Rock & Vine Summer 2020

BILL NEIMAN SPREADS NATIVE PLANTS TO TEXAS

Rock&Vine GOOD LIFE IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

SECOND CHANCE Equine rescue gives hope for horses

Escape in art CONTAINER GARDENING

Bird-watching

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G R A P E C R E E K V I N E YA R D S

O N E W I N E D E S T I N AT I O N HWY290 | FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

H E AT H S PA R K L I N G W I N E S

SUMMER 2020

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FEATURES

in every issue

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8

Blue Moon

Publisher's Letter

One woman’s dream to have a horse rescue operation turned into reality at her family’s ranch.

Ashley Brown

Contributors

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74

Bill Neiman

This Junction man has made it his mission to seed Texas with its native flora.

Daniel Oppenheimer

45 Green Thumbs

During a pandemic, container gardening can take one’s mind off the challenges a nd bring a calm to quarantine.

Lindsey Bertrand

77 Hard Scrabble Historian Michael Barr writes about the hard times felt by Hill Country residents during the Great Depression.

Michael Barr

photographed by Austin-based photographer Robert G. Gomez.

Rock&Vine

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9

Stomping Grounds

98 Drinkery Maps

102 Events

Find out what's happing in your area

105 End Notes

ON THE COVER: Austin-based photographer Robert G. Gomez captured serene settings for our cover story on Blue Moon Ranch.

DEPARTMENTS 29

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WELLNESS

IN THE HILLS

Leigh Lacy

One dry corner of Kerr County wants a vote to serve all alcohol, compete to attract new business.

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Ken Esten Cooke

One doctor’s unique approach to health and well-being.

TASTE

Peaches

Profiles of five growers who offer the sweet treat of peaches each summer (plus peach recipes).

McKenzie Moellering

39 TASTE

Other Mother

An entrepreneurial couple takes a chance and comes up with a healthy success.

Serve us

80 IN THE HILLS

Distanced beauty

Bird watching’s popularity has increased during these times of social distancing.

Lindsey Bertrand

86 STOMPING GROUNDS Lorelie Helmke

McKenzie Moellering

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DRINKERY Pivoting

Kimberly Giles

Sommelier Andre Boada writes about how winemakers changed their business plan as a virus changed their market.

Andre Boada

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91

HAUS

Ololo

Local businesswoman carves out some comfy B&Bs

HAUS

Wallpaper

Designer Jennifer Eggleston’s take on the re-emergence of wallpapers in interior design.

Kimberly Giles

DRINKERY A different approach

New Braunfels brewer learns from his mistakes, publishes a book to help other start-ups Lee Nichols

68 IN THE HILLS

One artist got back in touch with what drew her to art in the first place.

Kimberly Giles

SUMMER 2020

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Rock&Vine

Mon. - Thurs. 10-5:15 Fri. & Sat. 10-7:15 Sun. 12-5:15 Check website for Holidays Phone: (830) 990-8747 email: wine@fbgwinery.com

www.fbgwinery.com

247 W. Main

(in town - one block west of the Courthouse) Large parking area in front RV parking in back.

Fredericksburg, TX 78624 SUMMER 2020

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contributors

Rock&Vine Featuring the best life has to offer in the Texas Hill Country.

A product of Fredericksburg Publishing Company.

Publisher/Editor Ken Esten Cooke Contributing Editor Sherrie Geistweidt Design Editor Andrea Chupik Contributing Writers Michael Barr, Lindsey Bertrand, Ashley Brown, Andre Boada, Jennifer Eggleston, Kimberly Giles, Leigh Lacy, Shannon Lowry, Lee Nichols Contributing Photographers/Artists Barney Kane, Robert G. Gomez, Lance Winter Advertising/Marketing Director Kimberly Giles Account Executives Cindy G. Burdorf, Ann Duecker, Kim Jung Rock&Vine Magazine 712 W. Main St. | P.O. Box 1639 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Phone 830 997 2155 rockandvinemag.com SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: $20 for two years www.rockandvinemag.com

COPYRIGHT: Rock&Vine Magazine is published by the Fredericksburg Publishing Company. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice or endorsement, but is considered informative.

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Virus forces us to slow down life

By KEN ESTEN COOKE Publisher p early one recent morning with coffee, newspapers and the sunrise, I headed to my backyard to pull some bothersome grass away from my salvia and lantana.

This grass is invasive and persistent.

These are the same traits as the novel coronavirus. And as we spar and parry again with this virus, we need to all remember kindness and soul-filling pursuits, as well as the fact that we will emerge from this a stronger people.

Let’s pay forward what kindness we are offered and give that which we can muster. The struggles brought about by the virus have spawned some enormous acts of generosity and kindness. Two friends of ours quickly constructed the tipfbg.com website, where customers of closed restaurants and bars could go and securely tip their favorite waiter, bartender or musician who was suddenly out of work. We can look for other ways to support local artisans, like seeking out bakers and locally produced products.

In this edition, read about how wineries changed how they do business on the fly, working with customers, boosting their online efforts and doing their best to keep their faithful employees working. And read about how one woman’s passion for horses led her to establish a rescue operation for these majestic animals.

Perspective and gratitude can be renewing, too. Read Mike Barr’s article about how Hill Country residents managed during the Great Depression. We still have it good compared to what that era’s inhabitants experienced.

Lastly, being quarantined doesn’t mean being confined to home. We can get outdoors with pursuits that don’t require groups, such as hiking, gardening, painting, birdwatching and writing or photography. Many of those fulfilling hobbies are profiled in this edition.

Albert Einstein said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulate the creative mind.”

We will emerge from all of this stronger and a better Hill Country community.

–R&V– We want to know what you think about our growing publication. Please send feedback and story ideas to ken@ fredericksburgstandard.com. And thanks for reading.

WRITE US

ADVERTISE

SUBSCRIBE

RockandVineMag@gmail.com

Kimberly Giles kgiles@fredericksburgstandard.com 830.285.7230 ig: rocknvine

$20 for two years Send to 712 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624 or subscribe at RockandVineMag.com

Editorial submissions: ken@fredericksburgstandard.com

Michael Barr is a retired teacher who writes a history column. Read his bi-weekly column in the Fredericksburg Standard newspaper.

Kimberly Giles is our Rock & Vine Ambassador, who is always scouting for stories in our Texas Hill Country, email her @ kgiles@fredericksburgstandard.com Robert G. Gomez is an Austin-based, Texas-raised photographer with a bachelor of arts in history from the University of Texas and an associate’s degree in photography from Austin Community College. His work can be found at robertggomez.com.

Lindsey Bertrand writes about Texas, health and architecture from Fredericksburg with a mug of coffee close at hand.

Andre Boada, a 20-year veteran in the wine and spirits industry, is a certified Advanced Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

He has published articles in Wine & Spirits Magazine and is an active speaker in many national and international wine competitions.

Ashley Brown is a freelance writer and editor living in Wimberly. She loves to travel around the Hill Country to hike, make discoveries, and meet creative people.

Andrea Chupik is a graphic designer / art director living in Fredericksburg. View her work at designranchcreative.com.

Jennifer Eggleston is owner of Cottage Industry and is featured in Southern Living’s designer network.

She shares her insights and design advice each edition in Rock & Vine’s Haus section.

Barney Kane is our resident ad production designer on staff at Rock & Vine Magazine.

...

Letter to the editor Thanks so very much for the recent issue of Rock & Vine. In my opinion it’s one of the best ever. It lifted my spirits to read it and to get excited about all the places to visit as soon as closings are lifted.

Pris Williams Fredericksburg, Texas

...

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the latest Rock & Vine magazine. It may be the best issue you have published. I loved it!

Leigh Lacy is a Texas-born, Hill Country-based lover of positive practices that inspire a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing.

Shannon Lowry is a freelance writer and a former editor for Texas newspapers and magazines.

Ray Bluhm Fredericksburg, Texas

...

VISIT US ONLINE AT

rockandvinemag.com

McKenzie Moellering is a reporter with Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post.

Lee Nichols is a freelance writer based in Austin. He loves beer and two-stepping in Texas dance halls.

Daniel Oppenheimer is a fifth-generation Texan based in Gillespie County. He is the Land Program Manager for the Hill Country Alliance.

CORRECTION Dang it, our last issue mis-spelled the name of the owners of Lemburg House.

While there are Hill Country Lehmbergs, our featured home builders have their own spelling. Find them at LemburgHouse.com.

SUMMER 2020

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TEXAS’ PREMIER ESTATE WINERY

Frederiisburg, Texas

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Rock&Vine

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S A V I O R

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&

S A N C T U A R Y BLUE MOON RANCH: SAVING HORSES FROM SLAUGHTER, SHARING THEM WITH THE WORLD

By ASHLEY BROWN Photos by ROBERT G. GOMEZ

I

came here with $3,000 in my pocket… and my horse,” said Rozanna Afton Sasko, whose spunk tells you she’s not kidding. Seeking a new environment and vibe, she left the central coast of California to move to Gillespie County in 2009.

She landed a job with the county as a jailer and dispatcher, where she met her husband, Heath Brady Sasko. “He was the hot new deputy,” said Rozanna. “And he’s a Fredericksburg boy, so that’s how I ended up here.”

Heath is the seventh generation on the property that is now Blue Moon Ranch, a horse sanctuary offering trail rides, glamping, and a taste of the cowboy life.

“His family came over in the 1840s with the Engels, who founded Luckenbach. Heath was a cattleman when I met him, but they worked their cows in the traditional German fashion— on foot—which was totally foreign to me. I brought horsemanship to the operation.”

Rozanna Sasko of Blue Moon Ranch

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Rozanna surprised Heath on his birthday with his first horse, but both of their horses were rather old, and they passed on around the same time, so they began to look for two more. That’s when she found out about the horses that go to slaughter. “I saw something about it on Facebook, and researched it thinking, ‘No, this can’t be.’ I realized there’s a loophole in the laws here.

They don’t slaughter horses in the United States, but they can send them to Mexico or Canada.”

When it comes to beef and cattle ranching in this country, the hope is that slaughter involves a certain level of humaneness, that the process is regulated. The Saskos still have cows, which are ultimately sold for meat, but it’s important to them to provide the cattle with happy, healthy lives and to respect them even in the way they’re killed. “A cow should have the best life possible,” Rozanna said.

In contrast, the slaughterhouses in Mexico are primarily owned by Germany, Kazakhstan, and Belgium, where horse meat is a delicacy and it’s common for chefs to argue that the meat tastes better with adrenaline running through it. “The only way to achieve that is if the animal is scared and butchered while still alive,” Rozanna explained.

The Saskos learned you can save horses from that fate by buying them from kill lots, where the cheapest horses from auction go. They started by rescuing two last summer and now have nine horses, who would have been on their way across the border. One is pregnant, so they’ll soon have ten.

“We typically take horses that most people would be afraid of taking—the ones most at risk for going to slaughter. For instance, I have a really pretty Palomino Missouri Fox Trotter named Hoss. His hooves literally looked melted, a clear sign he’d been neglected and was predisposed to have foundered…the f-word for horses.” When a horse founders, they’re suffering a painful foot condition, and without treatment, they can become lame. Within a couple of weeks under Rozanna’s care, Hoss was perfectly fine.

When the horses settle into Blue Moon Ranch, they seem to know and appreciate that they matter— that their lives are considered important—to the Saskos. All of them have thrived in their care.

“What’s astonishing is the quality of these horses,” Health said. Horses end up at auction for various reasons, often involving major life changes for their owners. “People have good intentions and think they’re going to take their horse to auction, pray like

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Rozanna and Chief cool off in the pond

“

WHEN HORSES COME HERE, THEY DON’T LEAVE. THIS IS THEIR PERMANENT HOME. THEY’RE PART OF THE HERD, AND PART OF OUR FAMILY. - ROZANNA SASKO

”

the dickens he sells for thousands of dollars and finds the perfect home,” explained Rozanna. But those owners can’t prevent a “kill buyer” from ending up with the horse, when nobody else outbids them.

On the pastoral Sasko family property, Blue Moon Ranch provides these horses with a safe home with plenty of space, grass for grazing, and ponds for refreshing dips on their 150 acres. Rozanna’s first career was in the veterinary industry, so they’re able to provide a lot of the necessary care—like hoof trimming and shots—themselves. And their son, Brant, helps out as a wrangler.

“When horses come here, they don’t leave. This is their permanent home. They’re part of the herd, and part of our family.”

They’ve held a few fundraisers to help with specific horses, like Copper—who didn’t have much time before he was going to be shipped off and needed transportation to the ranch because he was so far away. Typically, though, Blue Moon handles the cost of buying the horses and caring for them as well.

SUMMER 2020 15

“I’m never going to ask for something for free. If someone wants to help, they can book a trail ride, and I’ll be more than happy to render a wonderful, fantastic experience,” Rozanna said. “The horses would much rather be working. They love what they do.”

Being around the horses tends to make people happy, too, so it’s a win-win. Rozanna’s constant glow and warm smile attest to the power of horses on a person’s spirit, and she has no doubt in their therapeutic effect, even their ability to boost our immune systems.

“There’s an innate connection between a human and a horse,” she said.

Visitors enjoy a peaceful environment where they begin by brushing the horse they’ll ride, doing some bonding, while taking in beautiful views of the hills surrounding Luckenbach. A typical ride is a little over an hour through all sorts of flora and fauna.

Another way to help rescue horses from the fate of being sent off to slaughter is to stay informed. People can follow kill pens on Facebook, like the one in Stroud, Oklahoma that publicizes their horses in hopes of finding them homes. Rozanna warns you can see some difficult things, but you’ll also learn about happy endings where horses who seemed untrained or “damaged” end up being perfect for their new owners.

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The horses love getting out on the trail each day

“

THERE’S AN INNATE CONNECTION BETWEEN A HUMAN AND A HORSE. - ROZANNA SASKO

”

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Rozanna and Heath Sasko 18

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Rozanna is also happy to help people navigate the process of looking at kill pens to adopt a horse. It’s an affordable way to find a potentially wonderful companion. It can actually be quite easy—you pick out the horse online, contact the pen, and hire someone to haul the horse to you.

If all the trail ride companies in the country consider kill pens when they need horses, that could also do so much to save lives and cut down on unnecessary breeding. Blue Moon is the first establishment in the world to specifically host trail rides with horses rescued from slaughter.

