Located just off the Old San
Antonio Road near Fredericksburg, one of the newest wineries has joined the
Texas Hill Country family. This venture has been a longtime dream realized for
owners Mike and Rosann Mitrione, who went from tinkering with the idea, to
planning, to developing, and now truly living their dream. Their first vineyard
was established in the Texas High Plains in 2018, where they planted around 15
varietals across 27 acres. In 2021, they began designing and planning their new
38-acre Texas Hill Country vineyard. They started planting their estate
vineyard in 2022 and have now expanded to 9 acres of vines including Albariño,
Petite Sirah, Montepulciano, Syrah, and Aglianico. Since opening to the public
in summer of 2023, they’ve maintained a steadfast commitment to producing
quality 100% Texas wines and delivering an exceptional customer experience. When
you enter the tasting room, you will immediately notice the impressive Texas
granite structure adorned with a symbol that reflects the Ross family’s core
values: Faith, Family, Friends, and Fellowship. The two-story, eco-friendly
tasting facility is semi-circular and built into the hillside – reminiscent of
a piazza in Italy. It has an upscale vibe, high-end design, and comfort in mind
lending to its artistic flair. Facing east, the tasting room stays cooler both
inside and out, enhancing the guest experience. Another notable feature are the
large tables made from old pecan wood, repurposed from trees found right on the
property.
Well known Texas winemaker Tim Drake has been assisting in
the crafting of some very fine wine from Texas grapes here. Most of the focus
has been primarily on Italian style wines which reflects the owner’s wine
travels. Most grapes are sourced from the High Plains vineyard estate with some
future Hill Country estate wines to come. First to sample was the 2023
Sauvignon Blanc which is sourced from the estate vineyard in the Texas High
Plains AVA. Citrus and melons will be the first notes to light up your wine
palate followed by zesty acidity and a refreshing feel. The second white wine sampled
was the 2023 Bisaccia. This Italian style blend, named after Michael’s
grandfather’s Italian town that he came from, was crafted with 57% Trebbiano,
39% Albariño,
and 4% Pinot Grigio. It is dry and you will pick up on the dried apricot and
minerality in addition to the clean crispness of this wine. An extra white wine
treat was the Windswept. This Rhone style blend (yes, departure from the
Italian theme, but that’s ok) is a blend of 52% Viognier and 48% Roussanne. It
is a lovely lighter Rhone style wine with buttery notes, a tango between
apricot and pear, and a hint of minerality. Moving to the Rosé wines, the first
to sample was the 2024 Sangiovese Rosé. This was also sourced from the estate
High Plains vineyard. It had a pink colored hue with notes of watermelon and
strawberry coupled with good acids and balanced minerality. It also had more of
a Provence style feel to it for an added pleasant surprise. The next Rosé wine
sipped was the 2024 Vega. It is Malbec based with some raspberry notes and a
nice soft and refreshing feel. Moving into the reds, the first to sample was
the 2023 Grenache. This pizza lovers red wine was aged in Russian oak (yes, for
real), exhibited a deep brick rusty color, lots of good fruit forwardness and a
touch of smoke. Serve that one a bit chilled. Next, was the 2022 Piazza Rossa.
This super Tuscan style wine has 67% Sangiovese, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and
11% Merlot. To say it has a big nose is an understatement, but you will also be
impressed by its deep dark color, notes of fig, pecan, and jam. Plus, that
14.8% abv shows off those legs quite well. Plus, the finish is to die for! Saving
the best for last red to sip, was the 2022 Envisage. This right bank Bordeaux
style wine (yes, not exactly Italian, but still great) was carefully crafted
with 46% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 16% Malbec. It has nice rich dark
fruit, some baking spices, good tannins and acidity, and a smooth finish.
Overall, it was a very fine and enjoyable tasting session with everything being
spot on.
When dreams are realized, magic happens. You can
see this not only in the quality wines produced, but the tasting room design,
décor, and cool vibes. Speaking of pizza wine mentioned previously, there is a
food truck on site that will whip up some good eats for you to pair with your
favorite wine. You will experience great hospitality here as well. The team is
very professional, knowledgeable, and attentive to help ensure you have the
tasting experience you desire. You will feel well cared for and comfortable here
and will want to return. Simply fabulous! Cheers!
www.michaelroswinery.com
