief to do tastings from barrels, but Lost Draw had purchased a barrel tap, much like a tap on a beer keg. The tap avoids oxygen getting into the barrel while doing a tasting. When the tap is moved to another barrel, they put nitrogen in the previous barrel to keep the air out. Outside the production building was an old Sangiovese vine from “Doc” McPherson’s vineyard. It was interesting that years ago they trained the vines to have four cordons instead of the common two cordons like is done today.

While at Lost Draw Cellars, fellow blogger and writer Russ Kane arrived to do a tasting at the bar. His wife Delia arrived to pick him up and we soon left after they did to continue our winery visits for the day.

Next up was Pedernales Cellars and it was time to use our first wine trail stamp of the day for a tasting. We met familiar faces like tasting room manager Mike Ago along with reserve room tasting guides Cece Barretto and Bill Burns. And it is always a pleasure to see and talk with co-owner Fredrik Osterberg. Mike gave us a tasting of the Pedernales Dolce which is a dessert wine. It is fermented Viognier for one year and then brandy is added. It then sat in new French Oak barrels for two years. Very nice job David Kuhlken!

Jeremy Wilson and customers at Kuhlman Cellars

Making our way up the road, we had to stop at Kuhlman Cellars to see fellow Texas Wine Lover team member Jeremy Wilson along with Jennifer Beckmann and co-owner Jennifer Cobb. Jeremy was just finishing a tasting with surprisingly Texas Wine Lover followers and we enjoyed a nice chat. We had a glass of wine then made the short trip to William Chris Vineyards.

We had planned to visit the new Madeira tasting bar at William Chris so we headed to the small building we had seen previously. The menu offered a selection of just Madeira or a choice of cocktails made with Madeira. We chose two cocktails which were wonderfully made by Rachael Wolz.

Our last winery we had selected to visit was Compass Rose Cellars and we had to make a decision what to do since it would be getting close to closing time there and we still wanted to make a quick stop elsewhere. But then somebody told us Flat Creek Estate was doing tastings across the street at Hye Market. A quick decision was made to stop by and it turned out Spring Drake, the wife of winemaker Tim Drake, was doing the tastings. Gloria walked around taking photos with her new camera while I did a quick tasting.

Spring Drake

Next was a stop next door to Hye Meadow Winery where we always enjoy seeing familiar faces and trying whatever wines are new. The original plan was to do a full tasting using our wine trail booklet but since time was getting short, I had a small glass of wine while Gloria walked outside to take more photos.

The last winery of the day was Compass Rose Cellars. They were getting set up for a dinner event which we would have attended but had previous plans. With the wine trail booklet, we were able to taste some Calais Winery wines in addition to Compass Rose wines. It was too short a visit, but I’m sure it won’t be our last.

Dinner plans were at Cabernet Grill with new friends Sheri and Pat Patillo. We had a great dinner and after saying goodbye until next time, it had been a long day so it was time to get back to the hotel.

Angela Santamaria of Santamaria Cellars

On the way home Sunday, it was time to revisit some wineries. First up was Santamaria Cellars where we were able to use the wine trail booklet for a tasting with Angela Santamaria. Kerrville Cellars was next.

Wayne Milberger of Kerrville Hills

Arriving at the winery, we met co-owner Wayne Milberger. He led us through a tasting using the wine trail booklet again and then gave us a tour of the production facility, bottling machine room, and the rest of the winery. We tasted a wonderful port-style wine from the barrel which we can only say look forward to it! The winery started out making only wines from California juice but they are starting to be able to get Texas grapes and have made a wonderful Muscat Canelli, so watch out for Kerrville Hills Winery in the future.

It had been a long weekend but somehow the road trip weekends still end up seeing too short. Cheers!

The post December Hill Country Road Trip appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Wines of Dotson-Cervantes appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

http://dotsoncervanteswines.com

Wines of Dotson-Cervantes is located in Pontotoc and is owned by Alphonse Dotson and Martha Cervantes. The winery opened November, 2014.

We have met Alphonse and Martha a few times over the years including the last time we were in Pontotoc and at the time the winery was just being remodeled from a historic building. Now that the winery was open, we were excited to visit.

When we arrived at the winery, Alphonse Dotson was just coming out and he greeted us with his ever present large smile. We entered the winery which had a seating area in the front with a tasting bar along the right side wall. Football photos grace the walls featuring Oakland Raiders and of course Alphonse Dotson in some of those photos back in his playing days.

Tastings are done at the tasting bar and the wine is poured from the uncorked bottles. Wines of Dotson-Cervantes currently has two wines and other Texas wines are offered if the customer desires. The tastings for the Dotson-Cervantes wines are currently complimentary but there is a fee for the other Texas wines.

The first wine ever offered from Wines of Dotson-Cervantes is Gotas de Oro meaning “Drops of Gold” and is a dessert wine in a 375 ml bottle. We bought a bottle of the wine the first time we visited Fall Creek Vineyards and have since bought more in the following years.

