Lisa Kennelly of Diamond Vineyards is a hardworking, determined woman, and it is no wonder that Diamond Vineyards—a vineyard and winery—is sure to see success. She is an Advanced Sommelier who purchased a 100-acre ranch in Fredericksburg and then became a viticulturist after planting her 13-acre vineyard. Now, she is a winemaker, making only estate wines with grapes from her vineyard.
I was able to taste Lisa’s Tannat at a wine bar in Boerne called DeVino Cellars. After tasting the wine, I knew I had to visit Diamond Vineyards. Reservations are required for vineyard hikes and wine tastings on the weekends, and the Diamond Vineyards’ website has a list of all events they have available. The weather started getting chilly at the beginning of January, so I opted for just a wine tasting. When the weather warms up in the spring and the vines turn lush and green, I will definitely go back for a vineyard hike.
I arrived at the road for Diamond Vineyards with a friend and we learned it was a good thing I was driving my SUV instead of her car. The very long road was made for trucks, so please consider that when you visit Diamond Vineyards. If you’re driving a car, just take it very slowly. The vineyard eventually came into view, and we drove by it and to the production building. Lisa Kennelly was just coming out of the vineyard with so. me viticulturists, and after they were done discussing the needs of the vineyard, we headed to the front porch of the building.
Vineyard ready for pruning
Even though the temperature was around 60 degrees, Lisa suggested the front porch in the sun would be the best place to hold the wine tasting. We agreed, and she started setting up for the tasting while another two guests soon arrived to enjoy the tasting.
Lisa started the tasting by explaining about the vineyard that started it all. The soil is limestone and caliche, and she first planted the vineyard in 2018 doing all the work along with her sons Ransom Kennelly and Colton Kennelly. The grapes planted were Tannat, Mourvèdre, and Tempranillo, and the final planting was in 2022 to complete the current 13-acre vineyard.
We could see from the view of the porch a pond with a pump for irrigation. Lisa said she is thinking about continuing the vineyard on an adjacent hill growing white grapes like Vermentino and Verdicchio, and then Sangiovese. The pond is in a central location that would work for both vineyard blocks.
During the explanation of the vineyard and eventually the wines, I could tell Lisa Kennelly knew what she was talking about. We learned she is an Advanced Sommelier who has traveled and lived around the world and is now taking those skills into making Old World–style wines meant to be paired with food.
She made the first wines in 2021 while partnering with Bending Branch Winery. Lisa works with the team on her wines, and she described how she determines the different oak staves to use in her particular wines. As mentioned, she doesn’t buy grapes from anybody else and only makes estate wines.
These were the wines we tasted during our visit:
- Melee Estate Red Wine Blend (41% Tempranillo, 32% Tannat, and 27% Mourvèdre). This was the first wine starting with fruit from 2021 and is a true field blend. Lisa told the story of how they had to harvest everything very quickly one day because raccoons were eating everything. She then topped the 2021 wine with the 2022 vintage.
- 2022 Estate Mourvèdre. This is third leaf and aged two years in neutral oak.
- 2022 Estate Tempranillo. This was aged six months in French oak and then neutral oak.
- 2022 Estate Tannat. Hungarian oak.
- 2022 Estate Melee Red Wine Blend (34% Tannat, 33% Tempranillo, and 33% Mourvèdre). Unlike the 2021 Melee, this is a barrel blend.
Being versed in wine and food pairing, there were palate cleansers provided that paired best with certain wines. Everyone enjoyed all the wines, and we were informed the 2023 vintage wines will be coming out this February.
Lisa Kennelly
I definitely look forward to tasting future wines, especially when we heard Dr. Bob Young of Bending Branch Winery said the Diamond Vineyards 2024 Tannat is the best he’s ever had in Texas. Sign me up for that one when it comes out!