SPECTACULAR Wineries of Texas
A CAPTIVATING TOUR OF ESTABLISHED, ESTATE, AND BOUTIQUE WINERIES
Contents Southeast Region
Central Region Becker Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bella Vista Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brennan Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dry Comal Creek Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . Duchman Family Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall Creek Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grape Creek Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . McReynolds Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pedernales Cellars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Perissos Vineyard and Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . Pillar Bluff Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rising Star Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Salt Lick Cellars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandstone Cellars Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Solaro Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spicewood Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stone House Vineyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas Hills Vineyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Texas Legato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Woodrose Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16 18 22 26 28 32 38 42 46 48 52 54 56 62 64 70 74 78 82 84
Bernhardt Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Braman Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Haak Vineyards & Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Messina Hof Winery & Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . Retreat Hill Winery & Vineyard and Retreat Hill Cellars . The Vineyards at GrandView . . . . . . . . . . . . .
88 90 92 94 96 98
Western Region Bar Z Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 La Diosa Cellars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Llano Estacado Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 McPherson Cellars Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Peregrine Hill Vineyard & Winery . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Ste Genevieve Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Woodrose Winery, page 85
Northern Region
off the Vine
Arché . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Barking Rocks Vineyard and Winery . . . . . . . . . 130 Cross Timbers Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Delaney Vineyards & Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Fuqua Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Grayson Hills Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Inwood Estates Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Kiepersol Estates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 LightCatcher Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Lone Oak Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158 Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Red Caboose Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Red Road Vineyard and Winery . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Sunset Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Tara Vineyard & Winery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170 Times Ten Cellars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Cabernet Grill Texas Wine Country Restaurant . . . . 182 Charlie Palmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 H-E-B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190 Hudson’s on the Bend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192 Old Hickory Steakhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Pappas Bros. Steakhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 The Rancher’s Daughter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Texas Department of Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Photograph by Kiepersol Enterprises, page 146
12
“Let’s try making wine out of these grapes and see what happens.” Clinton “Doc” McPherson 13
Texas Legato, page 82
Grape Creek Vineyards, page 38
“Nature seems to have intended Texas for a vineyard to supply America with wine.” Stephen F. Austin
Brennan Vineyards Comanche
A
visit to Brennan Vineyards is like catching a glimpse of Texas history. The tasting room occupies the historic McCrary house—a relic built in 1879—and the vineyard and winery complex is sited at the junction of the state’s most acclaimed wine
grape regions.
Pat Brennan, a Fort Worth physician, was invited by his daughter-in-law to visit, in her words, “the coolest house in Texas” that she had discovered after working at a photo shoot there. In Comanche awaited the McCrary House, one of the oldest remaining homesteads in Texas. Charmed, the Brennan family—Pat, his wife, son, and daughter-in-law—jointly purchased the designated historic landmark for use as a weekend getaway. When they learned of 33 surrounding acres owned by descendants of the house’s original builders, they negotiated with the owners to acquire the land, cleared it, and considered what to do with it. Pat’s friendship with the owner of Becker Vineyards—and he and his wife’s own 40-year-long penchant for wine—led him to consider the prospect of winemaking.
Courses in enology and viticulture followed, and in 2002 the Brennans planted five acres of vineyards—cabernet, viognier, and syrah—on the land. The grapes did well, impressing everyone with their quality, and were mainly sold to Becker. Some, however, wound up in a “garage wine” made with friends. From there, the bug to improve took hold, and a proper winery was planned and opened in 2005, after adding four more acres the year prior.
In addition to its own vineyard, the Brennan winery sources fruit from the acres it leases on additional vineyards and purchases from Lubbock. Head winemaker Pat and his associate winemaker Todd Webster cite the fresh challenges they face every year without fail as their Top Left: The entrance to the winery beckons from Texas State Highway 16. Photograph by BAH! Design Bottom Left: Brennan Vineyards’ Texas viognier is award-winning and refreshing. Photograph courtesy of Brennan Vineyards Facing Page: The logo crowns the modern winery building. Photograph by BAH! Design
22
23
Spectacular Wineries of Texas
favorite part of running a vineyard and winery. After all, with different fruit each year, constant new starts banish any boredom. In fact, Pat states that weather acts as problems one through three of wine production, and realizes he is entirely at the mercy of nature. “Winemaking has been around for 7,000 years and we still don’t have it licked,” he admits ruefully.
