Arch Ray Winery – Fredericksburg, Texas

Saying that this is a huge facility is an understatement. Not only do they serve some great wines but they also have a distillery and brewery here. Talk about a one stop shop for all. If that was not enough, they also have an excellent local restaurant, 1894 Ranch, serving delicious farm to table cuisine that is to die for (including locally raised Wagyu beef). Oh boy! So, how did this great place come to be? Many longtime Texas wine friends are already familiar with Fiesta Winery.  The same people, Stephen and Sally Baxter, have taken their next adventure to a whole new level.  They come from many generations of family ranchers, the Baxter and McCoury families, and have named this new inspiring location from a blend of a couple of their family background names, Archie, and Ray. The winery, distillery, brewery, and restaurant aren’t the only things to admire here. There’s a great RV park being built, cabins, as well as plans for a future Wyndham built but locally managed resort hotel on this site. This will definitely raise the bar on the ultimate full service stay location in the ever-booming Texas Hill Country.

There is so much to share about this place, but for this blog let’s focus on the wines.  The “old” tasting room was opened in 2022 and this brand new spacious facility opened up to the public last summer. Family member Weston McCoury from Fiesta has been overseeing the winemaking for Arch Ray. In addition to Fiesta wines, you can now sample some great Arch Ray wines.  There are currently five main flights to choose from: Sweet White, Sweet Red, Dry White, Dry Mix, and Dry Red. For this visit, the focus was on the Arch Ray wines Dry White and Dry Red fights. Grapes for these Arch Ray wines are sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA.  First up for the whites was the 2021 Viognier. It has a light tropical sensation with notes of honeysuckle. This was followed by the 2021 Gewurztraminer. This white wine is big on pear and dried apricot with a pleasant floral note. The 2021 Pinot Grigio has a light refreshing feel with notes of crisp apple and a touch of honey. The last white sampled was the 2021 Riesling. This German semi dry style wine packs a zesty floral note coupled with notes of apple and pear.  For the reds, the first one sampled was the 2019 Mourvèdre. This well-known Texas wine varietal had a touch of smoke and a bit of oak to compliment the peppery feel and smooth finish. The second red was the 2019 Sangiovese. This Italian style wine had rich cherries and spices. Another well-known Texas varietal in this flight was the 2019 Tempranillo. This one packed some bold cherries, and mouth puckering tannins with just the right shade of ruby color. Last, was the 2019 Tannat. This bold and dark fruit wine was quite elegant with well-balanced acids and a satisfying lip puckering finish.  You honestly can’t go wrong with any of these wines, so feel free to dive in and enjoy.

In addition to the large indoor location, there is a covered patio area for scenic outside seating for you to soak up some classic Hill Country scenery.  If you have time, plan to sample some of their food while you enjoy your tasting. The food items were sourced directly from the Baxter ranch. This is a sensational property that is still being developed, but for now, this destination is worth a stop. There are some great wines and tasty foods to enjoy here, along with a nice shop in the front of the main tasting room. Cheers!

www.archrayresort.com

Airis’Ele Vineyards – Fredericksburg, Texas

Having been opened since 2022, this new winery on HWY 290 is a must add to your regular Hill Country wine trekking trips. Founded by the Bernard and Perrenoud families, this new adventure for the 12-acre estate has really gotten off to a great start. Chris Perrenoud has a long-time history in the Fredericksburg area and helped get her husband Brett hooked on the Texas wine bug. Both Chris and Brett worked at Becker Vineyards for a long time, so they have certainly seen many changes to the ever-expanding Texas wine industry. John and Susie Bernard have had a long time community involvement in the area. Having established their own careers, this next adventure into the Texas wine world is the next chapter of their careers. The name of the winery comes from the blending of John Bernard’s side of the family and Chris Perrenoud’s maiden name. There is a great story regarding why the name begins with “A”, but you should pay a visit to find out more. The lovely name isn’t difficult to pronounce once you hear it. The symbol comes from some Axis deer antlers that Bret’s dad found on the property. The antlers were both found on different parts of the property and just happened to match up. They represent the two families working together as well as how grape vines are pruned back for future growth. Once an old farm ranch house, the owners have added on to the 20^th century home turning it into a fantastic tasting room with scenic views of large oak trees in the backyard area and great artwork on the walls. You can see the original rock wall from the back porch as you admire the lovely scenery. John Bernard’s acoustic guitar collection has also found a special place in the tasting room to help elevate the décor. There is ample indoor and outdoor seating and an exquisite upstairs private tasting room overlooking the main downstairs tasting room with an even better view of the outdoor area too.