They welcome riders, kids and adults, of all levels to spend time with these trustworthy horses. The experience gives people a chance to slow down and connect with nature as they ride through the beautiful scenery of the ranch.

For those looking for a true escape, the glamping barn is actually quite a step above “camping.” The renovated two-bedroom barn features a full kitchen, air conditioning, and a charming wood stove. Just out the front door, visitors can enjoy an outdoor movie screen, stock tank swimming pool, and tiny goats for company.

“When you do good things, you will have good things come back to you,” Rozanna said. And they’re doing many good things by giving these horses the lives they deserve and sharing their spirits with anyone who wants to stop by. “We’re taking the cowboy lifestyle— and the freedom it embodied—into the 21st century in Fredericksburg.”

Visit trailridefbg.com for more information or to book a trail ride.

SUMMER 2020 19

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NEARLY A CENTURY OF PRODUCING SWEET MEMORIES FROM OUR

peach orchards

VisitFredericksburgTX.com

SUMMER 2020 21

Photo by CALLIE RICHMOND 22

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BILL NEIMAN: A SCULPTOR OF SEEDS AND SOIL

By DANIEL OPPENHEIMER Photos by NATIVE AMERICAN SEEDS

sculptor molds, carves, shapes, and ultimately creates.

They may work in different media and are adept with their tools.

In addition to shapes, lines, and colors, some incorporate motion— an interrelationship of objects.

Bill Neiman is a sculptor. For more than four decades, his medium has been plants and Texas soil. In 1974, at age 19, he started his own landscaping company with a borrowed shovel, rake, and lawn mower.

Today, Neiman’s family and a dedicated team run Native American Seed, located along the Llano River near Junction.

The family farm produces native wildflowers and grasses for land stewards across the state.

Bill Neiman owner, of Native American Seed in Junction, looks over a field of native Texas Winter Grasses, cane bluestem, coreopsis and Indian Blanket wildflowers.

SUMMER 2020 23

WE GET SO FOCUSED ON THE DEMISE OF TROPICAL RAINFORESTS, BUT WE HAVE OUR OWN TREASURE RIGHT HERE IN THE HILL COUNTRY— IT TOO HAS LUNGS AND PROVIDES US OXYGEN, ALONG WITH OUR WATER. A MAN’S LIFE IS SOMETIMES TOO SHORT TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND ALL THIS. – Bill Neiman

The Indian Blanket Moths camouflage perfectly with the native Indian Blanket flower.

As with any artist, Neiman went through a few creative phases. “As a landscaper working outside the Dallas Metroplex in the 1970s, my job was to clean up behind the bulldozers and make things look nice.” He became good at designing and installing irrigation systems to support nonnative, ornamental flowers, vines, and turfgrasses.

“Then in 1980, we had a hot summer— over 100 days that were over 100 degrees and no rain. These alien landscapes require more water than nature sometimes has to give. There wasn’t enough water pressure on the second floor of some houses and many of those ornamental landscapes north of Dallas started to fail.”

Driving home one day that summer, Neiman noticed verdant vegetation growing along a fence-line. He pulled over, got out of his truck, and took a closer look. “These were native plants,” he said. “They knew how to live right there without extra care—the solution was already here. That was the start of Native American Seed.”

Twice a year, Native American Seed distributes a catalog of native seeds.

The Fall Issue, which prominently highlights wildflowers, is always entitled, Responsible Beauty. “These days, that’s almost a contradiction of words, where beauty has gotten so twisted up,” Neiman said. “‘Responsible Beauty’ brings it back to our responsibilities for the land.”

Neiman grew up spending considerable time on the land: hunting, fishing, taking care of horses, and camping.

“We never stayed in a hotel and there was no tent involved. You slept on the ground—no zippity gadgets, just the land, water, nature.”

He credits a childhood spent on the land as well as ending his formal education halfway through high school as seminal experiences.

“I only went to 11th grade. Often people who are overeducated see the world with lots of ridged edges

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and compartmentalized boxes.” For Neiman, the world is an open-ended, interconnected, and expansive place that starts with a seed.

While at times discouraged by the worldview that continues to support rapid development and fragmentation of the Hill Country, Neiman is also hopeful. He sees great power and faith in native seeds.

“These tiny, little seeds have a life of their own—wrapped up inside them.

And they can start to help put the pieces back together.”

Take, for example, Texas Cupgrass.

The seed head of this native, warmseason bunch grass looks like a loaf of braided challah bread. It provides nutritious seeds for Painted Buntings and a variety of other birds, along with nesting material and cover for small wildlife species. Those wildlife species, in turn, bring additional pieces back to your piece of the land.

The Texas Hill Country sits at the cross-roads of multiple ecological regions—including the Trans Pecos, South Texas Brush Country, Blackland Prairie, Cross Timbers, High Plains and Rolling Plains. Being at such a confluence, there exists a rich natural heritage: more than 50 species of fish, 140 species of shrubs and trees, 200 species of grasses, and 400 species of birds that are all native to this place.

“We get so focused on the demise of tropical rainforests, but we have our own treasure right here in the Hill Country—it too has lungs and provides us oxygen, along with our water. A man’s life is sometimes too short to see and understand all this.”

Conversations with Neiman always seem to weave together philosophy, ethics, and tactile dirt. He believes firmly that we have a responsibility to the land—and that this relationship warrants gaining a deeper knowledge, finding gratitude in a handful of pecans, and achieving a reciprocal giving and taking.

Native American Seed headquarters and fields are situated along the Llano River. – Drone photo by Kelley Brown

A field of prairie verbena provides a pop of color.

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Painted buntings love the seed from Texas Cup grass.

While he can talk about the relationship in terms of the ecology, often Neiman tends to gravitate towards speaking of land stewardship as an art form. “It’s easy to love the land when you stop putting things in boxes and start to see the soft, flowing lines that connect everything together.”

He expresses this art form whenever he uses a tractor or even the lawn mower in the backyard. Recently, he cleared a shaded place beneath a pecan tree to accommodate three picnic tables for a family gathering.

Before running the blades, he studied his medium, accounting for such factors as what was still blooming and what had already gone to seed.

Then he considered how mowing might physically blend into the shape and flow of the landscape and how the plant community would, in turn, respond. “In order to be any good at sculpting, you have to be able to read the material that you’re sculpting to create something beautiful.

You need the right tool, the right head, and the right heart.” Indeed, this is sculptural mowing.

For several decades, the Neiman family has provided thousands of land stewards in Central Texas the native seeds and philosophical infusion to cultivate that

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Responsible Beauty. “There’s more to it than just bluebonnets,” Neiman said. “I’m hopeful seeing so many stewards starting to put the pieces back together, shifting to native plant communities and achieving a balance.”

This is what keeps Neiman going. “How can we encourage more landowners to become curious about native plants, to bring native plants and seeds back home?”

His hope is that ever more landowners continue to be inspired by and curious about their land. “Can we make that connection?

That’s what brings us into balance with our place on the land. When you make that connection, it’s unmistakable—you’ll know.” R&V Disclosure: Neiman is on the board of directors for the Hill Country Alliance, a conservation and stewardship group. Writer Daniel Oppenheimer also works with HCA.

Neiman and the crew harvest seed from Indian grass.

Bill Neiman scoops up from a harvest of native plant seed, readying for separation and shipment.

ĬšàƢÃĦ˘êğêŋĆÃĦŜ˘ÃĦæ˘ÿÃğğ˘ĉĦ˘ğĬŷêʧ˘ ÃŋŜšŎê˘žĬšŎ˘ĥêĥĬŎĉêŔ˘ŸĉŜƢŋğêĦŜž˘Ĭÿ˘ŋĆĬŜĬŔʧ

êŔêŎŷÃŜĉĬĦŔ˘ êōšĉŎêæʧ˘ <Ĭ˘ŜĬ˘ŸŸŸʧ¯ĉŔĉŜ Ćê ŎêŔêŎŷêʧàĬĥ˘ŜĬ˘ŔàĆêæšğê˘žĬšŎ˘ŷĉŔĉŜʧ ʓʒʍ˘#Ĭšßğê˘BĬŎĦ˘ æ ;ŎêæêŎĉàĜŔßšŎĀʨ˘ µ˘ʔʕʓʏʑ˘̦˘ʕʐʍʧʖʖʏʧʍʐʔʐ SUMMER 2020 27

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wellness

SOLVING THE PUZZLE OF

Good Health

By LEIGH LACY

SUMMER 2020 29

H

ow are you doing?” “I hope you’re doing well.” These phrases are most likely ones we have heard more often recently. Our health has taken center stage, along with all the changes and challenges, and a new focus on priorities for ourselves has emerged.

We gathered insight from someone who provides this guidance daily.

Dr. Christa O’Leary of Hill Country Integrative Medicine has been doing this for over 20 years. O’Leary believes a patient-centered approach focuses on finding the root cause of an individual’s health challenges.

So what is integrative medicine?

“Integrative medicine emphasizes a holistic, patient-focused approach to health care and wellness,” O’Leary said. “This involves treating the whole person, rather than focusing on an organ system. Instead of matching symptoms to a pharmaceutical drug, we look for the underlying root cause.”

Dr. Christina O’Leary and her husband Denis of Hill Country Integrative Medicine

O’Leary was led to this field after attending a continuing education conference in Washington, D.C. with the theme “Food is Medicine.” This changed her and her family’s life, and was also the pivotal point of her approach to practicing medicine and desire to help people heal. The biochemistry involved strongly appealed to her. “I tell new patients I can help you for two reasons,” she said. “One, I like puzzles and I like challenges. Two, I love biochemistry, all the problems come down to certain pathways. Complementing those pathways in the body allows it to heal, as opposed to just trying to band aid or force an outcome.”

Following this approach to health and healing, the family moved to New Zealand to further her training and practice. “While there, we began to feel better and we didn’t

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totally understand why at the time.

In hindsight, our diet had radically changed and we could see it was the diet and food – real food – that made a difference,” O’Leary recounts.

“When you come in as a physician in New Zealand, you must do a certain amount of training with the Maori healers. The first few days, they are digging up plants and making salve and I am like, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’ I had my Western doctor arrogance going on. Then you learn that there are actual published studies about this, and everyone there goes to the healers first. The people are more empowered to heal. New Zealand is a first-world country. They are not some stellar, amazing system, but they’re not as pharmaceuticaldriven. I think it’s because the Maori presence is so strong, they know the ancient healing wisdom of plants.”

Chronic health issues, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can be related to a lack of a healthy lifestyle. But our bodies have the ability to heal when given the tools to do so. It really is about allowing your body to operate the way it is designed.

Denis, her business administrator and husband, said, “She truly cares about people and doing right by them. And she loves to learn, whether it’s from stacks of books by the bed or listening to a podcast.

It’s solving that puzzle to figure out what’s going on that makes her an excellent doctor.”

wellness

ADVICE FROM

DR. O’LEARY

STRESS REDUCTION During times of increased stress, such as this COVID-19 phenomenon, it’s important to work on ways of lowering the hormone cortisol, the stress hormone. It can be lowered with lifestyle choices, such as getting uninterrupted sleep at night, avoiding Wi-fi, phones, iPads for 90 minutes prior to sleep.

Studies show being outdoors in nature and in the sun improve stress reduction. So schedule going outside for 30 minutes twice a day to exercise, garden or meditate and pray.

HEALTHY FOODS Instead of eating comfort food during stressful times, it’s important to provide the body with real food that is free of chemicals and processing. Eating refined carbohydrates increases the hormone insulin and will increase inflammation, which is terrible for the immune system. Reports are that most people dying from COVID-19, and really any infectious agent, are those who have high inflammatory markers in the blood prior to infection. White blood cells are how we fight infection and also how we remove hazardous toxins we are exposed to. It is always in our best interest to avoid any food or drink that is full of chemicals, or enhances a strain on the liver and immune system, such as alcohol. Organic meats, wild caught fish, vegetables and fruits are the best approach. Following the Environmental

Working Group’s “Clean 15/Dirty Dozen” is a great way to find out what foods you buy are full of pesticides and chemicals and which are not. Also, the short documentary “10 Americans” is well worth the time.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR IMMUNITY BUILDING O’Leary recommends measuring in the blood the inflammation markers and the nutrients that are involved in the immune system. She often has people take extra supplements to compensate for common deficiencies in the vitamins and minerals A, B, C, D, Zinc and Magnesium.

These are critical in how the liver and immune cells function and clear infections and toxins.

She says there are also plant extracts that are helpful for fighting viruses, bacteria and fungi. One plant extract called Andrographis is a favorite for many who are skilled in dealing with viruses. Numerous others exist and have been used for thousands of years by humans with excellent results.

R&V

DR. CHRISTA O'LEARY, DO Hill Country Intergrative Medicine 1603 E Main St, #A, Fredericksburg (830) 992-3067 hillcountryintegrativemedicine.com SUMMER 2020 31

Warm Hospitality Texas Cuisine

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6001 Bessemer Avenue Llano, TX www.badu1891.com 325.247.1891

Weds: 4-9pm Thurs: 4-9pm Friday + Saturdays: 4-10pm Sundays: 11am-4pm

TASTE Gillespie Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ag industry, particularly its peach growers, were the first big tourist attraction in this part of the Lone Star state. People traveled for miles get a taste of the sweet treats each spring and summer. Here are some of the growers that keep the multi-generational farms going and their customers satisfied with the bounty of Hill Country goodness.

By MCKENZIE MOELLERING

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ECKHARDT ORCHARDS

BURG'S CORNER

2150 US 87 South • Fredericksburg, TX

15194 E US Highway 290 • Stonewall, TX (830) 644-2604 • burgscorner.com

Otto and Antonie Eckhardt planted their first peach orchard in 1920 in Gillespie County, after Otto came home from World War I.

Edmund Duecker planted the first orchard for Burg’s Corner in the early 1950s. He came to find that the thin, sandy loam that was good for peanuts was also good for peaches.

Their crops included peaches, plums, apricots, pears and grapes. In 1936, the Eckhardt family started commercial operations. As the peach market developed, the Eckhardts became co-organizers of the Hill Country Fruit Growers’ Co-op.

Through the years, four of their sons — Gilbert, Victor, Clemens and Donald — continued the peach-growing operations.

Donald helped expand the orchard, and in 1981, he and his wife Carol left the Co-op and began selling their peaches directly to the public.

In 2002, Donald and Carol retired, and their daughters Dianne and Debbie continue to grow over 20 varieties of peaches.