Viognier is the signature fruit, with cabernet a consistently reliable grape also—like many vineyards in Texas, it’s still up for debate which grapes do best in the unique climate. The winery produces two labels—the more elegant premium line of Brennan Vineyards, and the eclectic Austin Street characterized by blends and sweet wines— for a variety of styles and price points. White blends with colorful names like Three White Chicks have proven terrifically popular among consumers, and the winery deliberately prices its offerings competitively to entice tasters to fall in love with Texas wine. And the tasting room, with complimentary wine tasting throughout much of the afternoon on weekends, is doubly tempting.
The winemaking philosophy is to craft sophisticated wine that can be enjoyed by anyone and stays true to its Texas roots, establishing Texas wine as a true contender on an international scale. With an impressive portfolio of reds and whites and the freedom afforded by two labels and multiple acreages, Brennan Vineyards is establishing itself as more than just its geographical roots—and writing new Texas wine history in the process.
Top Left: Guests toast at the monthly wine dinner at the Austin House Events Center. Photograph courtesy of Brennan Vineyards Middle Left: The table setting for a seated, catered wedding reception at Austin House possesses casual grace. Photograph by BAH! Design Bottom Left: Tasters sample wines at the historic McCrary House tasting room and gift shop. Photograph by BAH! Design Facing Page: Fruit at the vineyard in Comanche ripens on the vine. Photograph by BAH! Design
24
Brennan Vineyards
Recommended by Chef Grady Spears Viognier
Pair with brunch dishes like ham, biscuits, or egg casseroles, Thanksgiving turkey dinner, seafood pasta or soups, and gruyère, cheddar, havarti, and Swiss cheeses.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Delicious as a “cab and a slab” with pepper-crusted tenderloin steak with Cook’s butter.
Austin Street Red
Pairs nicely with a variety of Italian dishes with red sauces.
Tastings
Open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, year round
25
Fall Creek Vineyards Tow
F
all Creek Vineyards is a Texas wine institution and owners Ed and Susan Auler are industry royalty thanks to the couple’s innovation, tenacity, and commitment to quality since 1975.
A 1973 trip to France inspired everything. What was supposed to be a visit to cattle operations for rancher Ed to learn about French cattle breeds became a three-week winery tour—and only a few initial days of farm visits. Ed and Susan’s interest in French wine had just been sparked, and the wine region trip was life-changing—it was “like a yearlong immersion in the wine and food of France,” notes Susan. While in France, the couple noticed remarkable similarities between the soil, terrain, and microclimate of parts of the French wine country and Ed’s ranch land. Convinced that certain parts of the Texas Hill Country would be ideally suited to grape growing, they turned a new eye to the property upon their return.
Fall Creek Ranch of Tow had been in Ed’s family for three generations, and after taking it over from his father in 1970 he had been practicing law and ranching simultaneously. After the France visit, the couple learned that major universities in Texas were encouraging grape growing and winemaking experimentation to bring about agricultural diversification in Texas. The timing was perfect, and a quarter-acre test plot was established in 1975. Over the next five years there was such early success that it grew to seven and a half acres and the couple began to acquire 400 acres of valley land adjacent to the ranch property in order to found Fall Creek Vineyards.
Top Left: Cofounders Ed and Susan Auler—and a cypress tree allée—welcome guests to Fall Creek Vineyards property. Photograph courtesy of Fall Creek Vineyards Bottom Left: Fall Creek Vineyards tempranillo, chardonnay, and super-premium Meritus wines are all excellent offerings. Photograph courtesy of Fall Creek Vineyards Facing Page: Crape myrtle blooms frame the vineyard rows in front of Fall Creek. Photograph by Rick Vanderpool
32
33
Spectacular Wineries of Texas
34
Fall Creek Vineyards
The vineyard is named after Fall Creek, a 15-mile spring-fed creek that flows through the Auler family’s ranch near the winery, emptying into the Colorado River at the 90-foot Fall Creek Falls. The Aulers also wanted to honor the heritage of Fall Creek Ranch, as their two sons mark the fifth generation to operate the ranch. The land near the falls is historically significant, as evidenced by the exhibit case in the tasting room home to stone artifacts that date back 10,000 years. Ed chose the vineyard site for the unique soil and climatic conditions; located on the northwest shores of Lake Buchanan in Llano County, the land possesses many advantages. The limestone, sandstone, and granite hills surrounding the alluvial plain have eroded over millions of years to produce complex sandy loam soil ideal for growing premium grapes. The growing season boasts warm days and cool nights, with low relative humidity, and breezes from the lake constantly cool the vineyards.
