Andreucci Wines – Fredericksburg, Texas

Italy has come to Texas!  And we’re talking about a very long established winery from Italy that has now set its sights on making a mark in the Texas Hill Country.  If you’ve ever wondered what the bar is set to for fine Italian style wine, then this is it.  Many frequent Hill Country wine travelers may have noticed construction of Andreucii Wines along HWY 290 for the last couple for years.  That is a venture between Italian winemaker Flavio Andreucci and Bill Sutherland who both have a strong passion to bring fine Italian wine making styles to Texas.  The Andreucci family have been well established at making wines and tending vineyards since the 1790s in the Tuscany region of Italy.  Their vineyard foundations started in Montefollonico.  The Andruecii goal of the vineyard along HWY 290 is to produce the same fine Tuscany style wines using classic Italian wine making techniques while using Texas grapes.  A worthwhile effort, indeed!  The Hill County vineyard has Sangiovese, Merlot, and Primitivo planted for that future endeavor. Until those fine wines come from that vineyard, you can enjoy some fantastic fine Italian wines at their tasting room in Fredericksburg.  They have several wines available for tasting of which you get to choose five.   The black label wines are the premium tasting, well worth the extra fee to sample.  For the whites, we first tried the 2015 Donna Alma. This Pinot Grigio wine has distinctive citrus notes to this dry and smooth white.  Next, was the 2014 Montepulciano.  This deeply hued ruby red wine has some intense cherry aromas and strong to moderate tannins that linger on the palate.  The Cabernet Black label is a bold Cab Franc with an excellent balance between acidity and tannins, making it one of the finer Cab Francs we’ve tasted.  The 2014 Regale Black Label is a classic Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet, and Merlot that has intense tobacco and smoke for those who find rich reds enticing.  By far and away, the 2008 Brunello is worth your stop!  Made from 100% Sangiovese, it harnesses rich plum flavors with long lasting tannins. There is something to be said for this 36-month aged sexy red.  It sets the bar for a Sangiovese wine!  To finish your tasting, try their Prosecco which is dry and delightful with lasting bubbles to cleans your palate.  You can reminisce on this fantastic tasting experience as you rejoice that these folks plan to be around for many years, with an increased selection of both Italian and Texas made wines planned. Andreucci has really set the bar high for quality wine tasting in the Texas Hill Country.  It’s a great place for you to relax and enjoy the rustic lounge area flanked with racks of lovely bottles of wine along the wall! Saluti!

www.andreucciwines.com