Michael Barton, from Hilmy Cellars, is helping the owners with the winemaking.  There are plans to add a production facility on site as well as estate vines. They currently have several great wines to select from that you can’t go wrong with. Most grapes are sourced from the Texas High Plains. You’ll also notice some wines from the Columbia Valley area which will give you a great comparison with the Texas wine equivalent.  You will notice a three-word descriptor for each wine.  This is Bret’s take on how best to describe how enjoyable each wine is to drink. A little bit of everything and then some was tried on this visit. First to start off with was the NV Dry Bienvenue. Sourced from Wilmeth Vineyards of the Texas High Plains AVA, this fizzy jewel is a blend of 55% Roussanne, 25% Riesling, and 20% Viognier. Along with the lively bubbles, are some great minerality and buttery notes. The next white was a 2019 Viognier from Lahey Vineyards. This big Texas white wine has great acids and tropical notes to add to that lush feeling. For the Rosé wine, they have the 2021 Redlin sourced from Farmhouse Vineyards. This blend of 40% Cinsault, 20% Montepulciano, 20% Sangiovese, 15% Mourvèdre, and 5% Grenache is not only full of cherry notes, but light, smooth, fruit forward and quite refreshing. The first red on the menu is their 2018 Malbec. This Newsom Vineyard sourced fruit is quite smooth with berry notes, well balanced, and has good acids.  This was followed by the 2021 Nichol which is a 50/50 blend of Petite Sirah and Petite Verdot. It is one of the darker reds you’ll try and has jammy notes, lots of depth, and is very smooth. Did someone say Cabernet Sauvignon? Well, their Columbia Valley sourced Cab is delicious. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is big on black cherry, smooth, and savory. However, brace yourself for the 2021 vintage! We got a “sneak peek” of this bad beast Cab, and it just hits all those high marks of bold, lush, long finish, and elegant. It’s a long-term cellaring wine for sure. For a take on left/right bank style blend, try the Cuerno. Also sourced from Columbia Valley, it’s a blend of 40% Merlot, 20% Malbec, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Call this jewel well balanced with a nice fruit forward sensation. And not to be left out, is the 2020 Cabernet Franc from Calistoga. This big and heavy red wine just explodes with a tantalizing mouthfeel, along with that classic pucker up tannin sensation. Lastly, was the 2021 Muscat. Sourced from Farmhouse Vineyards, it does have a beautiful aromatic nose with notes of grapefruit and other delightful tropical sensations.

To say the owners are enthusiastic about their place is an understatement.  Take the opportunity to chat with them during your tasting and you’ll get the A-to-Z about their passion for this place.  There is a lot of great history packed into their story, and the views are only complimented by the many species of birds you’ll find on the estate. You’ll love their wines and fall in love with the tasting room. So, plan a long visit here and take your time while you taste the wine. Cheers!

www.airiselevineyards.com

Meierstone Vineyards – Stonewall, Texas

With deep family roots and history in the Hill Country region, this 7^th generation Texas family has contributed much to the local area. The current estate is a 555-acre working farm for the past five generations with everything from corn, wheat, cattle, turkeys and now a winery to boot. Their next adventure in Texas farming is growing wine grapes and making wine. However, the family is no stranger to that. The family’s grandmother, Dora, had been making wine from area grapes and peaches in the farmhouse basement since the 1970s. The name of the winery pays homage to prior generations by combining two female surnames names, Meier and Stone, as a nod to their rich heritage.

Family member, Krystal Patel, is the winemaker and can be found overseeing everyone’s tasting experiences in the tasting room with her team. She has no problem going into great depth about her family’s history in the area as well as all what has been done with the farm over the years. Her passion and enthusiasm for Texas wine is equally inspiring. Driving onto the farm off HWY 290, you cannot help but notice the large steel wrecking ball that has sits beside the highway. This was once used to clear fields for farming back in the days. Opened since the Fall of 2022, the current tasting room is a large open air metal barn style building with nearby old oak trees and views of the fields of corn on the property. There is also an additional outside seating area with tables along with a cozy swing to take your visit to the next level of comfort and relaxation. The property has the family blacksmith building near the main tasting room that can be visited while there or also booked for private group tastings or events. Inside the tasting room are lots of information on the Family’s origins, local history, and the evolution and changes to the estate farm over the years. The staff are extremely friendly, helpful and do a great job checking in with you during your tasting and visit to ensure that your needs are met. They are also your wine ambassadors eager to guide you through each of their wines. There are plans to build a permanent tasting room on the east side of the estate overlooking the Hill Country scenery with an additional access road from the highway.