Ed has been proven right—the Texas Hill Country is an excellent place to grow grapes. He even established the “Texas Hill Country” appellation in 1989, and has planted chardonnay, chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, zinfandel, sémillon, Johannisberg riesling, shiraz, tempranillo, viognier, and malbec on the vineyards. Ed combines European winemaking traditions with California technology. With style dictated by the grape and the vintage, Ed prefers to let the wines speak for themselves, following the philosophy that “wines are made in the vineyard.” The late André
Top Right: The 90-foot Fall Creek Falls sits on the Aulers’ ranch above Lake Buchanan, both of which are adjacent to Fall Creek Vineyards. Photograph courtesy of Fall Creek Vineyards Middle Right: The patio offers an inviting spot for visitors daily. Photograph courtesy of Fall Creek Vineyards Bottom Right: Oak casks line the Fall Creek Vineyards cellar. Photograph by Rick Vanderpool Facing Page: Cabernet sauvignon grape clusters ripen at Fall Creek Vineyards. Photograph courtesy of Fall Creek Vineyards
35
Spectacular Wineries of Texas
Tchelistcheff, internationally renowned California wine authority, endorsed the Aulers’ first cabernet efforts, and Fall Creek wines have been served at four presidential inaugurations as well as to dignitaries around the world. From excellent value wines like chenin blanc to superpremium wines like Meritus—an award-winning red blend made only when the grapes warrant it—the Fall Creek portfolio is broad and expansive. Other varietals include cabernet sauvignon, merlot, tempranillo, syrah, lenoir, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, riesling, viognier, and muscat canelli.
The Aulers and Fall Creek Vineyards have been a driving force for education and growth in the Texas wine industry, and the top-notch wines they have produced have drawn positive attention to Texas wines and the Hill Country as a terroir. Visiting Fall Creek Vineyards is an experience as high in quality as the wines; guests are greeted by an allée of trees reminiscent of those in Bordeaux wineries, and knowledgeable and friendly tasting room staff foster a relaxing ambience. Patrons are encouraged to enjoy the gorgeous surroundings—the winery and tasting room are nestled amid the vineyards—and take in good wine, food, and friendship.
Top Left: Flowers bloom along the front entrance and patio area of Fall Creek. Photograph courtesy of Fall Creek Vineyards Bottom Left: Vibrant bougainvilleas adorn the Fall Creek Vineyards patio columns. Photograph by Rick Vanderpool Facing Page: A cypress tree allée makes for a beautiful entrance to Fall Creek Vineyards. Photograph courtesy of Fall Creek Vineyards
36
Fall Creek Vineyards
Meritus (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah) Pair with red miso-marinated beef tenderloin stuffed with wild mushrooms, garlic, and shallots, and a red bell pepper coulis.
Tempranillo
Serve with grilled rosemary and garlic chive-crusted Hill Country lamb.
Chardonnay
Pair with lemon-basil cream farfalle pasta with grilled shrimp.
Chenin Blanc
Serve with roasted butternut Parmigiano cream squash with pork belly croutons.
Tastings
Open to the public daily, year-round
37
Braman Winery, page 90
Messina Hof Winery & Resort, page 94
“Texas has seemed, not just to Texans but to many other observers, one of the places ordained to be winegrowing country. It has a wide variety of climates to go with its large spaces, from the semitropical lands along the lower Rio Grande . . . to the bayous of the east.” Thomas Pinney
Haak Vineyards & Winery Santa Fe
N
ot many are aware that Galveston County is Texas wine country, but it’s one of the state’s rising stars and Haak Vineyards & Winery is at the forefront of the renaissance as the first and only winery in the county. Opened in 2001 by
Raymond and Gladys Haak after 30 years of grape growing, the winery is committed to crafting premium wines of Texas fruit.
1969 saw the Haaks’ 10th wedding anniversary, and Gladys gave Raymond two concord grapevines as a gift. Thanks to a Virginian farmer father, Raymond grew up in Santa Fe, Texas, with a garden, but it took cultivating the grapes as a hobby to show him how much he enjoyed growing things. It was a slow-building passion that developed as Raymond experimented to see which varieties survived the Gulf Coast climate conditions. When he read about a hybrid grape resistant to Pierce’s disease that thrived in hot, humid environments, he knew this blanc du bois variety could be the most successful of all. And it was—the many awardwinning wines that have resulted testify to his foresight.
