Bingham
is certainly no stranger to the Texas wine industry. Having supplied many wineries with their
quality grapes, it is not uncommon to see Bingham as the source vineyard on
Texas wine labels. This
multigenerational family has roots in Texas farming that goes back to the early
1900s. Cotton, peanuts, black-eyed peas,
and sesame seeds have and continue to be part of their agricultural heritage.
They started the process in the 1990s to be certified organic. In 2003 they planted their first grapevines
of Viognier and Gewürztraminer. That has since grown to over 200 acres of 25+
varieties of grapes. About seventy five percent of their grape harvest goes to various
wineries throughout Texas. It is interesting to see how different winemakers at
wineries make their wine, even with the same source and vintage, ultimately
still tasting uniquely their own, which is a nod to the ever-diverse creativity
going on among wineries. Bingham Vineyards keeps about 10% of the grape harvest
for their own wine production, with the rest going out for sale as bulk wine.
Wine production is kept small to craft quality boutique wines. They made their
first Bingham bottle in 2014 and in 2015 they opened a tasting room in Grapevine,
Texas. In 2018, they opened another
tasting room on the eastern outskirts of Fredericksburg. We visited the Fredericksburg location and
were quite impressed with both the rustic decor and the wines. A lot of
reclaimed wood was used in the building construction and with the high ceilings
it gives a more inviting and relaxed feel. So, what about their estate wines?
Well, they do have an impressive selection that you can choose from. Pick your
favorite flight style and you cannot go wrong.
There is literally something for everyone here. For the white wine
flight, we started off with the 2019 Trebbiano. The citrus and lemon notes
along with light acids really highlighted some of the best flavors of this wine.
Roussanne has certainly been making a great strong showing in Texas white wines.
Their 2019 vintage has that rich feel and balanced acids that will make you
love this sipper. But wait! There is also a 2018 Reserve Roussanne that you
must try. With a touch of oak and good vanilla notes combined with that rich, full
mouthfeel, we think you might fall in love with this one. Many long time Texas
wine fans know how Viognier helped make a strong showing for Texas whites and
their 2019 wine is right on the mark. It is a bit softer than some other Texas
Viogniers, with a light creaminess. We can see why this 2020 San Francisco
Viognier winner stood out. Marsanne is another up and coming white wine in the
state and their 2019 release has just the right floral notes combined with the
flavors of lemon and pineapple. Texas Rosé
wines are also seeing increased interest over the last few years and their 2019
Sunset Rosé
is no exception. Made from Mourvèdre and Carignan, this smooth drinking Rosé
is a great Texas chiller to refresh your palate with on warm summer days. You
will be equally pleased with their reds and the 2018 Turnrow is a great
starter. Made with Mourvèdre, Dolcetto, Carignan, and Tempranillo, you might be
asking where is that artisan pizza at to pair with it. Like Carignan? They have great 2018 vintage that is both smooth
with a hint of spice. Tempranillo is certainly the “big” red grape that helped
put Texas on the wine map and their 2018 release is on par with good Texas
Temps. It is full bodied with lots of rich plums to envelope your palate. Their
2017 reserve Tempranillio as some earthy undertones, is rich in blackberry fruit
and has a great long finish. The single varietal 2018 Dolcetto
is bold with big intense fruit aromas. They also have a good Bordeaux style
blend made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
This 2017 Bordeaux style blend called Dugout, named after their family’s
original homestead heritage, is quite well balanced, has a smooth feel, rich
berries, moderate acids, and a good lingering finish. It made a great showing
at the 2020 San Francisco as a gold medal winner! For the sweets, do checkout the 2019 Moscato
Giallo It has just the right lushness on the nose and that silky, citrus feel
that puts the yum in every drop. You should not leave without trying the Fine
‘n Dandy sweet red. As a nod to Eddie Bingham, this light red wine has some
pecan flavors to it for that added delight.
This is a great tasting room to visit. The staff will make you feel warm
and welcomed. Additionally, the team in
the tasting room are quite knowledgeable and will even have some excellent
pairing suggestions. The price points on the wines are quite affordable, so
stock up. Visit, stay, and enjoy!