Grapes are currently sourced from the Texas High Plains and the wine is made in the Hill Country.  Although grapes are currently sourced elsewhere, there are plans to establish a future estate vineyard. Their first harvest was in 2018 and they have not looked back since. The focus is on small batch production, and you will see it in the quality of the wines you sample. For tastings, there are currently four wines to try plus one “extra”.  The first white wine on the menu is the 2021 Trebbiano. Sourced from Paka Vineyards, it has a floral nose and a lovely light citrus and apricot flavor with good acids. The second white is the 2021 Roussanne. This wine is aged in French oak and will fill your palate with lemon grass and pears and has good body to it. Both whites are dry and refreshing on a warm summer day. Following the whites, is a lovely 2021 dry Rosé. Made from Sangiovese grapes, this wine sat on the skins for 24 hours and is rich in strawberry and cherry with a touch of spice. It is Equally refreshing when served chilled. Moving on to the dry red wines, you will notice that the Malbec has a black label, indicating it is a reserve wine, which was aged longer. The 2018 Malbec Reserve was one of their first wines made. Sourced from Newsom Vineyards, this red wine has been aged for 46 months in neutral oak. It is fruit forward with notes of blackberry, has good acids and a nice smooth finish. The “extra” surprise red blend called Cabernello was a lovely treat to sample. This 2021 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. This limited production release (just 51 cases) is fruit forward with notes of herbs, rich red berries, and a touch of leather. The logo etched glasses are a nice touch as you enjoy your wine, and they also have a VoChill to help keep your wine cool for those warm tasting days.  All the wines are already award winners from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo 2023 Rodeo, Lone Star International Wine Competition, and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Wine Competition. There are seven new wines planned for future release in the coming months.  One is a Sangiovese, a Tannat, a Cabernet Sauvignon, a red blend, and a special big high alcohol red blend that will be a flagship wine, plus a Souzao and a sparkling wine.

This family-owned winery will make you feel more than welcome. They are “all in” on this next phase of the farm’s rich history. Their family legacy and history in the area appears to be full of interesting people who had the ability to dig in and find a way to get the most out of what they had as they wrote their chapters in the history books on this farm. The new winemaking journey is another story that is just beginning, and we look forward to future chapters of this new story. Enjoy your visit here!

www.meierstonevineyards.com

Carter Creek Winery – Johnson City, Texas

To say this is a one stop shop for everything wine getaway related is an understatement. The 38-acre property just about has it all.  Owners Jim and Dawn Carter are no strangers to the winery business.  Having run the successful South Coast Winery Resort & Spa in Temecula, California, the Carter Creek location is their first Texas based winery. Jim has had a long and different career ranging from tree farming and real estate in addition to the winemaking business. The Carter Creek location isn’t just a one stop tasting room experience.  Like their sister location in Temecula, there is a fine restaurant, many villas, a spa, brewery, and a nice member tasting lounge with windows overlooking the famous Hill Country highway 290 winery corridor and beyond.  The open courtyard between the tasting room and event center is amazing.  You are just up high enough to soak up some scenic views of the hills of Johnson City.  Jim has John McPherson helping with the winemaking. They met in California where Jim made his first Petite Sirah wine. John is certainly no stranger to the winemaking business. His Father “Doc” McPherson helped pioneer Texas wines in the early days and his brothers have made their own contributions to the industry as well.  Carter Creek has been making Texas wines since 2016 and opened the winery resort location in 2019.  Also onsite, is a vineyard of new UC Davis Pierce resistant varieties, Paseante Noir and Errante Noir. Paseante Noir has most of its parental material from Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon while the Errante Noir has most genetics from Sylvaner, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, and Chardonnay.