The once-lonely two vines have multiplied into 1,800 spanning three acres. And in 2000 the Haaks decided to build a winery to craft their perfected grapes—and others in Texas—into high-quality wines. More than 25,000 square feet, including a cellar used to store and age wine in oak barrels, compose the Mediterranean-style building. The artwork, styled after that of Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal, features angels watching over the vines and grapes. A tasting room designed to resemble a Spanish mission accommodates the locals and tourists alike that flock to the Santa Fe attraction. Naturally, blanc du bois is the main wine focus, with dry, reserve, semi-sweet, port, and Madeira types. A trio of rosés and reds accompany these main offerings. Top Left: Blanc du bois vines approach harvest time. Middle Left: The wedding chapel is nestled among the vines. Bottom Left: Spring bud break brings new life to the vineyard. Facing Page: Outside the winery front sits a wine barrel wagon from days gone by. Photographs by Rick Vanderpool
92
93
Messina Hof Winery & Resort Bryan
P
aul and Merrill Bonarrigo founded Messina Hof Winery & Resort in 1977 in Bryan on a solid base of tradition, family, and romance. Paul’s family hails from Messina of Sicily, Italy, while Merrill’s comes from Hof, Germany: the name Messina Hof
combines both ancestral homeland names.
Winemaking is in Paul’s blood; his Bonarrigo ancestors continue to make wine in Sicily today. As a first-born of his family, he received winemaker training at the age of 16; so did his son Paul VII who continues the seven-generation tradition as winemaker at Messina Hof with his wife Karen. Messina Hof is one of Texas’ pioneer wineries. Estate vineyards grow lenoir—which the Pauls craft into eight different products ranging from rosé to ruby port—and a High Plains vineyard known as Merrill’s Vineyard grows riesling, sémillon, muscat canelli, pinot noir, and zinfandel. In addition, Messina Hof partners with 18 other Texas growers located across the state. Messina Hof offers late-harvest riesling, muscat canelli, ports, and sherries. Other standouts include chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, shiraz, gewürztraminer, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, chenin blanc, Bordeaux blends, Mama Rosa Rosé, and Sophia Marie Rosé—named after the eighth generation of Bonarrigos. With French country architecture, the enterprise has become a major Brazos County destination.
In addition to the winery and vineyards, Messina Hof encompasses a Santé-awarded restaurant, The Vintage House, a bed-and-breakfast named most romantic in the U.S., The Villa, and The Winemaster’s Wine Bar. Wine is used in all sauces and marinades prepared at Messina Hof in accordance with a “vineyard cuisine” cooking style. An estate garden also grows fresh herbs and vegetables seasonally and monthly events include cooking parties, wine appreciation classes, murder mystery dinners, and festivals, to name a few. Top Left: Messina Hof’s bed-and-breakfast, The Villa, offers quaint lodging. Photograph by Messina Hof Middle Left: The Bonarrigo family continues an inherited winemaking tradition. Photograph by Specialties Photography Bottom Left & Facing Page: The deck overlooks Lake Messina Hof, while the vineyard distinguishes Bryan. Photographs by Messina Hof
94
95
Ste Genevieve Winery, page 122
Llano Estacado Winery, page 106
“There is no question the High Plains is a viticultural miracle. No one realized this area could produce world-class wines. It is an amazing story.” Leon Adams
Ste Genevieve Winery Fort Stockton
S
ainte-Geneviève, a nun who brought grain and wine to Paris, France during a medieval siege, is honored as the patron saint of the city due to her legendary devotion and defense. The primary label and wine of Mesa Vineyards—the largest
winemaker and grape grower in Texas—Ste Genevieve Winery also brings wine to the people of the Lone Star State and the rest of the country.
The majestic mesas prevalent throughout the Escondido Valley appellation surround the winery and vineyard, and Ste Genevieve bottles feature a depiction of one. These mesas provide the grapes with ideal topography, as the erosion of the limestone mountain mesas created well-draining, calcium-rich soil perfect for growing high-quality wine grapes.
The vineyard was planted in 1981 and the winery built in 1984; the land is leased to Mesa by the University of Texas System as part of a tract deeded in 1836 to fund world-class higher learning institutions. Proceeds from the land benefit the University of Texas System and the Texas A&M University System. Today four white and five red grape varieties cover more than 600 acres. “Over the years we have learned what grows well here and what doesn’t and which varieties are riskier than others. We are still learning,” note Mesa Vineyards principal owners Patrick Prendergast and Randy Johnston. Early bud breaking varietals, such as chardonnay and pinot noir, are carefully planted and cared for due to the endemic risks of late spring freeze and hail during the growing season.