The stand is open seasonally, selling peaches, cantaloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, squash, blackberries and plums. They also carry jams, salsas and honey.

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Burg’s Corner, along with 30 other growers, sold peaches to the Hill Country Fruit Council.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Jimmy Duecker, Edmund’s son, planted over 300 acres of peaches and supplied wholesale all over Texas.

In the late ’90s, Duecker bought out the rest of the shares in the co-op.

Today, Burg’s Corner has over 50 acres of peaches and supply to mostly retail and wholesale peddlers.

The family loves to bake with peaches, including a family favorite, peach cobbler. The family also makes peach pecan muffins, serving them to their bed and breakfast guests.

Jimmy prefers to eat fresh peaches plain or with ice cream. His favorite varieties are Dixieland, a July freestone.

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JENSCHKE ORCHARDS

HAT & HEART FARMS

8381 E US Highway 290 • Fredericksburg, TX (830) 998-7822

3961 North Grape Creek Road • Fredericksburg, TX hatandheart.com

Established in 1961, Jenschke Orchards is the oldest self-serve stand in Gillespie County. Today, the stand is run by the father-and-son team Travis and Barrett Jenscke and their families.

Sixth-generation German-Texan farmer Bradley Ottmers and business partner Katherine Tanner own and operate a 93-acre farm on North Grape Creek Road known has Hat & Heart. Bradley is rarely seen without a cowboy hat and Katherine hails from the area, also known as the heart of Texas. Together, they grow 45 varieties of vegetables in their fields. The duo works to eliminate the middle-man, selling directly to the consumer. No pesticides or conventional chemicals are used.

Jenschke Orchards is best known for their pick-yourown experience, allowing small and large groups to pick fruit, from strawberries, to blackberries, to peaches. The experiences are offered from mid-May through August.

The orchard grows 26 different varieties of peaches and has approximately 5,000 peach trees.

The road stand, located on Wine Road 290, sells peaches boxed from a 16th to a half bushel.

The stand also sells peach ice cream, jams, jellies and canned peaches.

In addition to vegetables, they also have a goat meat and chicken egg operation. They have more than 550 laying chickens that spend 100% of their time in the pastures adding natural fertilizer. Some days, they average 280 eggs. Because of the large volume, they sell to restaurants and at farmer’s markets. They also partner with chefs, providing tasting baskets to help them develop new flavors.

When not out picking peaches, the family spends time cooking Peach Cream Kuchen, peach cobbler, peach pie and peach cake.

The family also owns a bed and breakfast near the grounds of the roadside stand.

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Nelda Vogel’s Dessert Peach Enchiladas Ingredients 4 4 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced 4 ½ cup sugar 4 12 to 15 flour or wheat tortillas (regular size) 4 ½ stick butter 4 Cinnamon sugar to taste 4 Tap water 4 9” x 13” pan – spray with cooking spray

Directions Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray pan. Peel and slice peaches, then stir in sugar.

Spoon peaches into tortillas and tightly roll the tortillas. Place rolled tortillas into pan, seam down.

Space the tortillas closely, filing entire pan. It is okay for some tortillas to line the sides of the pan.

VOGEL ORCHARDS 12862 E US Highway 290 • Fredericksburg (830) 644-2404

Along the sides of the pan, pour water into the pan until water is approximately 3/4” high. Slice butter and scatter on top of enchiladas. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of all enchiladas. Bake at 400 degrees in middle rack for 40 to 45 minutes. Serve with or

Vogel Orchards is owned by Jamey and Terri Vogel of Stonewall and was established in 1953 by George and Nelda Vogel.

Until 1972, peaches were sold at the Vogel house, through a pick-your-own experience or wholesale to larger markets. In 1972, they opened their current location, near where George’s father used to sell eggs.

Jamey and Terri took over the family farm in 1998 and continue to run it after George’s passing in 2019.

In addition to peaches, the stand also sells other locally grown fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, plums, blackberries, watermelons and cantaloupes. The store also sells peach cobbler, and Peach Butter ice cream, made with Nelda’s famous Peach Butter.

In the fall, the orchard grows and sells pumpkins. The venture began in 2011 and has grown to nearly 10 different varieties. Visitors can pick their own during the fall months.

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Burg's Peach Ice Cream Ingredients 4 8 eggs 4 3 cups sugar & pinkch of salt 4 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla 4 1 ½ pint thick cream (or use Eagle Brand Milk) 4 1 quart peaches, sweetened and pureed

Directions Beat eggs, add sugar a little at a time. Beat eggs and sugar about 10 min. Add vailla, salt, cream, or milk. Beat. Pour into freezer; add fruit and fill with milk till 1 in. from the top. Freeze according to freezer directions.

HOURS Wednesday - Saturday 7:30am - 3pm Sunday 10am - 2pm Closed Monday + Tuesdays

607 South Washington Street ▮ Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 ▮ emmaolliefbg.com

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The Restaurant (830) 238-3738 Weds:11-3 Thurs: 11-3 Fri + Sat: 11-8 Sundays: 10-3

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FROM WINE TO VINEGAR HEALTHY HABIT TURNS INTO BUSTLING BUSINESS

By MCKENZIE MOELLERING

inding good-tasting, fast and healthy eating options doesn’t always come easy.

Following their retirement from the oil industry and teaching, Fredericksburg residents David and Lisa Bullion tried something new, teaming up to develop red wine vinegar with added health benefits.

In 2017, Other Mother LLC, a certified-female-owned company, was born.

“We’re not careful enough about what we put into our bodies,” Lisa said. “We have so many choices every day to choose the fast, easy solution and that isn’t doing us any favors.”

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taste Raw local honey is used to balance the acidity. Local honey has also been noted to treat seasonal allergies.

Other Mother then took to the roots: turmeric, ginger, and beets. Turmeric is used to treat inflammation and is an immunity booster. Ginger is good for digestion and beets are good for blood pressure and heart function.

Now focusing on fruits, Other Mother makes a raspberry shrub shot which helps provide antioxidants.

“We are intentional about what we add to it. Each flavor has a benefit and we try to locally source when we can,” David said.

Other Mother has more flavors that will be released in the future.

THE PROCESS David learned to make wine from his church pastor and fell in love with the process.

“I started by making wine, and as a natural process wine goes to vinegar,” David said. “Once we started making vinegar, we enjoyed some and, of course, gave some away. Then I started drinking it every day and found it calmed my acid reflux.”

Using the Orleans method developed by Louis Pasteur in the 1700s, Other Mother Vinegar is a red wine-based vinegar that has been barrel-aged for at least a year and contains live bacteria (the mother). Usually, it is three months in a converting barrel before nine months in a polishing barrel.

“Back in the day, every kitchen had a crock of vinegar used for cooking, for cleaning, for preservation,” David said.

“Today, a lot of the vinegar products are tough to swallow.

We found a way to keep those health benefits, and make it taste great.”

‘MICROBIOME’ Much like consuming apple cider vinegar, there are benefits to drinking red wine vinegar. Most often, it is used to support a healthy gut microbiome, help with acid reflux, aid with digestion and level out blood sugar levels.

Other Mother took it one step further by carefully selecting additives that provide other health benefits.

To make things simple for the consumer, the Bullions created 2-ounce Shrub Shots, making for a easy, fast healthy food choice. The term “shrub” coined in Colonial America refers to a vinegar-based drink. Shrub Shots are designed to be a daily health shot.

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EVERYDAY USE Other Mother also shares ways their vinegar can be used for cooking and drinking. Popular recipes include using the vinegar for marinades, salad dressings, sauces, salsas, soups and more.

Some have added it to cocktails or modified their favorite cocktails to make mocktails.

It is recommended to keep the vinegar and shrubs under 140 degrees or chilled.

EXPANDING PRODUCTION Since opening, the Bullion’s have sold their vinegar at farmers’ market’s in Fredericksburg, Kerrville, San Antonio and Austin.

“From vendors to customers, it’s been a really enriching experience,” Lisa said. “It’s crazy how you can meet someone for the first time yet you feel as though you have been friends forever.”

After making their way to markets, the Bullions have expanded to locally owned businesses in Fredericksburg and Austin, like Snap Kitchen, Fischer & Wieser, Boerne Epicure, Royal Blue Grocery and Thom’s Market.

Their vinegars have also been selected by Google offices in Austin to be supplied in company kitchens.

“When the pebble hits the water, the ripples just keep going and going and that is how this has gone for us,” Lisa said. “You meet someone at the market or an event in Fredericksburg and a couple months later you find out they are the hospitality buyer for Google in Austin. You get invited to an event and next thing you know, you’re rubbing elbows with big brands.”

Their next stop is to get on the healthy living shelves of local grocer H-E-B. “We could be really intimidated by this, but I think we are ready for it and we know we can do it,” Lisa said. “We want to be able to share our products with everyone.”

FAMILY AFFAIR The husband and wife team decided to try something new while working side by side.

“We really wanted to do something together and it has been fun and challenging because neither of us have any prior experience in the food industry so the learning curve was exponential,” Lisa said.

“I saw them go from partners in life to business partners,” daughter Shelby said. “They have both branched out and tried things they didn’t know they would be good at.”

The Bullion’s children Shelby and Trent, have also worked with their parents, expanding their branding and given their opinions.

“I have helped with the marketing side, editing photos or images, I even got them to start a TikTok,” Shelby said.

“Both of them are reference points and they help give us launching points to reach some new demographics,” Lisa said.

Other Mother plans to keep its roots in Fredericksburg.

“When there is a need, we always try to keep it local,” David said. “We are going to support the community that always supports us.” R&V

Dark and Stormy 1 oz. Ginger and Honey Shrub Shot 1.5 oz dark rum Lemon sparkling water Slice of lime for garnish

Raspberry Mocktail 1 oz. Raspberry Shrub Shot 6 oz. TopoChico

Chicken Pasta Toss 5-6 boneless chicken thighs 3 cups pasta (farfalle or penne) 2 cups fresh green beans 2 cups grape tomatoes 1 cup feta cheese with tomato and basil 3-4 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped 3-4 Tbsp fresh basil chopped. ½ cup Other Mother Red Wine Vinegar 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil Himalayan Sea Salt and ground pepper, to taste Season chicken and cook in skillet with splash of olive oil until golden brown. Chop into bite sized pieces. While chicken is browning, cook desired pasta in salted boiling water, adding green beans during last 7-8 minutes. Combine chicken, pasta, green beans, halved tomatoes, chopped herbs and feta in a large bowl. Drizzle with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Toss and enjoy!

OTHER MOTHER VINEGAR Online: othermothervinegar.com Facebook: Other Mother Vinegar Instagram: @othermothervinegar

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“You can’t forget memories.”

-Hondo Crouch

FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

312 W. Main • 997-1633 www.HondosOnMain.com 42

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Where tasteful

creations begin FULL SERVICE CATERING WEDDINGS AND REHEARSAL DINNERS CORPORATE EVENTS ON & OFF SITE SERVICES HOLIDAY PACKAGES

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Offering private or semi-private sessions - Call today!

847-431-5753 | haydenknopp@icloud.com 1202 W. Austin, Ste. 200 Fredericksburg

B.S. in Physical Education from DePaul University

SUMMER 2020 43

CONTAIN YOURSELF

by LINDSEY BERTRAND

pandemic certainly affected plans and routines, but not everything has gone to pot in a bad way.

Since March, nursery owners in the Hill Country have seen a blossoming interest in container gardening. Whether due to concern about food supply or because residents have more time at home, more people have begun patronizing local nurseries for information, ideas and inspiration.

Matt Horvath at Wimberley Gardens has seen an increased interest in gardening during the pandemic. “Absolutely, 100 percent,” he said. “Overall there has been a huge uptick in home gardening.”

Mitzi McCollum, professional nurseryman and floral designer at The Plant Haus 2 in Kerrville, has seen the growth in demand, too.

“Across the board, we’re selling more vegetables, seeds in bulk and in packets, perennials, indoor plants, succulents, you name it,” she said.

FIRST TIME’S A CHARM Whether growing for beauty or gardening for food, both Horvath and McCollum agree, novices are always welcome.

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“There have been so many first-time gardeners in the store,” said Horvath.

This year, about half of Wimberley Gardens’ customers have been novice gardeners. When over-the-phone orders began taking an hour or more during quarantine, Horvath and his wife Jennie transitioned to email orders so that they could continue to interact with and teach customers.

“We see a lot of people who are trying vegetable gardens for the first time now,” said McCollum.

“THE SILVER LINING IN ALL OF THIS IS THAT I WAS HOME LONG ENOUGH TO GET THE GARDEN STARTED. NOW I HAVE MELONS, SQUASH AND PEPPERS BECAUSE I HAD THE TIME TO DO IT.” - Cheryl Latchford

“I don’t know much about it, but I’m learning.” said Cheryl Latchford, a teacher in Wimberley. When Latchford needed sturdier containers for her heirloom, grape and Roma tomatoes, she sought the Horvaths’ advice.

“The silver lining in all of this is that I was home long enough to get the garden started.

Now I have melons, squash and peppers because I had the time to do it.”

ALMOST ANYTHING GROWS As for what defines a “container,” experts agree that they come in all shapes, sizes and materials.

“Some customers created a raised bed out of concrete blocks, and another couple used cedar posts to make beds,” said Jennie.

“Someone else used the bed of an old truck and put cedar posts in the corners.”

In addition to traditional planters and premade raised beds, think outside the pot. Just because something wasn’t originally used for plants doesn’t mean it can’t make a great container. Consider using feed and water troughs or barrels. With a little modification, a wooden pallet can be turned vertically and used to hold an arrangement of smaller pots.

Once containers are determined, make sure pots and planters have enough holes in the bottom to let out excess water. No matter the container, McCollum says proper drainage is critical. Containers don’t have those problems.

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Because of the Hill Country’s shallow and rocky soil, many gardeners find container gardening more advantageous because they can better control the soil type and depth.

Take time to get to know the dirt. Use potting soil that contains cedar flags and spagna moss that allow for good drainage instead of materials that retain moisture like clay and cheap topsoil. If potting soil doesn’t include fertilizer, remember to add it periodically.

The Horvaths adhere to the adage, “Spend a penny on your plant and a nickel on your soil.”

With good soil and appropriate watering, almost any plant can grow in a container.

“Herbs are fantastic for container gardening,” said Jennie. They can be planted in small individual pots or combined in larger containers. When planting fall vegetables, choose bigger pots of at least 12 inches in diameter to give the vegetables adequate room to grow.

