When
your passion for traditional style champagne methods is just itching at you,
one can’t help but seek the opportunity to pursue those dreams and make them a
reality. The Hill Country, as well as Texas, has been blessed with this unique
winery’s focus on making quality sparkling wines. This new venture by owners
Elisa and Chris Jones started with 2020 wine vintages (Merlot and Aglianico)
and about nine tons of fruit. Since then, they have acquired property near
Johnson City in 2022, and it has been full steam ahead since. The current
location sits on 43 acres with a current “tiny” tasting room opened in the
Summer of 2022. No worries, there is still plenty of room for shaded outdoor
seating under a side patio or beneath large shady trees overlooking their
tasting room entrance. Using French specialized champagne equipment, Elisa
honors the traditions of méthode champenoise in every bottle of their sparkling
wine. Although they are a boutique winery, they have set up an impressive full-scale
production for producing Texas sparkling wine.
There are plans for future expansion and a vineyard too, for estate sparkling
wines. About 12 acres are planned and you can look forward to Chardonnay being
grown there for a future bubbly to savor. The soil does need some rehab, so
they have planted some ryegrass and clovers, helping to bring that nutrient
magic back to the site.
Currently,
grapes for their sparkling and still wines are sourced from Texas Hill Country
AVA, Texas High Plains AVA, and the highly sought after vineyards near Dell
City. The winery has been under the incubator care of John Rivenburgh which has
been an added blessing for this new startup locale. Two main flights are on the list for tasting,
“Only the Reds” and “I Like It All”. No matter what flight you pick, everything
is very well balanced and super delicious. Let’s just dive right into the good
stuff for starters. Being initially treated to the 2023 Sparkling Trebbiano will
wet your appetite for what was to follow. It’s fruity, refreshing, and tingles
all the way to your toes. This was equally complimented by the 2023 bubbly
Grenache. A stunning introduction to their passion for sparkling wine proved
that their wines were spot on. Their still wines were equally well crafted. The
2023 Vermentino was a great follow up to the sparkling wines showcasing bright,
crisp, and refreshing citrus and floral honeysuckle notes. And who doesn’t like
a good Texas Mourvèdre Rosé wine? Their 2023 vintage was left on the skins
longer and is incredibly refreshing with lovely strawberry notes and good
acidity. Moving on to the reds was the 2022
Sangiovese. Aged for 18 months in a neutral oak, juicy cherries will dance across
your palate coupled with a soft touch of smoke for tease. Following the
Sangiovese was the 2022 Mourvèdre. Those plum and berry notes reigned supremely
paired with a medium acidity. Next in
the tasting lineup was their 2023 Amelia.
Oh my! This version of a Bordeaux style red wine blend was simply fabulous.
With a blend of 50% Merlot, 25% Malbec, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, its
prominent notes of plum and cherry, plus that soft feel will be quite soothing for
red wine lovers. Malbec lovers should be equally pleased with their 2021
vintage. Black pepper, plum, and some smoke will delight your palate, leaving
you longing for a big juicy burger to pair with it in your future. The Tannat was
also impressive with a deep, big and bold full body feel. The 2022 Segno II was
the final wine sipped. This Tuscan style blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet
Sauvignon was very balanced with medium acidity, and a lovely finish that will put
a big smile on your wine face.
Having
already made their mark on the Texas wine industry in such a short period of
time is quite impressive. Proof that blood, sweat, and determination to pursue
your passion and dream can pay off. Their pioneer effort in producing top
quality sparkling wines in Texas is showing all the signs for a successful
future ahead. This is a small, hands-on, friendly family run operation, and you
should plan to chat and sip while you are there as the owners are happy to
share their story and passion for this endeavor with you when you visit. Being further off the HWY 290 traffic does
bring a bit of serenity and quite nature Zen to the tasting experience, which you
will find to be a bonus. This allows visitors to fully relax and get away from
the crowds to embrace the hill country’s bountiful beauty. Can’t wait to visit
again to sample future vintages. Santé!
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