But first up in the tasting was the new Something Red. This is obviously a red wine and Alphonse told us the name came from people having had the white Gotas de Oro and always asking if he had something red. They thought about a name but it was a simple case deciding on the name Something Red. It is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and 32% Merlot. The grapes come from their Voca, Texas, Certenberg Vineyard and was from the 2008 harvest. Winemakers for the wine were Alphonse including Ed Auler and Sergio Cuadra from Fall Creek Vineyards. The wine comes in with 15.5% alcohol. 562 cases of the wine were made.

The last wine tasted was the Gotas de Oro. We learned there were actually three vintages of the wine over the years:

• • 2008: 92% Muscat Canelli, 8% Chardonnay. 862 cases.
• • 2010: 62% Muscat Canelli, 38% Chardonnay. 1022 cases.
• • 2012: 50% Muscat Canelli, 50% Chardonnay. 538 cases.

The Muscat Canelli grapes in the wine has come from the Certenberg Vineyard and Andy Timmons’ Lost Draw Vineyards while the Chardonnay has come from Certenberg Vineyard. Winemakers for Gotas de Oro have been Alphonse Dotson and Ed Auler.

Alphonse Dotson

Wines of Dotson-Cervantes will be starting a wine club and they will be limiting it to 333 members. When asked how he came up with that number, Alphonse stated he does not want to produce over 1,000 cases of whatever variety of wine he sells, and doing some division and still allowing wines in the winery would have a maximum wine club membership of 333. There is a small gift shop in the winery with wine accessories.

If you find yourself in the Pontotoc area of the Hill Country, definitely make sure you stop by Wines of Dotson-Cervantes.

The post Wines of Dotson-Cervantes appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Wine Lovers Trail from Texas Hill Country Wineries appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Love is in the air and the Texas Hill Country Wineries are here to help you. In February, you can join their wine trail and indulge in a little wine and sweets. Spend a romantic getaway in the stunning Texas Hill Country, sipping and sampling wine and chocolates at the 42 Hill Country Wineries.

With a full 17 days of Wine Lovers Trail, February 6-22, 2014, you can celebrate Valentines Day anytime. Spend your time with a loved one, discovering the wine and nibbling on the signature chocolates box created just for you.

The Wine Lovers Trail is just that, all about the WINE. Your $60 couples ticket or $35 individual ticket includes ONE box of chocolates from Texas Hill Country Wineries, a full complimentary tasting at each winery with a limit of 4 wineries a day, and a 15% discount on 3 bottle purchases.

The average tasting fee at the 42 participating wineries is $9/person adding up to $36/person if visiting 4 wineries a day. And that’s just for ONE day! You have 17 days to visit 42 wineries. Your Wine Lovers Trail ticket is already saving you money, not including the discounts on wine purchases.

One of the finest chocolatiers in Texas has been hand-picked to provide you with absolute deliciousness to pair with Hill Country wines. They have created a box of 6 assorted chocolates with Wiseman House Chocolates that will go perfectly with reds or whites. Flavors include Raspberry Champagne, Love Potion, Texas Pecan, Milk Rufus, Apricot and Wild Woman.

Each ticket will include a Tasting Passport to be picked up at your first winery (selected at time of ticket purchase). Each winery you visit will stamp the booklet on the day you visit the winery and taste. Each day you can taste and get stamped at 4 wineries total. Couples tickets will receive ONE booklet but both people will get the tastings.

The limit to 4 winery tastings a day with your ticket is a way for THCW to promote responsible drinking on the wine trails. This way you can take your time and enjoy each winery more this way, instead of rushing through tastings and getting to the next stop. This allows for a more intimate experience at each winery, enjoying the wines and the people.

For more information and to purchase tickets, check the Texas Hill Country Wineries website.

The post Wine Lovers Trail from Texas Hill Country Wineries appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Todd Webster of 4.0 Cellars Winemaker Profile appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

Todd Webster

Brennan Vineyards, McPherson Cellars, and Lost Oak Winery are the wineries who form 4.0 Cellars in Fredericksburg, Texas. Todd Webster is the winemaker for Brennan Vineyards and is also the winemaker for 4.0 Cellars.

We asked Todd Webster about his background and philosophy of winemaking.

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

I worked for a small boutique wine distributor/importer in Ft. Worth called The Wine Frog. I had a passion for wine and was trying to find some sort of job in the wine industry. I saw an ad for Sales Rep’s at The Wine Frog. I contacted the owner and said I was not a sales person at all, but wanted to work in the wine business and would do anything. I was hired to be The Wine Frog’s first delivery driver. Several years later The Wine Frog was looking for a Texas winery to distribute. The winery we selected was Brennan Vineyards. That is how I met Pat and Trellise Brennan.

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

The toughest part of being a winemaker in Texas has to be the unpredictability of the weather. At Brennan Vineyards we are trying to come up with ways to protect our estate vineyards and the vineyards, we work with against spring freezes and diversifying our grapes over several regions with different growers throughout the state.

