The great expanse of Texas Hill Country
wineries seems mind boggling at times. The new grape varietals,
quality of wines, and wine tasting experiences are vastly changing. Many
dedicated Texas wine fans remember the startup of 1851 vineyards a few years
ago. It was a great beginning with a great vision by the Hollimons
that many fell in love with. In 2019, they passed on their dreams to
the Jones family. Under the Slate Mill Wine Collective
brand, the love and vision of 1851 Vineyards continues to be expanded along
with a number of other independent boutique winemakers. The Jones
are certainly no stranger to the Texas wine industry. They’ve
enlisted the help of many well know Texas wine and vineyard expertise to help
expand and elevate the estate to many new levels. Haven been opened
since 2019, your first visual notice is the greatly expanded vineyard
site. You’ll still take the leisurely road through the vineyards (plus
all the newly expansive vine rows) and up to the now vastly expanded tasting
room and wine making facilities. The expanded areas of crushing
area, winemaking, and barrel rooms gives a whole new meaning to everything is
bigger and better in Texas. Randy Jones can often be found here and
will warmly welcome you with top county hospitality. He is more than
happy to tell you about what has been happening, their future plans, and of
course, the great wines being served. Randy sees this has a unique
experience, both in wine tasting, company, and scenery. The expanded
wine tasting room includes a water wheel, outdoor patio, and fire
pits. It’s a great new atmosphere and décor to enjoy. The
beautiful estate scenery sets the eye appeal for your
visit. The expanded wine making facilities serves not only in-house
production, but as an incubator for new startup winemakers. Tim
Drake, now a legend in Texas wines, is heading the winemaking and can often be
visibly seen chatting (and chatting and chatting) with customers and telling them
about all the cool new wine things he is doing. It looks like
he may have found his new “home” for all things in great wine he wants to
do. Directing the whole “show”, is Jennifer Beckmann, well known and
respected Texas sommelier. There are two sets of tasting sessions you can do.
One is the 1851 brand where you can enjoy some previous and new in-house 1851
labeled wines. The Collective tasting allows you to sample some
wines from different small independent winemakers. Dandy wines from Wine for
the People features a great selection by Rae Wilson. There are also reds and
whites from Tatum Cellars made by Joshua Fritsche, who many remember from
Williams and Chris Vineyards. Randy Hester has also been crafting some
outstanding reds from the C.L. Butaud label, as well. Selections
from Majek Vineyard & Winery and Farmhouse Vineyards will be here, as well,
for tasting. Being “new” and if you ask, you just might be able to sample some
from both tasting tracks. Also coming around the corner for Slate Mill
is a 2017 Barbera for the Spring, a 2017 Tannat, and a 2017 Petite
Sirah/Malbec blend (an out of this world blend!). Future estate
blends are also in the works, so keep your wine glasses close by. In addition
to 1851 and independent winemakers, the collective will also include the Slate Theory
Winery (not too far down HWY 290 east of Frederiksberg), Re:Rooted 210
Urban Winery (near Hemisphere Park in San Antonio), and La Bonne Vie
Ranch (beautiful ranch venue south of Fredericksburg). With great
people, great grapes, and a great wine, there will be no shortage of great
things to come here. No empty glasses here, as Randy will be sure
that yours is full. With the ever fast-changing pace of Hill County wineries,
you definitely don’t want to blink, or you will surely miss greatness. With
second to none hospitality, this new collective will make you feel right at
home. Enjoy, y’all!
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