Many
long time Hill Country travelers are aware of the 200-acre Wildseed Farms location
along highway 290 towards Fredericksburg. As one of the largest working wild seed
farms in the U.S., it has always been a must stop destination for visitors. The
latest expansion of this business is now a vineyard and winery. John and Marilyn Thomas started this dream
with about 28 acres in 2015 which expanded to 42 acres featuring 13 varietals
of grapes. Coming from generations of farmers, this next step seemed only
fitting as they ventured their feet into the growing Texas wine world. An
additional 12 acres of vines were added in 2024, so this is quite a burgeoning
vineyard. Many HWY 290 wine travelers may remember Wedding Oak tasting room
being located here for a while. With renovations and an expanded tasting room,
Wildseed wines officially has its own tasting room to call home.
Wine
production began in 2019, and their own label began popping up in 2021. Dabs Hollimon, from the former 1851 Vineyards
days, has assisted with their launch as a wine consultant. Their fruit is
currently sourced from both the Texas High Plains and the Hill Country AVAs.
There are plenty of different wines to sample on their lengthy tasting menu, so
make your flight selection and prepare for some fun as you sample through some
interesting finds. The 2022 Oaked Albariño was the first varietal to sample. This white wine has light oak notes with touches
of pear and lemon and a nice tropical sensation to it that you will find very
enjoyable. The second wine sampled was the 2021 Trebbiano. This classic Italian
varietal had some good minerality to compliment the apple and lime notes. For the Rosé wine, the Primrose was sipped.
This Texas Hill Country Mourvèdre Rosé was a beauty with a sweetness on the nose
but smooth and dry with notes of melon across the palate. Venturing into the red wines, the 2019
Sangiovese was sampled next. This Texas High plains AVA sourced fruit poured a light
red hue in the glass with notes of plums and cherries. The second red to taste
was the 2021 Aglianico. This Hill Country sourced wine is one mighty red featuring
bold cherry notes, great acids, and a good finish. A wine worthy of pairing
with a nice Italian feast. The last red to
try was the 2018 Tannat. This mighty bold red wine was from their beginnings
and is full of rich flavor and mouthfeel for those bold red wine lovers. As an
extra treat, both the white and red Sangrias were sampled. Made fresh, you cannot
go wrong with all the lush fruit and vibrancy that either Sangrias has to offer,
especially on a warm day.
With
the extra-large tasting room, outdoor patio seating, and great hospitality,
there is much to savor and enjoy during a stop at this winery. Enjoy all you
can, walk around, and take in all the magic that this hill county location has
to offer. You will be pleased with their wine selection and should be able to
find a few new favorites to take home like we did. Cheers!