Is winemaking an art or a science or both?

It is definitely both in my experience. The trick is finding the perfect balance between the two. That all starts in our vineyards and with our growers. To make great wine you need high quality fruit. When you have high quality fruit, the winemaker’s job is more artful. It becomes a lot more scientific with low quality fruit.

What is your favorite food and wine pairing?

My favorite food and wine pairing is Scallops with a Champagne Vanilla Butter Sauce paired with Viognier. Back when I worked for The Wine Frog I started the tradition of making a four-course dinner with five wines for Valentine’s Day for my wife. In 2007, the first year I did this, I decided to make some sort of seafood dish because my wife loves all types of seafood. I think this recipe stuck with me since I love Champagne. I figured the Champagne would mask any seafood flavors. The wine I poured was a Condrieu that we imported at The Wine Frog. It’s a small world that a few years later I would become the winemaker for a winery where their flagship wine was Viognier.

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

There is no doubt if I wasn’t a winemaker I would be a professional soccer player. My team of choice would no doubt be Reims in the heart of Champagne country.

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

As soon as I turned 21, I started drinking wine seriously. I loved learning about new regions and new wine styles. I just became very passionate about wine. I never thought I would end up being a winemaker. I assumed I would have a corporate 9-5 job like most people. I am very fortunate to go to work every day and do something I am passionate about. I have been at Brennan Vineyards since May 2008. I was not the main winemaker until the 2010 or 2011 vintage.

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

I think the most common question I get as a winemaker is, “How hard is it to make wine?” I try to explain it through a quote from Mike Sexton about No Limit Hold’em Poker: “It takes five minutes to learn but a lifetime to master.” So the basic concept of making wine is very simple, but there are a ton of nuances to making great wine. And to this day I am still learning.

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

This depends on the time of year. I have two small kids so there are a lot of sports practices going on after work. If it is November or December though, there is a good chance I am headed hunting after work.

What’s the greatest part about being a winemaker?

I kind of alluded to this earlier. When you are lucky enough to work in a profession that you are passionate for, it is not really work. That is the best part of being a winemaker for sure.

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

This is still a work in progress. I would say I am leaning towards being a minimalist though. I have found in my early goings that doing less is more. Having said that, I have also found that you should not be afraid to try new things. Several years ago we had a philosophy change in our estate vineyards. Since then, the quality of our red wines has skyrocketed in my opinion.

Anything else you would like to add?

The NY Football Giants are terrible!

Background: Todd Webster is a Dallas Cowboys fan and Jeff Cope is a New York Giants fan. Over the years, there has always been a friendly rivalry between the two.

The post Todd Webster of 4.0 Cellars Winemaker Profile appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

The post Hill Country: Women for WineSense Valentine Progressive Wine Dinner appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.

You may have heard about the Women for WineSense which has different chapters around the United States. The Texas Hill Country chapter is holding their 1st Annual Valentine Progressive Wine Dinner on Friday, February 13, which sounds like a fantastic event. Anybody can attend and you don’t need to be a woman!

This is how it works. During the evening, you will visit four Hill Country wineries. At each location, you will enjoy a glass of wine and a food pairing. It’s then time to move on to the next winery to enjoy the second course. But the best thing is you don’t have to drive! They will have vans available to transport you to the different wineries.

The starting location is William Chris Vineyards located in Hye, Texas. That’s because at the end of the evening, you will end up back at William Chris.

Here are the different courses available for the evening’s dinner:

First Course at Kuhlman Cellars

Flatbread Duo

Spanish Chorizo, Leeks and Charred Sweet Potato

Bruschetta, Wine Poached Fruit, Ricotta & Arugula

Prepared by Josh Raymer

Paired with Kuhlman Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

Second Course at Hye Market

Acorn Squash Bisque with Smoked Paprika Garni

And a Salad of Little Gem and Butterhead Lettuces with Radicchio and Rice Wine Vinaigrette

Prepared by Terry Thompson-Anderson,

Frances Money, and Leslie Horne

Paired with Wedding Oak Winery Viognier

Third Course at Compass Rose Cellars

Shiner Bock Braised Beef Short Ribs

with Maple-Balsamic Glaze

On a Bed of Soft Polenta with Jalapeños and Onions

Prepared by Chef Brian Gillenwates

Paired with Compass Rose Cellars 2012 Syrah

Dessert Course at William-Chris Vineyards

Rosemary Pine Nut Tart with Roussanne Gelato

Prepared by Chef Chozet

Paired with William Chris 2013 Fortified Roussanne

Transportation will be provided by Texas Two Step Wine Tours, Cellar Rat Wine Tours, and Hye Wine Tours.

The price for the dinner is $75 per person or $65 if you are a Women for WineSense member. Get your tickets now for the Valentine Progressive Wine Dinner.

The post Hill Country: Women for WineSense Valentine Progressive Wine Dinner appeared first on Texas Wine Lover.