There are quite a few amazing wines to try from the list. For this visit, the first one sampled was the 2017 Gloria.  This Texas High Plains blend of 76% Gewürztraminer, 18% Riesling, and 6% Muscat Canelli is light in color with stone fruit and some solid minerality. It is truly an easy sipping summer wine. The next white wine was the 2017 Viognier/Roussanne. It has a Rhone style feel to it with great acidity, tropical notes, and superb mouthfeel. Moving on to the next one was the 2018 Plateau Rosé. This High Plains sourced fruit wine is a blend of 62% Cinsault, 23% Grenache, 8% Tempranillo, and 7% Carignane. It’s a nice BBQ pairing wine, as this bottle has notes of strawberry and raspberry with a nice acidic finish. For the sparkling wines, you will be in for a treat with their Sparkling Brut.  With mostly Chenin Blanc along with a touch of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, your nose will be pleased with the fruit notes on this sparkling white wine. The other bubbly is a Tempranillo Sparkling Rosé. It has bright acidity along with notes of cranberry and pomegranate.  As for the red wines, you can’t go wrong with the 2017 Maverick. This Rhone style red blend has 25% Syrah, 23% Mourvèdre, 23% Counoise, 23% Cinsault, and 6% Viognier. It is quite big on the berry notes, very well balanced, and has a touch of coffee to balance things out on the flavor profile. The second red sampled was the 2021 Plateau Red. This wine is typically made from the best grapes of the vintage. This Tempranillo blend includes some Grenache and Touriga along with a touch of Tinta Cao. What you get is some spice with a touch of floral sensation and a fine lasting finish. Speaking of Tempranillo, the 2017 release lives up to the great vintage year expectations for wines from Texas. With big blackberry notes and a touch of smoke, it’s a bit lighter than other Texas Tempranillos and has a pleasant smooth finish.  Roll back just one year and get a bottle the 2016 Tempranillio if you can. This wine tastes more mature, mellow, and smooth. Yes, Texas can make good Cabernet Sauvignon.  Their 2017 vintage is from 30-year-old vines Doc McPherson planted. This wine is big on blackberries with some blueberries and a bit lighter bodied with a touch of silkiness. There is just a splash of Merlot and Petit Verdot for added depth.  While you are in the Cab drinking mood, give their 2018 Cabernet a taste.  This one is much bolder and deeper than the previous vintage so be prepared. You can’t leave without dessert, so make sure to get a little sample of the Dominum Tino. This Portuguese blend of Tino Cao, Touriga Nacional, and Tinto Nero has ripe fruit aromas, great blueberry notes, and a bit of cocoa. There is just a dash of Muscat in this dessert wine for an extra delightful note. Future releases will include a peach sparkling wine, cuvee, and one called Group Therapy (love this name). 

There is everything to like about the property whether you’re here for the wine or other amenities this place offers.  The staff is quite knowledgeable and engaging and ready to help guide you and answer your questions. Everything on the menu is worth your tasting time, plus the grounds are a great place to just sip, and soak in the Hill Country Zen. Cheers!

www.cartercreek.com

Lucky 13-year Anniversary!

What a lucky year it has been!  So many new wines to write about lately, not to mention the number of new wineries opening up has seemed exponential. The quality and variety of wines being produced never ceases to amaze us.  It’s not been the same-ol’, same-ol’, but always something new and surprising. Certainly, the ever-changing weather has had a strong influence on wine production. For Texas wines, two record hot years in a row, 2022 and 2023, should yield some fine future vintages. Some of the first 2022 Rosé wines released are already hitting those high marks as a memorable year. It has been exciting to see a handful of wineries start crafting Piquette and the rise of Teroldego in Texas has been surprising and exciting. For 2023, the Instagram account has been “re-kickstarted” which will focus on the theme, “a picture is worth a thousand words”, and will have mostly wines we try out, but not necessarily a full review (www.instagram.com/wineofthemoment). As with all things in the tech world, nothing stays the same.  We have launched a Threads account with a focus on “sneak peaks” for upcoming wines to check out (https://www.threads.net/@wineofthemoment). For the next year of blogging, look for more old-world wine postings to compare with some of the new up and coming Texas varietals being released. As always, it has been a great adventure and we excitedly anticipate many new ones that lie ahead of us. Hopefully, we may run into some of you on our great wine trail exploration and adventures. In the meantime, stay cool, stay calm, stay open to new experiences and trying new varietals, and keep your glass at least half full of some amazing wine. Cheers!

Check out some new upcoming photo backgrounds below added to the rotation list!

Limestone Terrace Vineyard – Wimberley, TX

Tucked away in the hills just north of Wimberley, is a small family boutique winery and vineyard that is a must on your wine travel itinerary.  You may have to take a few careful turns along the windy unpaved road and navigate some narrow paths slowly, but you will eventually be rewarded at your destination with an oasis with majestic views and a handsome vineyard that greets you at the entrance. The original vineyard is no stranger to the Texas Hill Country AVA but succumbed to a fire during the great Texas drought of 2011.  Owners Paul Dierickx and Ben Stovall had taken over the estate in 2016 and began the journey to bring wine life back to this spot. Planting top-quality Mediterranean varietals of white, rose, and reds that year, the 8-acre vineyard started to come back to life with vines of Mourvédre, Sangiovese, and Albarino. The winery’s name pays homage to the limestone rock shelf that cascades downward towards the vineyard below. The first wine release and opening day was in 2020 and the fun has never stopped. Christine Daly helps oversee the vines and wine production.  There is a large, covered area near the vineyard for tastings, but the real treat is the deck next to it overlooking the terrace and vineyard below.