Top Left: A zinfandel grape cluster ripens on the vine, midway through véraison. Bottom Left: Freshly planted cabernet sauvignon represents part of Ste Genevieve’s large regeneration and expansion planting program. Facing Page: Windmills that harness energy from the strong West Texas winds are prevalent on top of the mesas surrounding the vineyard. Photographs by Mark Davis
122
123
Spectacular Wineries of Texas
The high elevation of 2,700 feet above sea level and the snow and freezing temperatures in winter are boons for the vines, as they increase the time of rest and rejuvenation during dormancy. The location also translates to low humidity, no high vegetation, welldraining calcium-enriched soils, and mildew-banishing winds. While the location does prevent high yields, the necessarily lower yields possess high quality and high flavor concentration for wines of great character. Low night temperatures prolong the growing season, enabling nighttime harvesting to maximize freshness, as does the fact that the fruit goes from the vines into the adjacent winery in less than 40 minutes for quick processing. Although large in comparison to other Texas wineries, compared to California the size is small—an advantage when it comes to micro-managing the harvest in order to craft first-class wines from first-class fruit.
Ste Genevieve wines enjoy popularity in Texas and nationwide thanks to the combination of high quality with a low price point. Judges have taken notice as well; the wines regularly garner awards and medals. Chardonnay, cabernet, sauvignon blanc, and distinctive offerings like Sweet Moscato and Texas Red are just a few examples of the bestsellers.
Left: Randy Johnston and Pat Prendergast, principal owners of Mesa Vineyards, monitor the vines and the mesa pictured on the Ste Genevieve labels. Photograph by Mark Davis Facing Page: Ste Genevieve cabernet sauvignon complements cheese, crackers, and grapes. Photograph by Carolee Cross
124
Ste Genevieve Winery
Sweet Moscato
Fantastic as an apĂŠritif served with dried fruits and nuts before a meal, or after paired with sweet and light desserts.
Sauvignon Blanc
Goes well with lightly dressed salads, fruit salads, and delicately textured seafood.
Texas Red
Great with pizza and most pasta dishes and sauces; can also pair with medium-weight dishes like salmon, ham, and pork.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Serve with roast and steak dishes; complements more robust marinades and seasonings.
125
TimesTen Cellars, page 174
Grayson Hills Winery, page 140
“In this, Grayson County . . . were six or eight good species of wild grapes, several of which had not been seen by me previously. I had found my grape paradise!” Thomas V. Munson
Times Ten Cellars Dallas—Fort Worth
U
rban. Classy. Inviting. Times Ten Cellars is all this and more—a big-city winery and attached lounge with a friendly neighborhood watering hole feel. With the goal of making wine approachable and comfortable, the Dallas and Fort Worth locations
both offer a chic, well-appointed place to relax and simply enjoy a good glass of wine.
Kert Platner was an entrepreneur who had recently sold his pharmacy distribution business; his neighbor Chris Lawler was an amateur vintner making wine in his garage. The two met on a neighborhood home tour party and by the end of the night a new business venture had taken shape. Kert’s entrepreneurial spirit was intrigued by the thought of creating an urban winery with grapes from Texas and California; the idea proved too strong to resist. Kert solicited the help of his former business partner Rob Wilson, and the three were off to success—and a lot of work.
Things began to fall into place. After acquiring a winery site in the form of a 1945 building that once housed Lakewood’s first post office, the new business needed a name. Kert and Rob looked to their past, recalling that the bottle of wine the two had celebrated with after the sale of their pharmacy business was exactly ten times the price of the bottle that had honored the beginning of the venture. The new business was christened Times Ten Cellars, considering it an “expression of good fortune” that embodied their high hopes for the project.