In addition to gardening for food, containers are ideal for aesthetic arrangements both indoors and out, too. Cacti, snake plant and ZZ plant are popular choices for indoor container gardening.

McCollum advises that plants that are drought-tolerant when planted in the ground may not be suitable for planting in pots.

“Lantana and crepe myrtles rely on deep growing taproots that would be constrained by containers,” she said. “And vines need something to attach to.”

Plants that require sunlight are ideal for containers. Such plants can be positioned to get maximum sun during the spring and then relocated to shadier spots when the Texas sun gets to be too much in the summer.

The ability to move containers as needed also aids in deterring pests like deer. And having pots nearby on a porch or balcony makes it easy to grab a handful of cherry tomatoes or sprigs of herbs when needed.

EASY AS 1, 2, 3

McCollum advises that gardeners use this “magic formula” to create beautiful containers: each pot should contain a thriller, a filler and a spiller. The “thriller” goes in the middle of the pot as the showcase.

Then, arrange a “filler” plant around that, and add a “spiller” to grow over the sides. Her personal favorite is the spider plant because it works as both a filler and a spiller.

“We also create custom plantings with customerprovided containers,” said McCollum. “The balancing act for container gardening is to have an eye for design and the knowledge of what plants will grow together well.”

Both the Horvaths and McCollum encourage people to get ideas from social media sites like Pinterest and their stores’ websites. Take pictures of plants and pairings, and try different combinations. Consider favorites to eat, and don’t grow things if only eaten occasionally.

Go to a nursery, friends’ houses or community gardens to see what’s growing.

“It’s a lifetime of learning, and it’s great therapy for us all,” McCollum said.

FINDING BEAUTY

WHEN YOU GO: WIMBERLEY GARDENS 419 FM 2325, Wimberley (512) 842-1220 PLANT HAUS 2 604 Jefferson St., Kerrville (830) 792-4444 FRIENDLY NATIVES NURSERY 1107 N. Llano St, Fredericksburg (830) 997-6288

Even in trying times, nature serves to remind us of the beauty growing all around. When quarantine measures first went into effect in March, many of the nurseries’ customers were anxious. They called asking for any vegetables and herbs, often taking anything that was available. Now Jennie compares the rise in container gardening’s popularity to victory gardens.

The Horvaths, like other families, have also gotten to spend more time with their children in the garden.

“It’s really cool to see families and kids getting involved,” said Matt.

“There are some beautiful things that have come out of this,” said Jennie. “People are constantly coming in to show off their buds and blossoms. They are learning where their food comes from and getting back to their roots.”

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221 EAST MAIN STREET 4 FREDERICKSBURG, TX 930.990.2462 4 HABERDASHERYBOUTIQUE.COM HABERDASHERY_BOUTIQUE IG HABERDASHERY BOUTIQUE FB 48

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830.998.1556 • BLACKCHALKHOME.COM • FOLLOW US @BLACKCHALKHOME

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223 EARL GARRET ST | KERRVILLE, TX | 830.895.HOME

109 N ADAMS ST | FREDERICKSBURG, TX | 830.307.9798 | @SIMPLEGOODSSHOP

VISIT US AT ONE OF OUR TWO LOCATIONS | NOW ACCEPTING DESIGN CONSULTS

simplegoodsshop.com

HOME SIMPLE GOODS + DESIGN

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HAUS We invite you into our HAUS section, where we will explore our area architects, home styles, and elegant dĂŠcor.

Photos of Ololo taken by Jeremiah Dearinger

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mustard D E S I G N a r c h i t e c t s

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fredericksburg

830.997.7024

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FOUND IN

F R E D E R I C K S B U R G by KIMBERLY GILES Photos by JEREMIAH DEARINGER

Situated a short distance away from the bustling Main Street of Fredericksburg and countless wineries, is a new globally-inspired, bespoke retreat named Ololo. Jill Elliott, owner of Haberdashery clothing boutique and Blackchalk Home + Laundry, shared her newest enterprise with Rock & Vine.

First the name – Ololo. “This is a local word in Kenya, it indicates a gathering place; it could be a tree or a bend in the river or a place that community gathers; it’s a sort of landmark,” Elliott explained. “While we were building, we were struggling with a name and wanted something that had a global feel. We have this giant cedar tree in the middle of our four units that seemed very magical to us and it just provided the perfect gathering place for our visitors.”

Ololo has provided Elliott a platform to showcase her retail and design business in these one-of-a-kind cottages. “It’s been a really creative process and limitless as far as what I get to do,” she said. “What is fun is that

Danny, Cora, Jill and Tucker Photo by Tisha Shuffield SUMMER 2020 55

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they all have the same amenities, but they are completely different in style and global theme.” Devotees of home décor that have wandered through her Blackchalk Home + Laundry will find Elliott’s sense of style reflected at Ololo by the same textures and splashes of color.

Most importantly, Elliot likes to relate to her guests and the relationship with the land that this Ololo sits on.

“It’s surrounded by large Texas skies filled with stars at night, and fresh air as well as some resident bucks, a wild turkey and some sheep in the back pasture.”

Quiet and off the beaten track, its appeal lies for those wishing to escape the entrapments of the city and seek the solitude and luxury that Jill has created for her guests.

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OLOLO bookings through Heavenly Hosts StayatOlolo.com BLACKCHALK HOME + LAUNDRY BlackchalkHome.com HABERDASHERY HaberdasheryBoutique.com

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A R C H I T E C T

Walk with Us Enjoy our wines and views at our Winery & Vineyard.

LOCATED AT

6331 South Ranch Rd 1623 in Stonewall (830) 644-2144

JONPANKRATZARCHITECT.COM

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SARAH VA N B EC K UM

SPICY SUMMERTIDE Acrylic and oil pastel on canvas 48” x 48”. Inquire for pricing.

KERRVILLE, TX

235 EARL GARRETT STREET 830.315.3150

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209 EAST COLORADO AVENUE 970.728.3777

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A MOVIE INSPIRED BOUTIQUE WITH CLASSIC SOUTHERN CHARM! A different shopping experience with products that honor women entrepreneurs and vendors that give back

LOCATED WITHIN GATHERED & GOOD 401 E. AUGUSTE FREDERICKSBURG, TX 78624 830.307.3032 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK @STEELMAGNOLIAMARKETPLACE 62 Rock&Vine STEELMAG@YAHOO.COM

www.gatheredandgood.com

WALLPAPER

haus

Interior designer Jennifer Eggleston chooses a metallic jellyfish printed wallpaper for Danita Jareau's powder bath.

by KIMBERLY GILES he resurgence of wallpaper as a home trend is something that makes our HAUS contributor Jennifer Eggleston absolutely giddy. Most of us are aware of the impressions wallpaper had on us in our youth. It’s a comforting memory archived in our sensory deposit of collective patterns – the spaces where we gathered, like our grandmother’s kitchen with a floral motif or our childhood bedroom, or a thematic bathroom with accompanying color coordinates. Past meets the present as Jennifer redefines the nostalgia and concurrent narrative of self-expression that wallpaper brings to our homes today.

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Designer Eggleston chose a more masculine inspired men’s approachin wallpaper forJarreau’s bedroom. It was chosen to offset the softness of the velvet headboard and the sparkling chandelier.

Grass Cloth wallpaper is subtle and textured while lending warmth to this bathroom.

Eggleston selected a bolder geometric graphic print for a high impact statement in a small space for Timber & Stone’s showcase home at Hidden Springs.

JENNIFER'S FAVS THIBAUT: Incredible quality and variety, plus offers coordinating fabrics SCHUMACHER: Variety, always looks authentic, vibrant color, and it offers coordinating fabrics.

YORK: Amazing variety, good price points.

RALPH LAUREN: Simply classic.

MAGNOLIA HOME: Affordable, some prints remind me of Marimekko.

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haus WHY IS WALLPAPER TRENDING AGAIN? WHAT IS THE APPEAL? In my professional opinion, wallpaper is trending again for multiple reasons. First, I feel like there is so much more variety available as far as pattern, color, style, etc. As for appeal, wallpaper has become more available, and honestly, I think an alternative, updated, fresh approach to “faux” finishes.

A MOOD OR FEEL CAN BE CREATED WITH WALLPAPER, JUST AS IT CAN BE CREATED WITH COLOR, LIGHTING, AND OTHER MATERIALS. - Jennifer Eggleston

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE WALLPAPER TRENDS YOU'RE OBSERVING? This is always hard to answer because typically I am not a “trends-based” designer, especially when it comes to a material typically known for creating a focal point or what I would consider high impact. I would have to concur with the trend, or concept, that currently wallpaper truly is not just used for these areas anymore, that wallpaper is on trend as a material that can be used in any room.

DO YOU PREFER GEOMETRIC PRINTS, TEXTURE OR BOTANICAL ?

This is a tricky question. Typically, I prefer that the scale or size of a pattern is in keeping with the size of the space. My pattern preference is generally in character with the overall aesthetic design concept of a home. But I do appreciate the unexpected.

For example, a bold geometric wallpaper makes a statement on a bedroom wall. A soft botanical or floral in an old farmhouse gives nod to the original feel and look of that style and era. Textured wallpapers are wonderful backdrops for art. I will say, I have been a fan of grass cloth since my Ralph Lauren days.

ARE BUILDERS NOW FAVORING WALLPAPER ?

Builders, for the most part, have jumped back in with incorporating wallpaper, per their homeowner’s requests.

WHERE SHOULD WALLPAPER BE SUBTLE AND WHERE SHOULD IT BE MORE BOLD? A mood or feel can be created with wallpaper, just as it can be created with color, lighting, and other materials. Wallpapers are basically one more added layer to the interior finish of a home. Very rarely have I had a client request to play it safe in a powder bath. I have used everything from metallic wallpaper on a powder bath ceiling, to a gorgeous black floral in a tiny bathroom. I love using something bolder in a small space to create high impact design. By utilizing bolder pattern, color, or design in the wallpaper selection for a smaller space, there can be an advantage to the budget.

HOW HAS WALLPAPER APPLICATION TRANSITIONED? IT USED TO BE A LABORIOUS AND CLUNKY PROCESS. I think wallpaper installation is still a true art and similar to an upholsterer. Pattern repeats need to be seamlessly matched.

While I do not think it is nearly as clunky and dated as we remember, I do not think I am up to the task personally. I will leave the installation to the professionals.

IS WALLPAPER AFFORDABLE? AND IS IT EASIER TO REMOVE NOW? Wallpaper is available in a multitude of price points. The quality of wallpapers that are manufactured now are incredible. I remember pulling wallpaper books as a design assistant for a designer in Houston over 30 years ago, and there is such a difference in the quality of the paper. In regards to wallpaper being easier to remove now, it would have to be. R&V

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wardrobe • home • bath • kitchen

Curated Home Goods

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211 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624

home • garden

– LoFT Beautiful things for everyday living!

108 S. Lincoln St., Fredericksburg, TX 78624

– LoFT SUMMER 2020 67

in the hills

Catherine Massaro A STATE OF GRACE

By KIMBERLY GILES

Artist Catherine Massaro stands in front of her new home gallery space

atherine Massaro is one of many artists that has faced the challenges of COVID-19. As an artist in the Texas Hill Country, she has had galleries along Highway 290 in Johnson City and, more recently, in Fredericksburg. But in March, she shucked it all and went into quarantine.

“I looked up and down Main Street and I thought, this is going to be disaster,” Massaro said. Faced with the enormity of either riding it out or giving up her gallery space, she chose the latter.

Yet this is what Massaro later described as a blessing.

Spring is traditionally a time that exemplifies our fervor to take on new passions and reawaken our life pursuits. However, for Massaro, time (much like our own) is now suspended and the future is relatively unknown as we approach summer.

Time takes on a different dimension as an artist when the world of commerce ceases to exist. Massaro mentions that “it’s really nice to be with myself again. It’s a gift. I love my days and I enjoy losing myself in time while I work. When I’m painting or creating, time stands still. What I love about art is that it’s a whole different problem-solving experience in relation to yourself.”

Massaro is a graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute and her Masters from Utah State University; she has an affinity for folk art that incorporates a multitude of mediums in a balanced perspective. Her work can be seen in many Mandela patterns that represent balance, transition and getting to the truth or core of an idea or concept, whether it is personal, social or spiritual.

Self portrait of artist Catherine Massaro

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More recently during the course of social distancing, Massaro is finding herself in a state of grace, returning to her past love

in the hills of oil paints and self-portraiture. “There’s a mindset for oil painting that involves the set up and the smell of oils, then the clean-up with turpentine – the process takes commitment,” Massaro said.

When she describes her days, she does so with a spark in her eye, yet a tone of resounding guilt. “Spring is my favorite season, so when this quarantine came into effect, I was actually thankful I could retreat from what I was trying to do with the gallery and the business side of things,” she said. “Is that horrible to say? I think we all get into our head too much. When I paint, I’m in that moment. I recognize that moment without a clock. I am entering into a different relationship with myself.”

As we all encounter a similar state of anxiety around the coronavirus, Massaro reminds us how art allows her to focus on the present while she is creating and she encourages everyone to find their own path toward self-expression.

Catherine Massaro’s photography and oil art work will be on display at the “Created During Covid” art’s event at the KACC, Kerr Arts and Cultural Council beginning on July 9th.

To visit her home studio, call or contact for private appointment at: 775-303-8130 or via Facebook @cmassarostudio

One of many Mandela themes by artist

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in the hills

HOPING TO MAKE A SPLASH IN KERR ADVOCATES PETITION TO GET LIQUOR SALES ON NOVEMBER BALLOT

By KEN ESTEN COOKE

elieve it or not, there is a place in the Hill Country where one still can’t legally buy a stiff drink. With the Hill Country dotted with wineries, breweries and distilleries, Kerr County’s Precinct 2 has never approved “Liquor by the Drink” and is limited to beer and wine sales only. It’s further proof of the state’s antiquated liquor laws, which are being revisited during this coronavirus pandemic.

Enter the Precinct 2 Prosperity Program, a collection of businesses and entities who want to level their part of the county and invite investment to their southeastern corner of Kerr. Current law prohibits production and sales and activists want to lower that economic barrier.

Organizers will try and gather 2,000-plus petition signatures through July 31 to get the issue on the November 3 General Election ballot. Then voters in the precinct will make the decision as to whether to join the rest of the Hill Country.