Tastings are done by “Wine of The Week” so they rotate on a regular basis.  You will get a selection of five wines to try from about 14 wines on their menu. For this tasting session, we enjoyed the whitetail which is a white wine blend of 34% Roussanne, 33% Trebbiano, and 33% Albarino. The wine was well balanced, medium bodied and would pair nicely with slow cooked chicken, and honestly is wonderful on its own on a warm day. The second white we sampled was the 2021 Albarino. Sourced from Narra Vineyards, this jewel had great acids, some tropical and citrus notes and was on the bold side for a white wine.  We moved onto the Dolcetto Rosé. Offered on tap, this easy sipper was dry with notes of cranberry, good acids, and a touch of effervescence. A 2021 estate blend Rosé of Sangiovese and Mourvedre is also available, and we felt it was a must to take home! For the reds, their 2019 Sangiovese has Texas High Plains fruit aged for 21 months in neutral oak. It’s light in color, smooth to the taste, and has just enough acids to dazzle your palate. The 2020 Tempranillo was sourced from Crooked Post Vineyard of the High Plains. Aged 20 months in oak, this Texas red wine has medium tannins, along with a subtle light smoke and hint of leather.  It is probably the smoothest and easiest Texas Tempranillo to sip than any other you have had.  The 2019 Mourvèdre from the Texas High plains will delight the senses with red berries and moderate tannins. Try it again in a couple of years to see how well it continues to mature. There is a 2020 estate Mourvèdre that you will want to make sure you try as well. The real piece de resistance was the 2020 Teraldego. This High Plains sourced fruit from Pepper Jack Vineyards had a deep dark plum color, rich berry flavors, and a nice lingering finish. It just might rival several good Cabernet Sauvignons.  Growlers are available for some of the wines, with a nod to sustainability and just like in the old county, bring your empty one back for a refill. Look for the artistic “smoke” rendering on the labels that pays homage to the previous vineyard.  No worries if a wine bottle you think looks good isn’t on the weekly list. Nothing on the menu will disappoint and this is the place to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, you just might find a new favorite to love.

Everything is worth a try and a wonderful sipping experience, so plan to bring a cooler and take some bottles home to continue enjoying for later. The beauty of these wines is that they are each entirely enjoyable alone but can also be enjoyed with food.  In the future the winery has plans to release a Fiano and Tannat.  With the fantastic vineyard views from the terrace, fabulous wines, and excellent staff to take care of you, there is no need to rush life while you’re here. Bring a picnic lunch or charcuterie snacks, friends, significant others, guests, yourself and just take a break to enjoy the great outdoors, a nice cross breeze on the deck, the vineyard views of this lovely gem and understand what “La dolce vita” is all about here. Relax, slow down and be present in the moment and one with your wine. Cheers!

www.limestoneterrace.com

Uplift Vineyard – Burnet, Texas

Welcome to Eden. It just takes one stroll along the vineyard path to realize that you have walked into paradise. From the meticulously managed vines to the 360-degree valley views, the surreal initial feeling is like you are in a mystical spot. Many long time Texas wine fans may remember this place as Hoover Valley Vineyards. The grapes from HVV were used to make some of the fantastic wines from area wineries. Owners Reed and Joan Williams had been managing the 78-acre estate for just over a decade. With 55 acres of vines, 13 varietals planted, and gorgeous scenic country hills surrounding the valley, it has been an impressive site for sourcing quality Texas grapes. The Williams had been looking for someone to take over their vineyard paradise and care for it as much as they had. William Chris Vineyards and Lost Draw had been sourcing this spot for grapes for a while and it seemed like a natural fit for them to add this to their expanding business. Well, with some negotiations, wine talking, and favorable financing, the marriage made in Hill Country heaven became reality in 2021.  As part of the ownership change, the site was named Uplift Vineyard as a reflection of the area geology and geography (a billion plus years in the making) that has blessed so many vineyards in the Texas Hill Country. But more importantly, many of the staff from the original owners are still there carrying forth the history of the vineyard with them as they help cultivate a new path and future for the farm.