Top Left: The entry to Times Ten Cellars in Dallas, located in the original Lakewood post office building, welcomes guests. Bottom Left: In the Fort Worth location, a private tasting room gives guests a chance to savor wine in seclusion. Facing Page: The top block of Cathedral Mountain Vineyard features tempranillo vines with a view of Cathedral Mountain and the West Texas sky as a stunning backdrop. Photographs by Sam Granado
174
175
Spectacular Wineries of Texas
In 2003 Chris and Kert planted a West Texas mountain vineyard on a stunning 100-acre piece of property just south of Alpine. Located 4,800 feet above sea level, the climate is characterized by relentless midday heat without humidity offset by cool, crisp mornings and nights. The terrain consists of rough prehistoric lava flow scattered with boulders and short mountain cedars; a very nearby 7,000-foot peak is called Cathedral Mountain and became the vineyard’s namesake. Hot climate varietals like tempranillo, syrah, and grenache compose the rugged environment; these thrive in the warm temperatures the vineyard shares with certain areas of Spain and the South of France.
In addition to the estate grapes from Cathedral Mountain Vineyard, Times Ten Cellars brings in fruit from California, Washington, Oregon, and other parts of Texas. The wines are crafted in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas as well as in the burgeoning cultural district of Fort Worth. Inside these buildings is a modern winery outfitted with the finest equipment from Italy and California and oak barrels from the U.S. and France.
Top Left: An intimate event space in Fort Worth provides a view into the winery from a plate glass window. Middle Left: One of several comfortable lounging areas makes a perfect spot for sipping a glass of wine—perhaps even the 2007 Vino de Tierra Alta blend, the inaugural vintage of Cathedral Mountain Vineyard grapes. Bottom Left: Wine ages in oak barrels in the Fort Worth barrel room. Facing Page: Gleaming stainless steel fermentation tanks, newly installed, populate the Fort Worth facility. Photographs by Sam Granado
176
Times Ten Cellars
177
Spectacular Wineries of Texas
Times Ten Cellars labels each feature a chair and a bold color scheme.
barrels guarded by crystal chandeliers. It wasn’t long before patrons
“Wine, like chairs, has structure,” explains Chris. Thus the chair is indicative
clamored to use the space for hosting events, forming another component
of the style of wine in the bottle: simple chairs, complex chairs, elegant
of the business: both locations possess dedicated event areas. Dry, food-
chairs. The chairs from the labels even dot the lounge area and the
friendly wines like grenache, cabernet franc, rosé, and sauvignon blanc
winery. It’s marketing genius: consumers can select wines based on visual
complement the sophisticated clientele and surroundings. Times Ten
representation, and the label is almost guaranteed to be unforgettable.
Cellars is a destination in both Dallas and Fort Worth not to be missed.
The tasting room, originally meant as an accessory to the winery, has
Above Left: French and American oak barrels hold aging wine graced by chandeliers in the Dallas barrel room.
morphed into a destination of its own. Guests come for extended stays, to unwind and lounge with friends and colleagues. Curtains in rich fabrics drape the walls, and behind a stained glass window wine ages in oak
178
Above Right: As an epitome of the affinity between Times Ten Cellars and chairs, the dry rosé label features a café chair symbolizing the wine’s simplicity. Facing Page: A large English buffet with a hand-carved grape motif is the star of a lounge area in the Dallas location. Photographs by Sam Granado
Times Ten Cellars
Cathedral Mountain Vineyard
Pairs nicely with manchego cheese, cured meats, and other tapas-style foods.
Dry Rosé
Pair with just about anything, especially spinach salads with feta cheese and spicy pecans.
Grenache
A great complement to Southwestern-style foods, barbecue, and gourmet Mexican food.
Petite Sirah
Perfect with a nice beef filet and hearty winter stew; also pairs nicely with chocolate.
Tastings
Open to the public daily, year-round
179
Charlie Palmer, page 184
Craft, page 186
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, page 196
Cabernet Grill Texas Wine Country Restaurant Fredericksburg
182
Nestled in the heart of the Hill Country is Fredericksburg’s Cotton Gin Village, a complex made up of unique bedand-breakfast cabins offering romantic rustic quarters and amenities. One of the buildings in this quaint community houses Cabernet Grill Texas Wine Country Restaurant, the Cotton Gin’s on-site restaurant boasting excellent food and a top-notch wine list featuring a huge selection of Texas wines. Helmed by chef and owner Ross Burtwell, the restaurant is a draw for cabin guests, Hill Country visitors, and Fredericksburg locals alike.
With the structure designed to resemble an oldfashioned cotton gin circa 1800s, Cabernet Grill is quite the unique location. Cabernet Grill’s position in the center of Texas wine country inspired Ross, owner and chef, to construct the wine list as a celebration and reminder of that. Upon entering the restaurant, diners embark on a veritable journey through the world of Texas wines, escorted by friendly and helpful staff happy to match wine, personal tastes, and cuisine.