“We will benefit economically in this region from agriculture, increased tourism and economic diversity, creating local jobs,” said Sue Schulse, owner of Turtle Creek with husband Dan. Her company has a tasting room downtown and wants to include one on its vineyard and olive grove property located south of Kerrville.

Amazingly, the issue has been floated to voters four times previously and came close to passing, but failed each time.

Advocates want to push through the issue and get the area south of Kerrville on an even competitive plain to recruit, retain and expand businesses that want to sell wine and liquor.

Turtle Creek Olives & Vines, the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce, the Comanche Trace housing community, and several other restaurants and businesses all started the initiative.

There is little doubt of the economic jolt the addition of wineries, distilleries and breweries have provided to the oncesleepy Hill Country. Those facilities have seen substantial investment, the hiring of many employees, and given a jolt to sales tax figures through their products. It’s why 1 of every 3 visitors to nearby Fredericksburg makes the trip, or at least has it on their itinerary. And one consultant said the Precinct 2 soil makes for better grape-growing conditions than in nearby Fredericksburg.

For more info, or to sign a petition, visit precinct2prosperity.org.

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BREAKING THE GRIP OF

THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

By MICHAEL BARR

t was for a later generation to call the economic meltdown of 1930s the Great Depression. At the time people in the Texas Hill Country called it a panic, a pain in the arsch, or just plain old hard times. Whatever you call it, the depression smothered the area like a wet blanket. It was optimism, determination and a quirky sense of humor that helped the people of the Hill Country survive those difficult times.

In the beginning the fall of Wall Street was of only passing interest to the Hill Country. That’s because the people here had few connections to the nation’s business and financial network. Banks were privately owned and uninsured. Few people had stocks, bonds or retirement accounts.

The region was geographically and culturally isolated

as well. Travel in any direction was an adventure.

Roads were crude. There were few bridges and no pavement in the Hill Country in 1930.

For those citizens fortunate enough to own automobiles a trip from Fredericksburg to Johnson City took hours – if roadways and low water crossings were passable. A trip from Fredericksburg to San Antonio, over 70 bone-jarring miles of bad roads, took most of a day, one way, under the best of conditions. Model T Fords, not equipped with fuel pumps, climbed Stieler Hill in reverse to keep gasoline flowing from the fuel tank to the carburetor.

The railroad scratched and clawed its way over, around and through the hills to Fredericksburg in 1913, but travel by rail was surprisingly unreliable.

Washouts, rock slides and derailments kept the train out of commission for days at a time.

John C. Lewis burns prickly pear cactus on the family ranch between the Doss and Cherry Spring communities in 1937.

During dry seasons, grass was scarce, so thorns were removed from cactus so the cattle could feed on them. – Photo courtesy of the Gillespie County Historical Society This headline showed a dark day in February of 1932 when Fredericksburg lost its two banks.

The difficulties of travel kept this part of the Hill Country isolated and off limits to all but natives and the most determined of travelers. Migration in and out was limited. The area retained a strong European flavor in attitudes, customs, folkways and language. Young people learned English at school, but German remained the dominant language in most homes.

Because Hill Country people were so isolated, there was a level of self-sufficiency here that was uncommon in 20th century America. Citizens produced most all of life’s necessities, and many luxuries as well. They butchered their own beef, goat and venison. They baked their own bread, churned their own butter, turned their own ice cream, made their own wine and cured their own tobacco.

But if this self-reliant and secluded place didn’t face the depression’s full impact is was also because life in the Hill Country was tough already. Few homes had electricity in 1930. There were precious few telephones or flush toilets. In the age of radio there were few radios. In Fredericksburg, water wells and outhouses were scattered all over town, often in dangerously close proximity to one another. A bacteriological examination of Fredericksburg drinking water in early 1932 showed sewage contamination in water wells and cisterns.

Life out in the countryside was especially difficult. Many farmers still plowed with mules because they couldn’t afford tractors.

The lack of electrical power meant that every chore was done by hand. Robert Caro in his Lyndon Johnson biography Paths to Power described rural life around Stonewall in the early 20th century as “out of the Middle Ages.”

Rural women spent hours kneeling over rub-boards, the strong lye soap burning the skin on their fingers. After clothes were washed and dried, women took out the wrinkles with heavy flatirons that had to be continually carried back and forth to the wood stove for reheating. For many women the only thing worse

than the drudgery of hard physical labor was the loneliness of a life in the middle of nowhere.

The economic news was not encouraging in the first two years of the depression, but life in the Hill Country trudged ahead pretty much as before. Then in early 1932 reality hit. On February 19th both banks in Fredericksburg closed without warning. Neither reopened. Life was never the same after that.

Bank closures caused a loss of faith in the banking system and a contraction of the money supply. The Palace Theater in Fredericksburg shut its doors for a time because no one could afford a ticket. Some Hill Country schools paid teachers in script or promissory notes. Grocery and mercantile stores extended credit for a year or more until cattle sold or crops came in.

A receipt from Woerner Grocery to August Mund Sr., who sold mohair for $2.40 in 1933. – Photo courtesy of the Gillespie County Historical Society

H-E-B grocery stores, with roots in Kerrville, had some anxious moments. Thirteen banks in which Howard Butt was a depositor failed in a year – four in one day.

The price of cotton dropped from 22 cents a pound to 8 cents. Mohair sold for 7 cents a pound and had a hard time selling even at that piddling sum. Eggs went for 8 cents a dozen.

Even Cupid was a victim of the depression. Gillespie County Clerk Albert Klett’s office reported that although 1932 was a leap year and a full day added to February, his office issued only one marriage license for the entire month. Meanwhile the Fredericksburg Standard reported that “the stork was busy as usual” while “the grim reaper has also asked his average toll without regard to commercial situation.”

While government programs helped needy citizens, in the long run it was the resiliency of the Hill Country people that pulled them through. They were down but never out. They looked long term. They knew from experience that life ran in cycles. Their history of isolation, stubborn self-sufficiency and “making do with what they had” served them well during the difficult days of The Great Depression.

When the banks in Fredericksburg failed and cash money was scarce, businesses reverted to the barter system. Keidel Drug Store in Fredericksburg took eggs and chickens for medicine.

Then citizens and businessmen pooled their money and started a new bank. Fredericksburg National Bank opened on April 6, 1932.

Even in the depths of the depression, the people of the Hill Country held their celebrations of life. Weekend dances, county fairs, schutzenfests and saengerfests continued as before. Friends got together to bowl 9 pin or to play pinochle and skat. Most everyone shared what they had. If someone had 3 bottles of beer, 6 people got together and had a party.

When President Roosevelt took office in March 1933, he planned to energize the nation’s economy by stimulating consumption. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) and other New Deal agencies made money available so that local governments could employ workers and pump some money into local economies.

Slowly conditions improved, especially after the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) strung electric wire all through the Hill Country. As the economy recovered Hill Country families, now equipped with electric power, bought refrigerators, electric irons, washing machines and water pumps. Quality of life improved dramatically. In 1930, 2 percent of Hill Country homes had electricity. By 1960, 2 percent didn’t.

Most Hill Country citizens saw federal work relief efforts as a good thing and a reason for hope, but others inevitably thought the New Deal went too far and lashed out at a government that paid workers for standing around and doing nothing. On the opening day of deer season a sign along a Mason County road read “Don’t shoot until the deer moves. It might be a WPA worker.”

Strands of gleaming silver wire, looped from pole to pole through the sparsely populated hills and valleys, along with improved roadways and concrete bridges, symbolized hope for the future and helped break the paralyzing grip of the Great Depression.

The people of the Hill Country could relax for the moment until the day their steely optimism and steady determination were needed once again. R&V

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in the hills

Birding Takes Flight in the Hill Country

By LINDSEY B. BERTRAND Photos by LANCE WINTER

Above, a Scissor-tail Flycatcher takes off from his perch.

Previous page, clockwise from top left: The gold and black male Lesser Goldfinch readies for flight.

A Sparrow eyes red berries from the yaupon tree.

A Painted Bunting looks for seed.

This Barred Owl surveys his Hill Country surroundings.

This Painted Bunting, a coveted bird for watchers, was captured during a rainstorm.

hile we humans weren’t able to do much flocking of any kind this spring, we need only look to our feathered friends for relief and inspiration during this time of social distancing and limited interaction.

“People are slowing down,” said Brenda Rather, co-owner of The Nature Shoppe, a birding supply store in Fredericksburg. “They are appreciating the wildlife in their own yards.”

Linda Pillow at Wild Birds Unlimited in Kerrville has seen an uptick in birding’s popularity, too. “Once we got to open the doors, we had so many brand new customers, because they had been quarantined and watching the birds,” she said.

And these local experts agree: birding is a hobby well-suited to anyone looking to get in touch with nature without necessarily touching others.

Even if you’re just winging it, you can start by paying attention to the avian inhabitants nearest you.

“Most people start in their own backyards,” said longtime birder and Fredericksburg resident Bill Lindemann. “Even watching birds through your windows is enjoyable.”

For those who are willing and able to venture outdoors, birding offers a variety of benefits. It fulfills curiosity and engages the senses. You observe the birds’ markings, hear their chatter and songs, and feel the air around you.

“It provides good stress relief,” said Lewis Rather, Brenda’s husband and co-owner of The Nature Shoppe. “And we could all use a little of that.”

TAKING ATTENDANCE To better understand what species of birds one might see in the Hill Country, Lindemann outlines the four groups of birds:

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- Year-round residents include cardinals, mockingbirds and doves.

- In March and April the summer residents begin to arrive, including the purple martin, summer tanager, vireos, painted bunting and the rarer golden-cheeked warbler.

- Winter residents include songbirds such as the yellow-rumped warbler and ruby-crowned kinglet, ducks, hawks and sparrows.

- And you’ve got to be eagle-eyed to spot migrant birds like the yellow warbler that pass through the Hill Country, staying only a day or two.

- “Additionally, there are birds that have limited ranges such as the golden-cheeked warbler and the black-capped vireo along the southern and eastern Edwards Plateau region,” said Lindemann.

“People come from all over the world to see those.” He also advises that there’s a good chance of seeing the ground-nesting rufous-crowned sparrow at Enchanted Rock.

VARIETY ABOUNDS Birding continues to be popular in the Hill Country because of the many species here.

“We have a huge variety of birds here,” said Brenda. “Our area is situated on the Central Migratory Flyway, one of the four North American flyways.”

Lindemann also points to the work of famed master scientist E.O. Wilson, who once suggested that the Edwards Plateau, including the Hill Country, might be the twenty-sixth most diverse ecological hotspot in the world.

To capitalize on that biodiversity, Lindemann founded the Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park in 2000.

The group, which consists of master naturalists and local citizens, added a bird blind in 2008, and today the Friends operate Center has two loop hiking trails, a handicapped-accessible trail, and a pollinator garden.

All told, the Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park has recorded more than 260 wildflowers, 180 birds, 70-80 butterflies, 50 dragonflies and damselflies, and 18 species of fish, stats that make it a natural draw for birders among nature centers in the state.

“You can walk the trail 10 times and see something different every time,” Lindemann said. “It won’t be the same experience twice.”

Additionally, a water feature installed in the bird blind in January offers viewers a chance to spy birds taking a cool bath or getting a drink.

LAWS OF ATTRACTION For those looking to entice birds to their yards, think food, shelter, nesting places and, most importantly, water.

This House Finch peeks out behind a burned tree stump.

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Consider combining different feeding methods to attract a variety of birds, including loose seed, cylinder-shaped feeders, and cakes or blocks. Bagged seed may contain large amounts of milo, which doves and quail enjoy, but it is not preferred by most other birds.

“If you want a variety of birds, get high quality seed,” Brenda said. She notes that cardinals, titmice and chickadees appreciate safflower, black oil sunflower and nyjer seed year-round, especially when they nest in the spring.

“They bring a lot of joy to the yard,” she said. “So people who are just getting into birding would enjoy that.”

If your yard allows, consider cultivating native plants, as these are excellent food sources and habitats for birds.

Birds are attracted to anything that bears fruit or berries, such as the possumhaw, yaupon, red mulberry, dewberry, agarita, roughleaf dogwood, and vines like Texas honeysuckle.

For example, the bright yellow lesser goldfinch loves thistle and sunflower, both native plants.

And it may surprise you that the hackberry, commonly regarded as a “trash tree,” is actually the best birdfeeding tree in Texas. If you have hackberries on your property, consider it advantageous for birding.

Shelters can include trees, bushes and even brush piles. These provide birds protection from the elements and from predators. Trees and shrubs also serve as nesting places, as not all birds use birdhouses.

Because birds are more vulnerable when they drink and bathe, it’s important to keep water near birds’ shelters so they can retreat if need be.

Place water no more than two inches deep in containers close to the ground rather than on a pedestal. Birds are more attracted to water as they see it in nature.

With a little planning, a thoughtful arrangement of food, water and shelter will garner the best bird viewing opportunities.

in the hills

A female Lesser Goldfinch scouts out a wooded floor.

A pair of Cardinals are a year-round sight in the Hill Country.

WE HAVE A HUGE VARIETY OF BIRDS HERE. OUR AREA IS SITUATED ON THE CENTRAL MIGRATORY FLYWAY, ONE OF THE FOUR NORTH AMERICAN FLYWAYS. - Brenda Rather

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in the hills

Bill Lindemann, longtime birding expert, has overseen development of walking trails and birdwatching stations at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park in Fredericksburg.

Photo by Ken Esten Cooke

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY As a hobby, birding is suitable for people of all ages and abilities. If you’re homebound, see what you can observe from your windows.

Lindemann advises that every birder inventory the species around them and keep a list. Take pictures of what you see, and compare those to an identification book. Start with binoculars that focus at short range, about five feet, and keep in mind that quality determines price.

WHEN YOU GO: THE NATURE SHOPPE 3021 S. State Hwy. 16, Fredericksburg (830) 307-9006 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Open to serve those who have wildlife exemptions WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED 855 Junction Hwy., Kerrville (830) 895-7393 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 12-4 p.m. Sun. LADY BIRD JOHNSON MUNICIPAL PARK & FREDERICKSBURG NATURE CENTER 3 miles south of downtown Fredericksburg off of South State Highway 16.

For those with limited mobility, the Handicapped Accessible Trail (HAT) at Lady Bird Johnson Municipal Park provides more visitors to access the blind and trails.

