Many
long time Texas wine fans may recognize Reddy Vineyards on the label as the
source for several quality Texas wines. It is no secret that great wine starts
with great grapes and Reddy Vineyards has been helping to pioneer that effort
in Texas since the 1997. With a family background in farming for many
generations, Vijay Reddy started out the tradition of farming in the Texas High
Plains. Though initially growing cotton and peanuts, Vijay had noticed that
quality wines were coming from grapes grown in Texas and the region where his
farm was located. An acquaintance, Neal Newsom of Newsom Vineyards, helped give
Mr. Reddy a “friendly nudge” towards growing grapes on his farm. Starting out
in a circular pattern, mainly due to the irrigation equipment at the time, this
first experimental field has since grown into almost 300 acres of an assortment
of many different varieties. The Reddy’s practice sustainable farming
techniques that not only ensure the soil gives life for generations to come but
also yields some fantastic quality fruit. The estate vineyard has its own
unique elevation of about 3000 feet, giving it an ideal locale for grapes that
need that nighttime cooling affect. 2015 marked their first wine and the
success has continued since. At about 5,000 cases of wine production per year,
this makes a sustainable estate wine output as well. The farm has had a tasting room at the Brownfield
location for a few years, but eyes had been set on a tasting room in the Texas
Hill Country. Since last February, visitors have been able to taste their wines
at their newest tasting room location in Stonewall, Texas.
The
new tasting room location has a modern jazzy décor (along with the jazz music)
and is quite spacious and easy to move around. There are a few flights you can
select from, but feel free to let the staff know what your wine interests are
so that their very knowledgeable and engaging team members can prepare the best
experience for you. We couldn’t have been more pleased with the staff who
chatted with us and assisted with our questions and tastings and found them to
be some of the most knowledgeable we have encountered. From white to red to
dessert wine, these are the wines sampled. To kick off the tasting adventure, a
2020 sparkling white blend (Méthode Champenoise) made from Pinot Noir and Pinot
Grigio was sampled. It was quite satisfying with just the right Brut like feel
and delightful finish. The first white wine sipped was the 2024 Sauvignon
Blanc. Notes of melon and citrus were pronounced with balanced acidity. For a
take on Rhône
style blends, the VMR 2019 hits the spot. Even at six years old, this Texas
white wine still expresses itself as quite fresh. Aged separately, then blended,
the VMR has notes of apples, good acidity, a nice long finish, and should pair
quite nicely with some seafood pasta. For the Rosé wine, you will love the 2019
Lifestyle Tempranillo. It is still quite fruit forward with hints of strawberries
and raspberries with a big mouthfeel and nice minerality. Moving on to the
reds, their 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is something stunning. With a splash of
Syrah blended in, this mouth puckering red wine has great dark fruit paired
with a smoky finish. Next up was the 2022 Syrah/Petite Verdot/Cabernet
Sauvignon. At roughly a third each in this blend, this trio boasts some rich
blueberries and excellent earthy undertones. For something even finer, sip the
2022 Winemaker’s Blend. This Proprietary blend is full bodied, well balanced,
and has good tannins making this wine worth savoring every sip. Cabernet Franc
lovers will enjoy the 2019 vintage. It is full-bodied, with some spice on the
finish, and is just a bit lighter than most Cab Francs you may have sampled
from Texas. For an extra special treat, a “taste” of the 25th
Anniversary blend was poured and oh, was it just amazing. Made from the best
varieties of 2020 and aged 18 months in new French oak, it packs a good
mouthfeel, balanced acids, and a super fine finish. Finally, their 2022 Muscat
Blanc dessert wine was sampled. Made in the Sauternes style, it’s full of flora
aromas with notes of lemon and peach. A rich and sweet finish to a fabulous
tasting experience.
Honestly, there is nothing that you can’t go
wrong with on the wine menu. The staff are also super helpful and will guide
you through each wine. If you get a chance, do try to get some bottles of the
Circle field blend. Co-fermented and incredibly unique and delicious, it shows
off the first expressions of the family’s hard work from those initial
plantings. Vijay’s son, Akhil, has since taken over most of the reigns of
operation and continues the family farming legacy. You will also notice the
newest mascot on some of the newer wine labels, a Texas Bobcat. When visiting,
do take a peek at their comfortable member’s lounge. There is also ample
outdoor shaded seating, too, so you need not worry if you prefer to enjoy your
wine outside. Not much to tweak with these perfected wines, so come enjoy and
savor every sip! It is an outstanding new tasting room to visit and enjoy!
www.reddywines.com