On the menu are fresh seafood, beef, wild game, and delectable desserts. As much as possible is locally sourced, from preserves made in town to seasonal produce and peaches from nearby farms. There’s even an on-site herb garden, as well as some grapevines. After all, the wine list offers more than 75 selections from Texas vintners competitive with established legends nationwide. Cabernet Grill isn’t just a place to get a fantastic meal, it’s an excellent starting point— or expansion point—for those seeking to intensify a personal knowledge and firsthand familiarity with Texas wines.
Right: Inside a log cabin built circa 1800s, executive chef and owner Ross Burtwell runs the wine country restaurant. Dishes like Tejas mixed grill with jalapeño-stuffed Hill Country quail are ready to pair with Texas wines. Facing Page: Around the restaurant is a constellation of log cabins ready for bed-and-breakfast lodging. Photographs by Steve Rawls
183
Charlie Palmer Dallas
184
The Charlie Palmer empire of restaurants populates world-class gourmet cities nationwide—including Dallas. Located in luxury hotel The Joule’s gorgeous 1920s-era skyscraper building, Dallas’ iteration of Charlie Palmer provides a fresh perspective on fine dining.
A first-rate team prepares and serves progressive American cuisine in a sophisticated setting: rich, earthy color palette, textured materials, limestone flooring. Spinning turbines nod to Texas wind energy production, and the menu showcases fresh Texas fare from squab and quail to peaches and kumquats. Artisanal ingredients and simple cooking methods make for dishes perfect for pairing with an eclectic, food-friendly—and digitized—wine list. The electronic touch-screen eWinebook tablet allows diners to peruse and search by bottle, glass, region, varietal, and style. What’s more, many of the wines on the list are conveniently available at the wine shop next door to the restaurant, Next Vintage.
In accordance with seasonally changing menus, the wine by the glass list changes as well for optimum food and wine pairing. To plan wine dinners, wine director Michael Lefko and executive chef Scott Romano taste wines, then formulate a menu to harmonize with those characteristics and tastes. Wednesday night wine tastings are known to include an all-Texas wine lineup, and the annual event Charlie Palmer’s Big Red is a two-day food and wine festival featuring two dozen Texas wineries showcased by sommeliers, attended by notable Texas winemakers. Eminently accomplished and knowledgeable chefs, sommeliers, and other friendly staff combine with appetizing food and well-selected wine to make The Joule’s flagship worthy of the name of famed master chef and restaurateur Charlie Palmer. Right: Charlie Palmer offers guests the chance to dine on the outdoor patio, at 12-seat communal tables, or inside the main dining room amidst Adam D. Tihany-designed “breezy” décor. Facing Page: Charlie Palmer welcomes wine and food lovers. Photographs by Eric Laignel
185
the Signature Collection
c r e a t i n g
s p e c t a c u l a r
p u b l i c a t i o n s
f o r
d i s c e r n i n g
r e a d e r s
Dream Homes
Spectacular Homes
Beautiful Homes
Spectacular Weddings
Luxury Homes
Beautiful Bedrooms & Baths
Spectacular Restaurants
Spectacular Hotels
An Exclusive Showcase of the Finest Architects, Designers and Builders
A Collection of Texas Weddings and Love Stories
An Exclusive Showcase of Texas’ Finest Restaurants
An Exclusive Showcase of the Finest Interior Designers
An Exclusive Showcase of Texas’ Finest Architects & Builders
The Most Remarkable Places on Earth
A Collection of the Finest Designers in Texas
A Collection of Fine Design
PanacheWine.com Where Wine Industry Experts Gather, Share and Inspire
PanacheWine.com overflows with beautiful photographs, tempting pairings and interesting articles by prominent winery proprietors and award-winning winemakers from California to New York. A gallery of vineyard-inspired photographs and a library of articles are among the comprehensive site’s offerings.
1424 Gables Court
208
Plano, Texas 75075
469.246.6060
www.panache.com
“Gorgeous photography and captivating descriptions make this landmark publication a wonderfully comprehensive guide to falling in love with Texas wine.” Todd Staples, Texas Agriculture Commissioner
Spectacular Wineries of Texas US $40.00 ISBN - 13: 978-0-9792658-6-0 ISBN - 10: 0-9792658-6-X