For novices, Pillow recommends something simple and cost-effective. Start with a premium blend seed and a squirrel-proof feeder. Seed cylinders are easy to operate and attract a wide variety of birds.

“We are thrilled when someone new is enjoying birding,” she said. “And that gets our passion going.”

And don’t forget to involve the kids! Children are naturally curious, and birding can be a great way to stay active and engage their observation and listening skills.

“We have a customer who is 12 years old. He saves his money to buy feeders and books and goes to the blind at Lady Bird,” said Brenda.

“We are all still learning, and that learning is what keeps us interested in this hobby.” & RV

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stomping grounds

KERRVILLE HILLS WINERY TASTINGS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL

By LORELIE HELMKE

As one of the founding team members at Bending Branch Winery, John Rivenburgh has been instrumental in the development of the Texas wine industry for over a decade. His work with Texas Tannat has garnered praise from all over the industry.

A shady spot at Kerrville Hills Winery, located just north of Kerrville on Highway 16.

John Rivenburgh of Rivenburgh Winery gets his hands dirty processing at Kerrville Hills Winery facility.

His style is distinct. Rivenburgh allows the grape to show up. His wines are often unrefined and unfiltered and his use of oak in minimal, generally opting for neutral oak in the process.

The winery operates loosely at a co-op.

Kerrville Hills Winery is a large operation that has space for up-and-coming wine makers to craft their art.

Many of the wines made here are wineries that consult with Rivenburgh to make their wines. The concept here is like an Amish barn-raising, he says, everyone shares ideas and inspiration.

I was privileged to have the chance to social distance with John and Kelly, who heads up his marketing, to taste a few of the wines that will be on the menu as soon as they can open.

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stomping grounds

KERRVILLE HILLS WINERY 2017 Sagrantino Narra Vineyard - Texas High Plains Beautiful Garnet color in the glass. Aromas of ripe cherry, cassis, smoked herbs and tobacco leaf envelop the senses. The satin like tannins wrap the mouth in a bold yet feminine embrace. Seduction in a bottle.

Pair with Osso Bucco or Bolognese.

AIRE Y SOL 2018 Viognier Texas High Plains Soft and elegant with aromatic bright apricot and cantaloupe attributes and a hint of pineapple. A lush character shines through on the pallet, a thread of structured acidity on the medium-long finish. Great with summer salads.

SUMMER STREAKER NV Dry White Wine Texas A blend of Roussane and Muscat Giallo, this wine is fun experiment with white wine aging. It was made in 2015. The color is light golden. Aromas of honey, orange blossoms and peach grace the nose. Not sweet, delightful in the mouth. A clean finish makes this a fabulous porch sipper and paired with bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers.

ANTIMA ROSE 2019 – Zinfandel and Tempranillo

KERRVILLE HILLS WINERY TANNAT 2017 – Rustic Spur Vineyard Stonewall, Texas A full-bodied stunner. This Tannat is powerful and opulent with distinctive smoke and dried plums on the nose. There is a hint of spice and layers of black cherry and vanilla that round out the character in this bottle. The flavors and layered. The tannins, silky.

Serve this with a prime rib roast.

Awakens the spirit with a mouthful of bright strawberry and raspberry. It’s full of flavor and lovely acidity. Fabulous by itself or great accompaniment for Quiche Loraine.

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drinkery

PIVOTING

AROUND

COVID-19

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY WINERIES RETOOL, READJUST, TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER

By ANDRE BOADA

he wrath of COVID-19 has unleashed havoc around the world, sending new warning terminology like “Flatten the Curve,” “Social Distancing,” “New Mandatory Orders” and most recently, “It’s Your Responsibility.”

It also created high unemployment, stock market declines mixed with furloughs (unpaid leave with guaranteed jobs at a later date). It’s a daunting scenario on the macro level, yet here in Texas Wine Country leaders in the winery arena have taken steps to pivot through the fire.

Through the COVID-19 turmoil we need to remember Texas stands proud, boasting one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the U.S. with vines planted more than a hundred years before even California and Virginia.

Starting in the 1650s, Franciscan priests planted mission vines near El Paso. We even had horticulturist Thomas Munson use Texas vines, providing significant research and securing much-needed rootstock immune to the Phylloxera epidemic, and saving the French wine industry from total ruin. Sadly, Prohibition in the U.S. virtually eliminated the Texas wine industry until a revival in the 1970s bringing winery and new tourism life back to the state.

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Here in Texas Hill Country we have over 60 wineries with many new winery permits pending. These attract millions of visitors from around the nation and bring muchneeded revenue to the area. Yet with the pandemic shutdown, creative operational solutions were needed to keep Texas Hill Country wineries afloat.

Brian Heath, proprietor of the iconic Grape Creek Vineyards and Heath Sparkling Wines, made his 110 employees top priority, creating IT solutions to work remotely where possible and maintaining payroll, tips and bonus programs. All this was done even in advance of securing a PPP government loan. He even offered high-risk employees extra time off before returning to work.

Secondly his team crafted a sale’s rechannel initiative, pushing tasting room sales to online by offering a rare 25% discount. With his wine club, they made outbound calls assuring members with financial hardships, allowing a skip shipment option never used previously, and actually saw an increase over normal retention levels. Before reopening, he redesigned customer flow and seating to ensure safety standards and improve employee morale.

2019 William Chris, High Plains, TX Rose'. A refreshing blend, perfect for the summer heat.

“It’s like the old saying, Let’s make sweet lemonade out of sour lemons. I was worried we would have high wine club attrition, yet our members supported our efforts online during the shutdown, which is a positive loyalty sign,” Heath said. “On the flip side, operating costs have gone up during the reopening phase mainly due to safety standards. A good example, five times more use of paper towels alone.”

Scott Felder, CEO of Augusta Vin Estate, an artisan, 100%-Texas winery with estate focus, also had employees’ jobs as a top priority.

Using PPP funds, he crossed-trained tasting room personnel to work in his 60-acre estate vineyards, thereby increasing the educational tasting experience offered within his modern, spacious timber oaks tasting room.

His sommelier team also developed a new education platform and email campaign that lifted online sales and now carries over into the reopening tasting experience.

“Like most, the winery and hospitality industries have had to navigate difficult unchartered waters with the coronavirus lock down. The federal Paycheck Protection Program (a part of the CARES Act) were a big help in allowing many to maintain payroll to their employees,” Felder said. “We at Augusta Vin had only six months of operations since our grand opening in early September of 2019 when the mandated closures occurred, but we decided early on to keep all of our staff on the payroll through the period.

“We utilized non-production employees to help in the vineyard-production facility during the two months of closure. Wineries had to continue with all vineyard and production operations in spite of the lack of revenue and that makes it especially difficult,” he added. “We are thankful to be welcoming business back to a safe Augusta Vin environment during the last month, and find that people are loving new, refound visits to Texas Hill Country. Since most Texas residents will not be flying to vacation destinations this year, the wine country in Central Texas is proving to be a great option for a beautiful get away that is close by car.”

closure sales. They were the first winery to close coupled with a delayed opening to ensure safety standards for employees and guests visiting the tasting room.

“Our values at William Chris take hold in good times and bad. In times of need we come together as one,” co-owner Chris Brundrett said. “We started tracking the COVID-19 one month in advance and reallocated one million dollars to protect the interests of our employees, the 28 families that grow our grapes and treat the public like family. We felt it was important to understand the true meaning of health by helping all, mentally and financially. That included calling wine club members personally, crafting a private label red blend (Wonderer Relief Project) and raising $45,000 for workers in the service industry.

Augusta Vin Estate, "Rose" All Day" tasting experience.

Three 100% Texas, Estate driven wines in one flight. One of five tasting experiences offered daily.

“Bottom line is we had to work twice as hard to make half as much, but we prevailed supporting all that believed in that value,” Brundrett said.

Texas Wineries have a blessed character and believe this Abraham Lincoln quote reflects that sincerity: “Character is like a tree and reputation is like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it: the tree is the real thing.”

One thing for certain, the COVID-19 Texas winery pivoting journey has pushed many to help one another. It has kept winery workers employed, consumers safe and the virus spread in check. That’s a monumental tree.

Augusta Vin's spacious outdoor seating overlooking their estate vineyard

R&V

The majestic grounds of Grape Creek Vineyards welcome you with lush surroundings.

Another winery leader in the Texas Hill Country, William Chris Winery flexed its marketing muscle by creatively formatting a compelling series of virtual tastings to offset SUMMER 2020 89

M O R E T H A N A B R E W E R Y. RELAX ON OUR

OUTDOOR

BEER GARDEN & PATIOS

LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND THURSDAYS

1/2 PRICE PINTS & HOUSE WINE

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY

DINE WITH US LUNCH & DINNER

90

6120 EAST US 290 | FREDERICKBURG, TX | WWW.ALTSTADTBEER.COM Rock&Vine

drinkery

BREWER,

OWNER, WRITER,

TEACHER

OWNER OF NEW BRAUNFELS BREWING COMPANY WANTS OTHERS TO AVOID STARTUP MISTAKES

By LEE NICHOLS o, you were cooped up at home during the pandemic lockdown with nothing to do and you decided to break out that homebrewing kit and give it a try. And, wow, you actually made some good stuff. You gave some to friends, and they told you it was great.

“Hey,” you thought, “maybe I should turn pro and open up a brewery!”

Whoa, pardner. Slow down. If you think all it takes to open a brewery is a few tasty recipes, you’re probably about to make some big mistakes.

Kelly Meyer, owner of New Braunfels Brewing Company (NBBC), has made those mistakes.

And as a favor, he wrote them all down, in the hopes that others won’t repeat them.

So step away from that brewing equipment, sober up, and use some of that free time to read How Not to Start a F**KING Brewery: Ten Business Lessons From the Front Lines of the Craft Beer Industry (available at nbbrewing. com).

Meyer shows off the cover of his new book, one he hopes will help new brewery owners avoid startup mistakes.

Meyer specializes in what are called “mixed culture” beers, a style most drinkers would identify as “sour,” although he shies away from that term (more on that later). And he’s really good at it. If you aren’t familiar with sours, or think you won’t like them, pay a visit to his tap room in downtown New Braunfels (especially on a hot summer day) and let him convert you.

SUMMER 2020 91

drinkery

THE IDEA IS THAT IF YOU’RE GOOD AT YOUR JOB, YOU SHOULD BE GOOD AT OWNING. THAT’S RARELY THE CASE. came up with the crazy idea for a pickleflavored beer. Seriously. And it was a success – when he finally went public with it in NBBC’s tasting room in 2016, the keg was empty within two hours.

top Kelly Meyer, NBBC owner studies, studies the tint of a new beer in his barrel room.

But being good at it, maybe even the best, doesn’t guarantee success. He and his wife opened in 2012 and struggled. To help him think through their problems, he sat down and put his errors into words.

After some initial issues, the beer (PKL) eventually did pretty well in stores. It caught Meyer by surprise and has become his biggest seller. But it didn’t necessarily make New Braunfels Brewing Company famous.

“What I had originally written down was going to be an outline of what we’d done wrong, just to see if we had any chance of fixing it.

And honestly, we were leaning toward the fact that we probably weren’t going to be able to fix them. It was almost like describing the water in which we were drowning,” Meyer said. “But I talked to others in the business, and it seemed like everyone was facing the same struggles. It was primarily mistakes that weren’t unique to me.”

Then, in 2019, Fort Worth brewery Martin House announced it was coming out with … you guessed it … a pickle beer. And not only that, it was in collaboration with Best Maid Pickles! And it was a runaway success. Soon, news media around the nation were raving about this “new” creation of pickle beer by Martin House. Was Martin House better at brewing pickle beer? That’s debatable, but quality wasn’t the difference, Meyer said. What Martin House indisputably did better than NBBC was marketing and building hype.

Eventually, he was able to organize the mistakes into chapters and the book was born.

Yes, you can brew. But can you market? Can you manage cash flow? Can you identify and hire quality employees? These are skills that have nothing to do with your skill as a brewer.

Before becoming a brewer, Meyer owned some gyms. “So many gym owners were just guys with big arms,” he said. “The idea is that if you’re good at your job, you should be good at owning. That’s rarely the case.”

Meyer’s book opens with the mistake of not marketing your product well enough. In 2015, he was eating a jar of Best Maid pickles, and

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Rock&Vine

And yeah, Meyer is clearly a little jealous of that, but ultimately, Martin House’s success did NBBC a favor.

“Martin House expanded the reach of pickle beer and literally went where no pickle had dared go before,” he writes. “And they opened hearts and doors for us. Six months after their release, our output [of the PKL] had tripled and was still growing faster than we could keep up.”

It’s been successful enough that NBBC has other PKL offshoots, including PKL PNCH (fruit flavored) and different Spicy PKL variations (including serrano, jalapeno, ghost chilis and habanero!).

It’s a family affair as Meyer’s son Rogan helps load bags of malt into the brewery in downtown New Braunfels.

certain percentage of Rock & Vine readers – even those who might like sour beers – are gagging at the thought of pickle beer. Don’t worry – New Braunfels Brewing has plenty other things to please your palate. In fact, those are the ones Meyer likes brewing best.

Meyer prefers the term “mixed culture” because, unlike a lot of sours that rely on a commercially produced yeast to create that flavor, he relies on the natural (and multiple) yeasts and bacteria just floating around in the New Braunfels air. Trying to explain the chemistry is complicated, but as Meyer puts it in a blog post on NBBC’s website, “Much like kombucha, my multiple strains of yeast and bacteria work symbiotically to create a Mixed Culture Beer that is funky, dry, refreshing and makes you pucker a bit.”

Just applying the term “sour” to what he brews is “like saying that your car is red when it’s actually four colors and it’s only 30% red.”

The actual core of NBBC’s lineup is a mixed culture “rustic wheat” beer called Blondine. “It’s our most underrated product,” Meyer said, and it forms the basis for Funkromancer (aged with hibiscus flowers), Saison de Nefle (refermented with loquats procured from his New Braunfels neighbors), Deathbed (refermented with Vermouth spices from La Cruz de Comal Winery) and Das Lokal (refermented with tempranillo wine pomace from Lost Draw Cellars).

Meyer isn’t afraid to admit that his beers probably appeal to wine lovers as much or more than traditional beer drinkers.

“I was really into wine when I started, and I gravitated to those flavors and fell in love with them,” he said.

Those flavors aren’t the path that most would take into the beer industry, but then, Meyer doesn’t necessarily want others to emulate him. He just wants them to avoid his early mistakes.