This unique vineyard location has a lot of great things going for it.  First, it benefits from the microclimate effects from the nearby Colorado river and surrounding “Texas Mountains”. It doesn’t get too cold or too hot, and it garners the benefits of a little bit of shielding from severe storms by virtue of the surrounding hills. Second, the soil profile ranges from sandy, to sandy loam, to clay which helps the planting of the ideal grapes on specific soil compositions. Thirdly, the wisdom and knowledge from the long-time vineyard manager Rob Strain keeps the site working like a charm.  Grapes grown on the site include Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Roussanne, Merlot, Malbec, Aglianico, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Marsanne, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Grenache.  Most of the vineyard practice is done with low yielding vines to encourage good quality fruit – not to mention, lots of hand harvesting, too! While most grapes grown here will go to the William Chris Wine Company, the estate wines at Uplift will use only the top-quality fruit from each harvest.

Clair Richardson is the lead winemaker at Uplift. Many may recognize her as the assistant winemaker at William Chris Vineyards. She has really hit a home run with some of the first batches of wine that have been released, so be prepared to be super impressed. In addition, renowned winemaker Jean Hoefliger is onboard to provide his invaluable consulting to help guide this new place to its full potential. Currently, wine production is done at the William Chris Vineyards location in Hye. Eventually, wines will be made on site at the new production building. Your tasting experience here is truly unique and memorable. Take in the full breadth of the wonderful vineyard views as you ride around the estate in the vineyard golf cart.  On the higher elevation side of the vineyard is a picnic table where you can relax and enjoy the majestic scenes of the hills, vineyard, and natural countryside and maybe a lovely little breeze. During the springtime, you’ll be blessed with the wildflowers that parallel the trellis and vines. Inside the tasting room, the walls are decorated with lovely artwork, elegant tables with a rustic feel, as well as a spacious open floor plan.  Upstairs will be the new club-member lounge with a fantastic view of the estate from the outside porch.

Keep in mind, there is no such thing as an empty glass during your tasting session, so you will be well taken care of during your visit. For this tasting session, the intros started with a glass of Lost Draw Uplift Blanc. Sourced from the Uplift estate, this white wine is a blend of 69% Viognier, 19% Marsanne, and 19% Roussanne. It’s clean, crisp, with some rich minerality to it.  Next, we were treated to some barrel samples of their Montepulciano and Sangiovese. Aged in French Oak, there’s nothing like sampling great wine straight from the barrel and participating in your own “thieving” process! The next set of wines were enjoyed with a pairing of some fine beef cooked on a sizzling hot stone. You get to mix and match your own fixings of customized seasoning, tomato pesto, or smoked salt. The first wine to try this pairing with was the 2020 Aglianico. The wine has deep red fruit flavors, bold, and quite fruit forward. Next was the 2021 Montepulciano. The depth of flavors was incredible along with herbal notes and red berries. Following that wonderful beast, was the 2020 Whitlock.  This estate red is a blend of 90% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Aglianico. It is well balanced, with great fruit aromas, plus a fine finish. Finally, was the 2021 Sangiovese. This lovely red wine is full bodied with rich red fruit enveloping your palate like there’s no tomorrow. But wait…there was one more. The “hard-to-get” 2020 Montepulciano was also available, and it is drinking well right now! It’s smooth, elegant, and rich in berries.   All these red wines can be age worthy, so get extras to try and savor again in the future. Additional wines are in the works, including a Cabernet Sauvignon and some Rhône style blends. 

Uplift Vineyard is a spectacular jewel in the Texas Hill Country AVA. There is no shame in walking away with a case or two.  The staff here are knowledgeable and here to make sure your experience is nothing but the finest.  The trouble is, once you have visited, you find yourself continuing to reminisce about this spectacular utopia, leaving no doubt that you have found something special. Cheers!

