The
newest adventures of Nikhila Narra and Gregg Davis at Kalasi Cellars is their
latest endeavor into all things grape and wine in Texas. Having already established themselves as one
of the top-quality growers of Texas grapes, the expectations of their own line
of wines has been eagerly awaited. Although this is her first big step into the
Texas winery business, Nikhila is certainly no stranger to the wine industry.
Having experience in wine making at Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley as well as
wine certification from UC Davis AND a Texas Tech viticulture certification,
her credentials are only matched by her inspiration and enthusiasm for this big
dream. Like his wife, Gregg has jumped
all into this new business with enthusiasm and is not looking back. With
experience in business management practices, he can help foster growth and
success for this new bright star that recently opened. At 3300 feet in the
Texas High Plains AVA, the Davis’s have been setting the bar on sustainable and
quality grape growing practices for six years at Narra Vineyards. In 2014, they
started with 20 acres of Albariño, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Malbec, and Sangiovese vines. Since then, they have expanded to
almost 117 acres including not only Tannat and Tempranillio, but also Malvasia
Bianca, Viognier, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc as well as some “rising
grape stars” like Carménère, Sagrantino, and Teroldego. And as if that is not
enough, they have started a new vineyard on their Texas Hill Country estate
with freshly planted Teroldego last May. WOW…right? Using low yielding
practices, the quality of each grape varietal at both vineyards will continue
to be highly sought after by winemakers. Their commitment to a holistic
approach to winemaking is unwavering and you can taste the difference in their
inaugural wine releases. There are six wines to try in the fresh new hill
country tasting room. The first line of wines to try are called the Heritage Collection.
This represents the more common and traditional wines that everybody knows and
loves. For the 2018 Roussanne, this stainless-steel aged wine does have a deep
golden color and a well-rounded mouthfeel. The “newbie” on the rack is a 2019
Sparkling Muscat. This wine has just a touch of CO2 and was bottle aged for
6-months, giving it a pleasant tingling sensation along with honeysuckle notes
that dance and delight across the palate. A great wine for spicy foods or a
great summer sipper. Moving on to the reds!
The 2018 Sangiovese was aged 18 months in neutral oak. It has good
depth, character, great raspberry flavors, and is smooth. Got Malbec? This 2017 release is a big pleaser. It has a
medium bodied texture, with cocoa, and cherry notes, making this bold wine a
winner! The other two reds are part of
their Reincarnated line. These seldom seen and grown grapes in Texas may not be
so rare once Nikhila and Greg show the Texas wine world how they can be
grown and crafted into great wines. You certainly may have had some good Carménère
from Chile, but this “lost grape” explodes with beautiful berry structures and
a touch of paprika. Have never heard of Teroldego? This Italian varietal has certainly found a
new home here at Kalasi Cellars. With vanilla and tobacco notes, this very deep
dark rich red wine will certainly rival many traditional well-known reds. Bring on that locally sourced fatty aged
steak for pairing! It goes without
saying that this 100% estate and Texas grown fruit is working out quite nicely
for this new winery. On the wine horizon will be a Rosé Tannat and a Sagritora – yum
and YUM! It was great being there for their opening weekend and we hope to
visit again and enjoy spending a bit of time on the patio. They are a great
young couple to chat with and they certainly have their hearts and passions in
the right place. Do plan to stop by!
They have a kitchen, so stop in for lunch and a tasting or snacks and a
tasting. We think you will be incredibly pleased with the wines and glad you
visited. Enjoy!
