The
early beginnings of a family-owned boutique winery are perhaps the best times
to visit. Everything is new, fresh and the owners are all too happy to tell you
everything about their new place. There
is no doubt that the Bilger Family’s heart and soul is in their winery
business. Andy and Elena Bilger as well as Andy’s brother Michael, have put
much love and wine thought into these big plans. The family broke ground on their dream of
Adega Vinho, Portuguese for “Wine Cellar”, in 2016 and planted their first
vines the following year. Their estate
vineyard primarily focuses on about 14 varieties of Portuguese and Italian
grapes. Michael Bilger is certainly no stranger to Texas wines. He previously
worked under Ron Yates and has now undertaken his own “attention to detail” in
every aspect from growing fruit to crafting wine. Even though it is about a 50-acre estate, the
current goal is to establish a sustainable and manageable 20 acres of
grapevines. In addition to the vineyard management and wine quality, their goal
is to keep production small at 3000 cases per year. With an on-site production
facility, maintaining control over all aspects of wine production will be a
must for controlling quality. The site was opened to the public in 2020. You
will notice the majestic and beautiful vineyard when entering the estate
followed by the well shaded oak grove in front of the tasting room. Upon
entering the tasting room (besides being greeted by enthusiastic staff) you
will likely be mesmerized by the trapezoidal architecture and eclectic art on
the walls. Most of the wines currently being served are Texas High Plains
sourced. There is nothing on the wine
list that you will be displeased with in our opinion, they are all winners. The
2019 Viognier is a winning combination of fruit, minerality and butter that
should make a white wine lover out of you!
The 2020 Tempranillo Rosé is from the estate. You may be surprised at its full-bodied feel
and creamy, smoky notes, but it is a Rosé. The Pordosol is a 50/50 blend of
Mourvedre and Tempranillo. The softer
taste and lighter red color help set the mood for an excellent sunset sipper.
Their Italian wine, 2018 Sangiovese, has well balanced acids and a fruitiness
with cocoa aromas. One of their early
wines, the 2016 Syrah, is a real treat. This rich drinking red has great depth,
some spicy notes with a hint of mint, and some lingering chalkiness. It is
drinking well but go ahead and lay down some bottles for more surprise sipping
in a few years. It seems Tannat is everywhere nowadays, but their dark colored
2018 Tannat is smooth with cherry aromas and a medium finish. Sourced from
Newsom Vineyards, the 2018 Tempranillo is still fairly fruit forward with
raspberry notes and a touch of smokiness.
Get ready for a superb Mourvedre. The 2017 release is a reserve and
explodes with herbal notes and cherries with a lingering tobacco and oak
finish. Save the best for last and slowly enjoy the 2019 Grenache. With a hint
of orange peel and cinnamon, you may be thinking how many bottles your
significant other will let you purchase. The family has plans to offer a field
blend of Tinta Cao in addition to a Touriga National. The owners and staff all feel strongly that
Touriga’s future is with their wines. It has been a long dry spell visiting new
wineries with the 2020 pandemic, but this was the right visit to get back into
the wine groove. This place is an extra
special getaway from the busy US 290 corridor as it sits tucked in on a side
road in a lovely quiet spot. It will be exciting to see what unfolds with the
Bilger’s piece of Hill Country terroir. We cannot wait to see what the future
brings for this very bright beginning. Saúde!
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