www.upliftvineyard.com

El Alamo Winery – Alcalde, New Mexico

Meaning “The Cottonwood” and home to the largest Cottonwood tree in New Mexico (second in U.S.), this small, family run boutique winery will fill that special place in your wine heart. The estate has been in family hands for about 200 years and was already a working farm for apples and apricots. Winemaker and founder, Joseph Martinez, had already taken a stab at making wine for about 15 years for the family. Almost a decade ago, he and his family began planting vines on the estate of primarily Riesling and Baco Noir. With his mechanical engineering background, his science-based approach to winemaking and intuitive talent has yielded some great tasting wines. 2017 was the first commercial vintage and the tasting room opened in 2020. With about 1200 vines on the estate as well as grapes sourced from other New Mexico vineyards, this new operation has been producing about 300-600 cases per year of wine. There are a lot of different wines to try on the list. For the whites, there are four different Riesling styles from dry, semi-dry, to sweet. Ranging in vintages from 2018 – 2020, each has their own unique character on Riesling notes, but those citrus, apple, and apricot notes are all quite pleasing. Also on the list is an Apricot wine. This surprisingly dry like fruit wine was from a bumper crop they had and has good acids for food pairing.  For the Boco Noir grapes, check out their Rosés.  Taste all of them from dry to sweet, but all vintages from 2018 to 2020 will peak your senses with lots of aromas of strawberries. You will be in for a special treat with their 2021 Primavera. This porch sipping wine is a blend of Riesling and Baco Noir with fantastic floral notes. For the red wines, start off with the 2018 Baco Noir. Light in tannins, it has a smokiness to it along with flavors reminiscent of a Pinot Noir. The 2020 Baco Noir will tickle your wine senses with some bourbon notes along with flavors of plums.  There are also some traditional reds on the list to try including, 2019 Petite Sirah (dark garnet color, light acids), 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (black cherry notes, rich mouthfeel), 2018 Tempranillo (black pepper, bold, tannic), and the 2020 Nebbiolo (light color, big tannins, rose petal notes). Save some room at the end for their dessert wines.  For Riesling lovers, the white version is clocking in at 18% abv and is quite soothing to the soul. The red dessert wine is based off the Baco Noir. Fortified with Brandy, this 2020 beast is what to savor for at the end of a long day and great meal. Also on the horizon are Sangiovese and Petit Verdot wines to be added to the menu. A number of these wines have also garnered top awards at the 2021 New Mexico State Fair Wine Competition. Thisis a great gem to stop and visit North of Santa Fe as you trek along state road 68. The family and friends there are the best and will treat you quite well. It is always a pleasure visiting a new winery during its early startup years and we look forward to future visits with this one to see how they continue to grow. Cheers!

www.elalamowinery.com

Gruet Winery – Santa Fe, New Mexico

Having already established his own fine French champagne style wine in Bethon, France, winery founder Gilbert Gruet came across some winemaking pioneers while on a trip to the southwestern US in 1983.  Hearing of the experiences by these Europeans making wine from New Mexico grapes piqued his interest. The sandy soils and high elevations along with the swing in night and day temperatures seemed like ideal conditions for growing grapes that he was familiar. Two of his children ended up taking on the adventure to establish the state as a premier location for making fine sparkling wines in 1984. Focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, as well as some Pinot Meunier, their first sparkling release was in 1989 (from the 1987 harvest). In 1993, the Albuquerque tasting room was established and a Santa Fe tasting room followed in 2016. What began as a dream and possibility has now become a well-known source for some of the best sparkling wines made in the Unites States.  In addition to grapes from New Mexico, grapes are also supplemented from vineyards in California and Washington.  With a focus on Méthode Champenoise, you know you will be in for a fantastic tasting experience. We tried out the tasting room in Santa Fe.  When you walk in, you will instantly be mesmerized by the bright décor, easily viewable bottles of bubblies, and friendly staff members ready to assist you.  Tastings are typically done in different flights or customized ones, and there are non-sparkling wines to try as well.  We stuck with the Chardonnay/Pinot Noir sparkling flights for our visit. First up, was the Sauvage NV. Aged for 24 months, this Chardonnay bubbly is bone dry with fine bubbles and notes of apples and citrus. Next was the Blanc de Blancs NV. This Brut style sparkling has a zestier feel with tropical notes and apples. We were intrigued with the 2018 Blanc de Blancs. This 42-month aged en tirage has some toasty notes of almonds and mature apples along with an excellent long finish.  We were really excited by the 2016 Gilbert Gruet Grande Reserve. This Chardonnay based beast was aged one year in oak and three years en tirage.  Along with the super fine bubbles, there is some great minerality, plus citrus and apples, along with a luscious creaminess. Yes, wow!  The other four sparkling wines that we tried were Pinot Noir based. The Barrel-aged Bland de Noirs NV has 10% Chardonnay added to it.  Aged for six months in French oak plus 16 months sur latte, the strawberry aromatics were wonderful along with vanilla and pineapple flavors.  The Sauvage Rosé NV was all Pinot Noir.  This two-year aged jewel was also bone-dry and had notes of strawberries and cherries along with very fine bubbles.  The other 100% Pinot Noir sparkling we tried was the Brut Rosé NV. It was quite aromatic with more strawberry notes and a bit more acidity to the finish. Savor a great one for last and enjoy the 2016 Grande Rosé. Also blended with 10% Chardonnay, this lovely bubbly will hit you about mid palate with black cherries, some creaminess, and a very satisfying long finish.  Everything served here is quite good and we are sure you will be walking away with a few bottles as souvenirs, too. You will feel warm and welcomed here as well as being entertained by the friendly staff chat. Santé!