“I don’t have all the answers,” he says. “I can’t guarantee what I did will work; your way might be different. I am not an expert on everything.”

New Braunfels Brewing Company’s lineup of pickle beer – yes, pickle beer – are some of its most popular sellers.

As with all breweries around Texas, NBBC’s tasting room was closed a while due to the Covid-19 lockdown. That actually turned out okay: “It forced me to go primarily online,” Meyer said. “I knew our package sales would go up, but they almost doubled! We had had to order more bottles. We managed to maintain the same revenue online as we had with our bar.”

Now that restrictions have eased, the tasting room is back open at 25 percent capacity as of this writing. NBBC’s space is pretty tiny, so primarily the tasting area has moved to some benches out in the parking lot.

NEW BRAUNFELS BREWING COMPANY 180 W. Mill St. New Braunfels 78130 830-626-2739 http://nbbrewing.com Tasting room hours: Thursdays 4-9pm Fridays 2-9pm Saturdays 11am-10pm Sundays 1-8pm

SUMMER 2020 93

THE CLUB

The Locals’ Place

Opening Hours: Thursday - Saturday 5-11 pm Saturday Afternoon: Bluesic - Wine - Bistro Wine Tasting by Reservation 316 Goehmann Ln. Fredericksburg, TX • 830-992-3421

LIVE M US FINE B IC AND I SPECIA STRO LTIES

18 CABINS on 26 acres just two minutes to Main Street along the creek.

The only Vineyard IN Fredericksburg!

Home of the “Cabelas” photo shoots

Barons

The Romantic

830-990-4048

Getaway

www.baronscreekside.com

94

Rock&Vine

THIS AIN’T JUST WINE COUNTRY. HOME OF THE FIRST LEGAL BOURBON DISTILLERY IN T E X A S A ND 2-T IM E A M E R IC A N W HIS K Y OF T HE Y E A R .

Garrison Brothers Distillery in Texas Hill Country is dedicated to making the best bourbon in the world and true Southern hospitality.

When you’re here, you’ll feel the warmth of our Texas spirit, right alongside the aroma of our sweet mash and the soothing hum of our copper pot-stills making more bourbon. Come pay us a visit.

Distillery tours are at 10, noon 2 and 4. You don’t have to take a tour to taste our bourbon though, we serve bourbon flights at our Hospitality Cabin Wednesday through Sunday from 10 to 5. Make a reservation by visiting

W W W.GARRISONBROS.COM/ TOUR

,,

If you didn’t think Texas was on the world map of great whisky, it is now.

JIM MURR AY

DRINK LIKE AN ADULT ™

garrisonbros.com

©2018 Garrison Brothers Distillery

SUMMER 2020 95

WILLKOMMEN

Welcome to THE site for Fredericksburg, Texas real Estate and properties for sale. Nestled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburgâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Small-town atmosphere, relaxed lifestyle, and the quality of life draw families and retirees from all over.

Whether you are buying or selling, or just considering the perfect place for your retirement years, I would love to serve youEVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

CAROLE REED

CAROLE@CAROLEREED.COM

830-992-9446

Broker J.R. Russel Lic# 601430 96

Rock&Vine

Grape minds

think alike JUST LIKE YOU MAKE AND SERVE THE BEST WINE, WE ARE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICES TO OUR CLIENTS.

At SWBC Insurance Services, we are focused on providing customized insurance coverage to protect wineries and/or vineyard operations—so they can focus on their craft. When we partnered with Chris Brundrett, we knew our shared value of excellence would help us form a strong, lasting partnership.

Visit or call one of our Hill Country experts today to learn more about how we can find the best coverage for your winery, vineyard, or brewery.

C.W. Lees SWBC Insurance Services Commercial Lines Producer

Cell: 830.307.4202 Email: clees@swbc.com

“At William Chris Vineyards, we work hard to provide the best possible customer experience every day. We strive to be the very best at what we do and having a great partner like SWBC, who understands our goals, makes a big difference. It’s clear they care about us and our success, and we’re proud to work with them.”

Monty Melcher

—Chris Brundrett | Co-Founder and Winemaker, William Chris Vineyards

609 N. Llano Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78264

SWBC Insurance Services Commercial Lines Producer 924 Jefferson Street. #4, Kerrville, TX 78028 Cell: 830.285.5439 Email: mmelcher@swbc.com

©2020 SWBC. All Rights Reserved. 1045-A8529 04/20

SUMMER 2020 97

drinkery maps 122

Pontotoc

41 San Saba

Lake Buchanan

Tow

117

Buchanan Dam

29 29

Llano

Castell

113

29

Oatmeal

Lake LBJ

Sunrise Beach Horseshoe Bay

Travis Peak

71

16

97

16

Stonewall

Hye

116 3

56

71 73

Johnson City

108 11

10

Lakeway Bee Cave

115

18

290

95 37

41 Driftwood 40 121

Wimberley Comfort

30 82 61

Sisterdale

44

100

23 10

99

Boerne

60 Bandera

22 27

183 San Marcos

Spring Branch

19

AUSTIN

71

103

35

91

KERRVILLE

76 Vanderpool

106

Dripping Springs

87

Center Point

118

17 Henly 38

10 Blanco

Jonestown Lago Vista

57

83

85

Lake Travis

Round Rock

77 Cypress Mill

Luckenbach

SEE PAGE 100

67 89

92

66 27 102

105

Willow City

FREDERICKSBURG

13

Spicewood

Round Mtn.

26

52

183

46

Marble Falls

87

Georgetown

Liberty Hill

Granite Shoals 16

Rogers 35

86

Kingsland

34

Andice

Bertram

Burnet

110

Inks Lake

47, 80 & 96

290

111

88

Blufftown

71

Mason

Florence

281

Canyon Lake

Canyon City

70

281

36 68

Smithson Valley Bulverde

39

87

109 35

N

Gruene 46

New Braunfels

32 Seguin

114

W

E

S

Hill Country Wine Region The Texas Hill Country region now has over 100+ breweries, distilleries, wineries and vineyards combined and continues to grow each month. With this growth, Rock & Vine has also expanded its reach with coverage to the northern counties of San Saba and McCullouch, down south to Bandera, Kendall and Comal, out west to Mason, Kimble and Menard, and east to Hays, Williamson and Travis counties.

Highlighted areas on page 100

98

Rock&Vine

Listing numbers correspond with numbers on map. Locations are approximate not to scale.

1.

12 Fires Winery

32. Copper Star Cellars (Off Map)

63. Hye Meadow Winery

96. Sandstone Cellars (Off Map)

2. 290 Vinery

33. Cross Mountain

64. Hye Rum

97. Santa Maria Cellars

3. 290 Wine Castle

34. Dancing Bee Winery (Off Map) 65. Inwood Estates Winery

98. Signor Vineyards

4. 1851 Vineyards

35. Deep Eddy Vodka

66. Iron Goat Distillery

99. Singing Water Vineyards

67. Kerrville Hills Winery

100. Sister Creek Vineyards

68. Kinematic Brewing Company

101. Six Shooters Cellars

69. Kuhlman Cellars

102. Slate Mill Collective

70. La Cruz de Comal Wines

103. Solaro Estate Winery

100 Durango • Johnson City 300 W. Main (Hwy. 290) • Johnson City 101 Durango • Johnson City 4222 S. Hwy. 16 • Fredericksburg

5. Ab Astris

320 Klein Rd • Stonewall

6. Adega Vinho

972 S County Rd. 1623 • Stonewall

7. Altstadt Brewery

6120 E. US Hwy 290 • Fredericksburg

8. Alexander Vineyards 6360 Goehmann Lane Fredericksburg

9. Andreucci Wines

2 Locations 8898 US Hwy. 290 308 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

10. Andalusia Whiskey Company 6462 N. Highway 281• Blanco 11. Arc de Texas

4555 Hwy. 281 • Johnson City

12. Armadillo’s Leap Winery

2 Locations 134 E. Main St 6266 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

13. Augusta Vin

140 Augusta Vin Ln • Fredericksburg

14. Baron’s Creek Vineyard

5865 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

15. Becker Vineyards

2 Locations 307 E. Main St. 464 Becker Farms Rd. • Fredericksburg

16. Bell Mountain Vineyards

463 Bell Mountain Rd. • Fredericksburg

17. Bell Springs Winery 3700 Bell Springs Rd. Dripping Springs

18. Bella Vista Ranch

3101 Mount Sharp Rd. • Wimberley

19. Bending Branch Winery

142 Lindner Branch Trail • Comfort

20. Bingham Family Vineyards

13217 FM 1117 • Seguin

308 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg 8060 W. US Hwy. 190 • Rogers 2250 E. US Hwy. 290 Dripping Springs

36. Dodging Duck Brewhaus 402 River Rd. • Boerne

37. Driftwood Estate Winery 4001 Elder Hill Rd. • Driftwood

38. Dripping Springs Vodka 5330 Bell Springs Rd. Dripping Springs

39. Dry Comal Creek Vineyards 1741 Herbelin Rd. • New Braunfels

40. Duchman Family Winery 13308 FM 150 W. • Driftwood

41. Fall Creek Vineyards

2 Locations 18059-A FM 1826 • Driftwood 1820 County Rd. 222 • Tow

42. Fat Ass Winery Tasting Room 153 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

43. Fat Ass Ranch Winery

51 Elgin Behrends Rd. • Fredericksburg

44. Fawncrest Vineyard & Winery 1370 Westside Circle • Canyon Lake

45. Fiesta Winery - 2 locations

147A E. Main St. 6260 US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

46. Flat Creek Estate

24912 Singleton Bend East Rd. Marble Falls

47. Fly Gap Winery (Off Map)

2851 Hickory Grove Rd. • Mason

48. Four Point Cellars

10354 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

49. Fredericksburg Brewing Company 245 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

50. Fredericksburg Winery

247 W. Main St. • Fredericksburg

51. French Connection

1197 Hye Albert Rd. • Hye

52. Georgetown Winery 3915 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

21. Blue Lotus Winery

8500 W Hwy 290 • Hye

22. Boerne Brewery

106 Sage Brush • Boerne

23. Branch on High

704 High St. • Comfort

24. Brewbonnet (inside Wildseed farms) 100 Legacy Rd • Fredericksburg

25. Calais Winery

8115 W. US Hwy. 290 • Hye

26. Carter Creek Winery

4064 W US-290 • Johnson City

27. Chisholm Trail Winery

2367 Usener Rd. • Fredericksburg

28. Cibolo Creek Brewing Company 122 N. Plant • Boerne

29. Cicada Cellars

14746 E. US Hwy. 290• Stonewall

30. Comfort Brewing

523 Seventh St. • Comfort

31. Compass Rose Cellars Inc. 1197 Hye Albert Rd. • Hye

715 Main St. • Georgetown

53. Garrison Brothers Distillery 1827 Hye Albert Rd. • Hye

54. Grape Creek Vineyards

10587 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

55. Grape Creek Vineyard on Main 223 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

56. Hahne Estates Winery

14802 US Hwy. 290 East • Stonewall

57. Hawk’s Shadow Estate Vineyard

7500 McGregor Ln. • Dripping Springs

58. Heath Sparkling (coming summer '19) 10591 US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

59. Hilmy Cellars

12346 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

60. Hill Country Cellars & Winery 3540 S. Hwy 16 Ste 2D • Bandera

61. Hill Country Distillers 723 Front St. • Comfort

62. Horn Wineries

9953 E. US Hwy. 290 • Hye

9953 US Hwy. 290 • Hye

11247 W. US Hwy. 290 • Hye 10303 US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg 817 Usener Rd. • Fredericksburg 3600 Fredericksburg Rd. • Kerrville 635 E. Hwy 46, Suite 207 • Boerne 18421 E. US Hwy. 290 • Stonewall 7405 FM 2722 • Canyon Lake

71. Lewis Wines

3209 W. US Hwy. 290 • Johnson City

72. Longhorn Cellars

315 Ranch Rd. 1376 • Fredericksburg

73. Longhorn Hills and Winery

555 Klappenbach Rd. • Johnson City

74. Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards

6009 US Hwy. 290. • Fredericksburg

75. Lost Draw Cellars

113 E. Park St. • Fredericksburg

76. Lost Maples Winery

34986 Farm Market 187 • Vanderpool

77. McReynolds Winery

706 Shovel Mountain Rd. • Cypress Mill

78. Mendelbaum Winery/Cellars

10207 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

79. Messina Hof Winery

9996 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

80. Murphy's Cellars

120 Fort McKavett St • Mason

81. Narrow Path Winery

2 Locations FM 1623 (South of Hye) • Albert 111 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

211 San Antonio St. • Mason

12044 S. Hwy. 16 • Fredericksburg 362 Livesay Lane • Fredericksburg 316 Mill Dam Rd. • Comfort

1142 Sisterdale Rd. • Boerne

6264 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg 4222 S State Hwy 16 • Fredericksburg 13111 Silver Creek Rd. Dripping Springs

104. Southold Farm + Cellar 10474 Ranch Road 2721 Fredericksburg

105. Spicewood Vineyards 1419 CR 409 • Spicewood

106. Stone House Vineyard

24350 Haynie Flat Rd. • Spicewood

107. Texas Heritage Vineyards

3245 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

108. Texas Hills Vineyard

878 RR 2766 • Johnson City

109. Three Dudes Winery

125 Old Martindale Rd. • San Marcos

110. Torr Na Lochs

7055 W. State Hwy. 29 • Burnet

111. The Vineyard at Florence 8711 W. FM 487 • Florence

112. The Vintage Cellar

6258 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

113. Thirsty Mule Winery & Vineyard 101 CR 257 • Liberty Hill

114. Timber Ridge Winery

2152 Timber Creek Rd. • Pipe Creek

82. Newsom Vineyards

115. Treaty Oak Distilling Company

83. Pecan Street Brewing

116. Vinovium

84. Pedernales Cellars

117. Wedding Oak Winery

717 Front St. • Comfort

106 E. Pecan Dr. • Johnson City 2916 Upper Albert Rd. • Stonewall

85. Pelota Wines, Inc.

3209 US Hwy. 290 • Johnson City

86. Perissos Vineyards

7214 W. Park Road 4 • Burnet

87. Perspective Cellars

247 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

88. Pilot Knob Vineyard 3125 CR 212 • Bertram

89. Pint & Plow Brewing Company 332 Clay St. • Kerrville

90. Pontotoc Vineyard

320 W. Main St. • Fredericksburg

91. Real Ale Brewing Company 231 San Saba Court • Blanco

92. Ron Yates Wines

6676 W. US Hwy. 290• Hye

93. Safari

5479 E. US Hwy. 290 • Fredericksburg

94. Saint Tryphon Vineyard

16604 Fitzhugh Rd. • Dripping Springs 214 Edmonds Avenue • Johnson City 2 Locations 316 E. Wallace (Off Map) • San Saba 290 Wine Rd., • Fredericksburg (Under construction)

118. Westcave Cellars Winery 25711 Hamilton Pool Rd. Round Mountain

119. Western Edge Cellars

228 W. Main St. • Fredericksburg

120. William Chris Vineyards 10352 US Hwy. 290 • Hye

121. Wimberley Valley Winery

2825 County Road 183 • Driftwood

122. Wines of Dotson Cervantes 13044 Willis Street • Pontotoc

123. Winotus

115 E. Main St. • Fredericksburg

124. Woodrose Winery

662 Woodrose Lane • Stonewall

125. Zero 815 Winery

11157 W. US Hwy. 290 • Hye

24 Wasp Creek Rd • Boerne

95. Salt Lick Cellars

1800-C FM 1826 • Driftwood

SUMMER 2020 99

drinkery maps 104 LANE

FREDERICKSBURG FREDERICKSBURG

5

GOEHMANN

Cain City

1376

COM RD. FORT

C LU

LOWER ALBERT RD.

