On the Wine Trail in Texas Hill Country: Wineries, and Wine Tasting
The immigrants who settled the Hill Country brought vines from the old country with them. They planted the vines, and found time to tend the vines despite more arduous, more urgent chores. The vines prospered as the soil and climate were agreeable, but the wine they made was for personal use only. In the 17th century, missionaries planted Criolla grapes to make sacramental wine. Wine production increased, growing apace each year, and the tender grape might have encouraged a large industry, had not prohibition put and end to it.
When America discovered wines, California led the way to developing a wine industry. But once Americans began to travel and sophisticate their palates, a few scientific minded Texans noticed that the soil and climate of Tuscany, as well as some regions in France resembled that of the Hill Country. Texas had ideal conditions for viticulture - sandy well-drained soil, warm sunny days, cool nights, low humidity and constant air movement. Texas began producing wines and today the state is the fifth-largest wine producer in the US. The Hill Country is a major center with about 16 active wineries. Texas wines are winning awards today, and vintners in California have begun a dialogue with the Texans, one in which the Californians are asking, "How did you...." A few Texas vintners have been called to serve their country by supplying their fine varietals at dinners in the White House. Serious vintners have conquered much adversity. The first obstacle to overcome was a bad reputation. What was Texas wine? What image did Texas wine have in the world of the cultivated? Texas was the producer of an unpalatable beverage called 'jug wine' and this was no elixir to inspire romantic tastings. Flying in the face of a bad reputation, these serious viticulturists believed that they could successfully grow the varietals that would produce fine wine, and forged ahead, Squaring their jaws at the mention of jug wine, they all agree that the reputation has died only because they are making fine wines.The Texas vintners are a determined breed. All have been engaged in another form of work, all talk of growing pains and learning experiences. At the whim of nature, they have encountered too much rain one year, mildew, the grapevine disease known as Pierce's disease which has destroyed many well-cultivated vines. Working under man-made laws, they have had to deal with archaic shipping laws carried over from prohibition. The laws are being erased, but stymied early success. And there are always the stories of our own human errors - the refrigeration that arrived one week after harvest; a leaky valve that sprayed more chardonnay on the floor than in the bottle.
They persevered and did it with a smile on their faces for the great bottle was within reach. If you follow the wine trail, you will meet many of these vintners themselves. They are people with such highly developed palates that you can learn.
Wine Tasting Tours
www.texaswinetrail.com
You can go on a wine tasting tour any time you choose, but there are five special events to experience. Wineries will host tasting of newly released wines, wine and food pairings, seminars, demonstrations and tours.
February - The Wine Lovers Trail. This trail is held the Friday, Saturday and Sunday closest to Valentine's Day and the following weekend.
April - Wine & Wildflower Tour. This is Texas wine country when the fields come alive with bluebonnets. It is picnic time.
August - Harvest Wine Trail. This trail is the third and fourth Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the month.
October Texas Wine Month Passport Tour Time to celebrate new releases or revisit old favorites. The first weekend of the month kicks off a month-long celebration.
December- Holiday Wine Trail - Book early and as this sells out. It is held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the first two weekend of the month.
Wine Tasting
Going on a wine tasting tour is a process of discovery for the cultivated wine-lover who could not open enough bottles in an evening to find the one that suited his or her palate. For the newcomer this is a learning experience, a place to sophisticate the palate, to discover the nuances and subtleties of a fine wine. The vintners will guide you - "Do you taste the overtone of peach? Of pear?" they will ask. Under this tutelage the newcomer has the opportunity to develop a subtle awareness of what each varietal carries in its bouquet.
Wine Pairing
For a highly developed palate, pairing is a subtle and complex art. However, the rule of thumb has always maintained that reds accompany heavy meals and whites accompany the lighter foods. If you have a large sampling of different foods, rosés or one of the sparkling wines are recommended.
Three Texas Vineyards:
Texas Hills Vineyard
texashillsvineyard.com
Gary and Kathy Gilstrap were happy people, both excelling in their work as pharmacists. They did not need to become vintners. A trip to Tuscany changed their lives.
Away from work and from home, they were mellowing into the Tuscan Hills, when they learned that the soil of Tuscany had a similar composition to the soil in the Hill Country of Texas. Being scientific, they began to think. Thinking led to dreaming. Dreaming led to doing. They started a vineyard.
The Gilstraps have put their focus on Italian. Not a bad choice as these wines pair with food brilliantly, just as they do in Italy. Gary and Kathy, joined by their son Dale Rassett, are dedicated people who love what they are doing. They are charming hosts on a wine trail. And they are environmentally friendly - even the wine tasting room is built from earth on their own property. Using a technique called 'ramming' they have built an eco-friendly winery that is also friendly to the wine as the process slows the thermal transfer of heat or cold.
Texas Hills Vineyard has won awards for their Chardonnay, Moscato, Cabernet Sauvignon, Due Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, and Tre Paesano. More than you can taste if you are on the trail!
They are located at 878 RR 2766 Johnson City, TX
Phone:
830-868-2321
Becker Vineyards
www.beckervineyads.com
Becker Vineyards was established in 1992 by the husband and wife team Richard and Bunny Becker. Hinting at the difficulty of producing fine wine, their first wines were not produced until three years later in 1995. Since then Becker vineyards has grown to be an award winning vineyard garnering no less than eight awards in 2005.
Becker credits his wife with possessing the marketing genius that began to put their wines on the tables of fine restaurants. She had no pitch, no flowery language. She brought bottles of their wine to quality restaurateurs and said one word only - "Taste."
Becker produces 25,000 cases a year from their vineyards. They are satisfied with this amount, saying that this is what they can do without sacrificing quality. Becker wines have twice been to the White House. If you would like to taste what the executive branch is tasting, try the Becker Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay 2000, Becker Vineyards Reserve Cabernet 1999 or the Becker Viognier 2002.
Becker is located in an original 19th century German limestone barn and stands beside the 1880's log cabin that has been converted into a B & B. Along with the vineyard, they have three acres of lavender growing. The Lavender Haus reception hall and the winery's covered patio are available for rent or for parties.
Becker is located at 464 Becker Farms, Road Stonewall TX 78671
Phone: 830-644-2681
Chisholm Trail Winery
www.chisholmtrailwinery.com
If you're in an old Texas mood, but have a new Texas palate, you'll want to head to this winery. And lest we think the highly individualized Texans are of the male gender only, Chisholm Trail Winery is run by Paula Williamson. Begun in 1994, Williamson laughs about the hardships she's endured. "Owning a winery is not for those who are timid or faint of heart," she states.
Her first harvest was in 1999 when Williamson was also working as an attorney. She has gradually eased out of practice in favor of viticulture. Her originally taste was for California wine, but as she realized that it was not the Texan taste she began to develop her own taste. She states, "One thing that I have seen a trend of, which I am very happy about, is a move toward demand for a drier wine. Initially the sweeter wines were all that people were interested in. But I have begun to see more dry wine drinkers. I am getting more and more requests for dry wine which is what I love to make."
Williamson has adopted a wild west theme for her labels, and names her wines after mythic western heroes and anti-heroes alike. Stating that each wine has a personality of its own, her sophisticated palate discerns the personality of the wine and her imaginative mind gives it a name.
Chisholm Trail is located eat 2367 Usener Road, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
830-990-2675 or 1-877-990-2675
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