www.gruetwinery.com

Covington Hill Country – Johnson City, Texas

If you have not yet stopped in to check out this winery, you will be pleasantly surprised with one of the newest Hill Country wineries located between Johnson City and Hye.  Owner’s David and Cindy Lawson are no strangers to winemaking.  They have been making wines at their Washington location for 20 years. Cindy got her husband David interested in wine and their adventures have taken off since. Cindy is originally from Houston, moved to Seattle for another career before getting into the wine making world and establishing their home in San Antonio a few years ago.  Their Texas tasting room location has been opened since May of 2021. Morgan Lee, their very longtime employee, heads up their winemaking facilities. Currently they serve wines sourced from Washington grapes and a couple of Texas wines, as well.  The tasting room is elevated up about 1400 feet with a nearly 360-degree view of the surrounding Pedernales Valley and hills of Johnson City on the horizon. Inside the tasting room, it is very spacious with vaulted ceilings and a modern country like décor. Tastings are done by flights. We chose both the mixed flight as well as the reserve flight. First up, was the 2020 Chardonnay.  Sourced from Boushey Vineyard of the Yakima Valley AVA, this wine was aged mostly in neutral oak and exhibits a lighter style without a lot of oak in this one. Something everyone should be able to enjoy. Next was the 2020 OG sourced from Olsen Vineyard of the Yakima Valley AVA.  Abbreviated for ‘Orange Gewurztraminer’, this white wine had extended maceration on skins and has characteristics of a muscat like aroma and honeysuckle nose fooling you into thinking you are about to sip something sweet, but this is a very dry wine with a nice touch of melon on the palate. The rest of the tastings were their reds.  First was the 2015 Ode. Sourced from two different Washington vineyards, this Sangiovese was aged 3 years in barrel and 2 years in bottle.  Call it a Brunello style wine if you’d like, it’s beautiful on the nose and palate with both richness and silkiness enticing you back for more. Behold their 2019 Texas Tempranillio! Sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA, this 18-month aged beauty is a good go-to Texas Tempranillio that everyone should be able to enjoy. It’s light, with good acids, and has a lovely fruit forward sensation. The MaBelle label has been a favorite of Cindy’s for years. Made with 90% Grenache along with additions of Syrah and Cinsault, this GSM style blend is a great light fruity red wine to enjoy with your wood fired pizza. Their 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is something extra special. Sourced from Discovery Vineyard of Washington state not only was it barrel fermented, but barrel aged as well. With 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot added to this red wine, it is very enticing for those fruit forward red wine lovers.  It has at least a decade if not two aging potential, so load up and try every few years with this Cab. The 2018 Syrah was sourced from seven different Washington vineyards of Columbia Valley AVA. A favorite of the winemaker Morgan, this bold and robust beast is something to enjoy well with your favorite protein. We moved on to the 2019 Rio Ronde. The name refers to the Rio Grande in Texas as well as Washington’s Grande Rondo River. This 50/50 blend of Texas Tempranillo and Washington Syrah grapes has great aromatic fruit forward notes, well balanced texture, and a nice smooth lingering finish. You will enjoy another one of the winemaker’s crafty creations called the Rough House. Named after Morgan’s naval unit, this 2018 vintage is made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Zinfandel. It is fruity and jammy and has a long great finish. The best for last was the 2016 Reserve Cabernet Franc. CF lovers, rejoice, for this red jewel was fermented in tinaja! Sourced from Discovery Vineyard, this flagship wine has an excellent silky feel, just the right amount of tannins, and a lingering happy feel – a 15+ years age worthy Cab Franc!  Let’s also not forget that their culinary expert, Cheylan Harris, can help you out with some great pairings while you sip your glass of wine as well as make some great dish pairing suggestions as you load up on your case of goodies. The owners plan to introduce more Texas wines to the menu yet continue to feature their Washington wines too. You get a great opportunity to taste the best of both states here and nothing on the list will disappoint you.  You might notice on your next visit that some plots near the tasting room have been prepped for a future vineyard. Look for Montepulciano vines for starters being planted this Spring with more to come.  With the views, the wine, and great owners, you just might make this place your second wine home. No judgement here, we loved it. Cheers!

www.covingtonhillcountry.com