54 58

15

ALBER

6

RD

1623

84

Albert

HYE ALBERT RD.

GELLERMANN

7865

69 64 125

124

HAHN RD.

CITY

N BACH-CAIN .

KE RD

RD.

MEUSEBACH CREEK RD .

WOODLAND DR.

RD. CAIN

IO

Blumenthal

59 98 48 43

Hye

290

Stonewall

T

ON

9

290

120

Pedernales River

PER

14 74 72

79

LBJ National LBJ State Historical Park Historical State Park Ranch

29

UP

NT SAN A

87

20 93

112 7 45 101 24 Rocky Hill 8 CITY

OLD

107

Pedernales River

JENSCHKE LANE

290

LUCKENBACH RD.

GOEHMANN LN.

LANE

.

KLEIN RD.

16

31 21 63 31

60 24

51

53

81

OLD

Luckenbach

WINE CORRIDOR

DOWNTOWN FREDERICKSBURG W. CENTRE ST.

PECAN ST.

ELM

W. COLLEGE ST.

TRAVIS ST.

ORCHARD ST. TRAVIS ST.

16 SCHUBERT ST.

Pioneer Museum

50

33

81 123 45 42

SAN ANTONIO ST. T

EEK S

E. CR

16 N

W

PARK ST. E

S

100

Rock&Vine

UFER ST.

75

Visitor Information Center

LINCOLN ST.

12

LLANO ST.

Marktplatz

ADAMS ST.

AUSTIN ST.

55

49

Museum of the Pacific War

15 87

MAIN STREET

9

87

S WASHINGTON

MAIN STREET

119

CROCKETT ST.

90

ORANGE ST.

MILAM ST.

AUSTIN ST.

EDISON ST.

BOWIE ST.

ACORN ST.

CHERRY ST.

SCHUBERT ST.

290

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The Perfect Venue for your Perfect Event 830.997.7470 FOURPOINTWINE.COM 10354 E US HWY 290 • FREDERICKSBURG, TX

䨀伀䤀一 唀匀 䘀伀刀 䄀一 䔀堀儀唀䤀匀䤀吀䔀 倀刀䤀嘀䄀吀䔀 䔀堀倀䔀刀䤀䔀一䌀䔀 伀刀 䈀伀伀䬀 夀伀唀刀 一䔀堀吀 䔀嘀䔀一吀 䄀吀㐀⸀ 䌀䔀䰀䰀䄀刀匀⸀ 圀圀圀⸀䘀伀唀刀倀伀䤀一吀圀䤀一䔀⸀䌀伀䴀 簀㠀㌀ ⸀㤀㤀㜀⸀㜀㐀㜀 簀 ㄀ ㌀㔀㐀 䔀 唀匀 䠀圀夀 ㈀㤀 Ⰰ 䘀刀䔀䐀䔀刀䤀䌀䬀匀䈀唀刀䜀Ⰰ 吀堀

SUMMER 2020 101

Events

Due to the pandemic, many events have been cancelled or postponed, and those that are taking place may have specific safety guidelines for visitors to follow. Call before you go to make sure you have the most up-to-date information. This was our most up-to-date information ahead of our press deadline.

June 20

—3rd Annual Panther Pit Crew BBQ Cookoff, Lions Foundation Park, 353 State Highway

July

332 Loop, Liberty Hill. Annual sanctioned Lonestar Barbecue Society event, with corn hole tournament, live music, raffle, prizes. Sponsored by City of Liberty Hill. Free admission. lonestarbarbecue.com Mike Thames, phone 512-299-7944.

—Rock’n Riverfest & Jet Ski Races on the Llano River, Badu Park, Llano, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pets

27 —Antique Engine & Tractor Pull, County

take to the streets in patriotic parade, splash pad, zip line, BBQ cookoff, fireworks, vendors, disc golf, car show. llanorocknriverfest.com Phone: 325-247-5354.

Fairgrounds, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 619 U.S. 281 North, Johnson City. Food, vendors, various events for different size/age tractors from 1965 and earlier. Access fee by donation.

Proceeds to local 4H and FFA. Sponsored by Johnson City Antique Tractor and Engine Club. Phone: 512-749-4182. facebook.com/Johnson-City-Antique-Tractor-and-EngineClub-105216229660290

4

4-5 —Pari-Mutuel

Horse Races, Gillespie County Fairgrounds, 530 Fair Drive off Texas-16, two miles south of town. Gates open at 11 a.m., post time 1 p.m. Quarter horse, thoroughbred races, special races and trials. Dancing, entertainment, food and drink on tap. https://www.visitfredericksburgtx.com/event/live-parimutuel-horse-racing/34745/

9-August 8—“Created During COVID”

art display, sponsored by the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce. KACC members are invited to show up to 5 pieces of artwork in any medium they created during the coronavirus pandemic period for a $5 fee. See www. kerrvilletx.com or call 830-895-2911 for more information.

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August 8

—Second Saturday Gallery Trail, at the Square and around town in Wimberley, 4-7 p.m. On the second Saturday of every month, Wimberley’s 15 fine art galleries stay open late for the Gallery Trail. Enjoy art, wine, bites, entertainment. Phone: 512-847-9438. wimberleyarts.org

10-11 —Kerrville

Open Pro Rodeo, Hill County Youth Event Center, 3705 Highway 27 East, 8 p.m.

Annual event by Lester Meier Rodeo Company. Phone: 830-997-1864. lmrodeo.com

11 —Preserving the Harvest, LBJ State Park

& Historic Site, 199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, 9 a.m. to noon. Back in pioneer days in Texas, canning and pickling summer fruits and veggies meant families had food to eat year-round. Learn how to preserve fresh fruits and veggies at the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm. Free family event. Phone: 830-644-2252. https://tpwd.texas. gov/state-parks/lyndon-b-johnson/park_events

22 —New

Braunfels Kidsfest, New Braunfels Civic Center, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All of the Hill Country's best resources, products and services for children are here, with more than 40 performances by local kids, free activity stations and 250 youthoriented exhibitors. $5 at the door, $3 online (kids under 2 are free). Tammy Wood, 830-488-7814. http:// nbkidsfest.com.

18 —Night in Old Fredericksburg, Gillespie

County Fairgrounds, 530 Fair Drive off TX-16 two miles south of town, 3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. From polka to country western music, food courts, arts and crafts, a beer hall, domino tournament, horse racing, goat roping, kids’ area, chili cookoff, historic demonstrations and more, this is Fredericksburg’s salute to its German and Texas heritage.

Admission $10. Phone: 830-997-2359. visitfredericksburgtx.com/event/night-in-oldfredericksburg-bbq-%26-chili-cook-off/34750/

31-August 2 —North Jewelry & Gift Show,

American

Convention Center, 375 S. Castell Ave., New Braunfels. noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday. Jewelry, beads, gold, silver, gemstones, clothing, handbags and gift items. Admission $5. Phone: 210-4100737. http://www.nashows.com SUMMER 2020 103

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END

notes

Compiled by SHANNON LOWRY

Shop Fresh at Farmers Markets Shopping in the open air for fresh veggies, home-made baked goods, wildflower honey, yard art and crafts at a farmers market this summer is one way to support local growers and business folks and enjoy some time outdoors.

Check out area farmers market Facebook pages or websites for the latest information on their safety guidelines, hours and crowd limits. Here are just some of the farmers markets that are worth the jaunt.

Barton Springs Farmers Market, Barton Springs Mall parking lot, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, 9 am to 1 pm Saturdays, BartonCreekFarmersMarket.org Dripping Springs Farmers Market, 3-6 pm Wednesdays, Veterans Memorial Park, corner of Highway 290 and RR 12.

Fredericksburg Farmers Market, 5-7 pm Thursdays, Marktplatz, 126 West Main St., Fredericksburg, fredericksburgtxfarmersmarket.com Farmers Market at the Cibolo Nature Center and Farm, 9 am to 1 pm Saturdays, 33 Herff Road, Boerne.

New Braunfels Farmers Market, 9 am to 1 pm Saturdays, 186 South Castell Ave, New Braunfels, phone 830-629-2223 San Marcos Farmers Market, 9 am to 1 pm Saturdays, 111 E. San Antonio St., San Marcos, phone 432-559-6930 How Peach Trees Came to Texas “An apple is an excellent thing — until you have tried a peach,” said Franco-English cartoonist George du Maurier.

by Christiann Koepke

Recent studies have found that very early on, the Chinese understood grafting and vegetative reproduction, and developed forms of peaches that were sweeter, fleshier and tastier than their wild counterparts. Although peaches are now grown around the world, China still has the greatest genetic diversity, with 495 recognized cultivars.

In Fredericksburg and Stonewall, peach season runs from mid-May to early August. Here are some places to find summer’s bounty. Call ahead for business hours. Look for a range of peach products, from peach preserves, jams and jellies, to fresh and canned peaches, peach salsa, peach ice cream, peach pies, peach butter and peach cobbler.

Behrends Orchard and Peach Stand 4579 US 290 East, Fredericksburg, phone 830-997-4420 Jenschke Orchards 8301 US 290 East, Fredericksburg, phone 830-997-8422 Studebaker Farms 9405 US 290 East, Fredericksburg, phone 830-990-1109 Burg’s Corner 15194 US 290 East, Stonewall, phone 830-694-2772 or 830-644-2604 Gold Orchards Inc. 14329 US 290 East, Stonewall, phone 830-644-2890 Vogel Orchard 12862 US 290 East, Fredericksburg, phone 830-644-2404 Wahl’s Peaches 15369 US 290 East, Stonewall, phone 830-970-0311.

Nothing says summer like a soft, ripe peach.

Engel Farms 9885 US 290 East, Fredericksburg, 830-990-5064

Peach trees took root in Texas when German settlers came to Gillespie County in 1846. It wasn’t long before peach orchards dotted the Hill Country landscape. Today, Gillespie County farmers produce one-third of the state’s peach crop.

Check out the Hill Country Fruit Council’s guide for ripening dates for favorite varieties of local peaches at texaspeaches.com/ripedate.html

And while the Germans thankfully brought the fruit to the Hill Country from Europe along with their grandma’s best cobbler and pie recipes, peach trees are actually an ancient plant that were first cultivated in China some 7,000 years ago. As trade spread around the globe, so too did Chinese peach trees.

DID YOU KNOW?

- 3 to 4 medium-sized peaches equal a pound.

- one bushel of fresh peaches equals 48 pounds and will yield 18-24 quarts if you are canning or freezing.

- growers today usually sell peaches in ½ bushel or smaller containers.

Sources: www.goodfruit.com/digging-back-into-peach-history/ www.101highlandlakes.com/news/texas-hill-country-peaches SUMMER 2020 105

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notes

Peach Cobbler Recipe with Granola Topping or Biscuits Peach season in Texas is a brief blush of pink in the hot months. If you miss it, here’s a delicious recipe for peach cobbler that uses frozen peaches so you can enjoy this delicious summer fruit year-round.

Chef’s Notes: Any kind of berry can be used or cherries or peaches. No need to thaw the fruit before baking. You might also try a mix of berries. It can be topped with a granola crumble or traditional biscuits. The peach cobbler with granola crumble is highly recommended.

INGREDIENTS: Two 16-ounce bags of frozen peaches, cherries or berries, unthawed Cornstarch: 1 Tbsp for berries, 3 Tbsp for cherries or 4 tsp for peaches 1 tsp pure vanilla extract *For cherries or peaches, add 1 tsp almond extract GRANOLA TOPPING Combine: 1 1/2 cups granola 3/4 cup flour 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon BISCUIT TOPPING 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup granulated white sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/3 cup buttermilk (or 1/3 cup milk combined with 1 tsp white vinegar, let stand 5 minutes to make buttermilk) 4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) butter, melted 1/2 tsp vanilla 2 tsp sugar 1/8 tsp cinnamon DIRECTIONS Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a two-quart glass pan (8 inches square or 8 by 11”) with cooking spray.

Toss frozen fruit with sugar, cornstarch and vanilla (add almond extract to peaches or cherries). Spoon into prepared pan. Place pan on a rimmed baking sheet in case the filling bubbles over. Bake 60 minutes

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by LuAnn Hunt

In the last 15 minutes the fruit is baking, make the biscuits (if you choose this topping): •

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl:

• Combine melted butter, buttermilk and ½ teaspoon vanilla together.

• Stir buttermilk mixture into flour mixture until just combined. Divide the dough evenly into eight pieces.

Mix 2 teaspoons sugar with cinnamon in small bowl and set aside.

Remove the hot fruit from oven and stir. Space the biscuits on the hot filling ½ inch apart. Sprinkle biscuit dough with cinnamon sugar.

Return cobbler to oven and bake 15-20 minutes until filling is bubbling and biscuits are cooked through. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes before serving.

If you choose the granola topping, combine the ingredients, remove the hot fruit from the oven at the end of the 60-minute bake time, sprinkle over top of hot peaches or berries, return to oven and continue to bake until the topping is golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.

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