Friday, September 26, 2025

Parmeson Wines – Dripping Springs, Texas

If you’re looking for some well-crafted small batch Sonoma wines, look no further than this local boutique family winery in Dripping Springs. Owner and winemaker, Tom Parmeson’s, journey to this second part of his career may have been different, but passion and hard work have paid off. Tom was a techie in the software development industry when he had one of those epiphany things happen on trips to California wineries in the 2000s. Like a great piece of software code that just pops into your head in the middle of the night, that sparked a new motivation in Tom for what he wanted to do with the next chapter of his life. After moving to California and learning the trade, as well as obtaining a UC Davis degree, a new adventure was launched in making wines in 2013. Eventually, he moved back to Texas and opened his own winery in 2019. The tasting room building is adjacent to a long-time stone sculpture garden. Inside the building, it is quite quaint and cozy. Staff are more than happy to help guide you through your wine tasting. The wine tasting building is also loaded with relics and the history of Texas, as well, including some granite from the State Capitol. There is ample space inside in a separate room to sit and enjoy your wines with a view of the nearby stone sculptures as well as space outside to sit and enjoy the scenic and quiet setting. 

Tom emphasizes cultivating high-quality grapes and employs hands-off (aka don’t mess with the grapes) approach to winemaking. The current tasting menu predominantly features selections from Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley. Tasting flights are available for both white and red wines, making it an ideal opportunity for guests to sample a comprehensive range. During the visit, the first to taste was the 2022 Sparkling Albariño which was an ideal way to ease into the mood. Notes of citrus and pear predominated along with a delightful refreshing feeling. This was followed by the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, which was quite aromatic with a bouquet of key lime and grapefruit with good acids complimented by a crisp finish. The subsequent white, the 2023 Albariño, presented robust aromas of grapefruit complemented by hints of apple and lime. The final white wine, the 2022 Chardonnay, offered a lighter profile compared to typical Chardonnays. It expressed itself as easy drinking with zesty apples and peaches hitting the senses in all the right places. Transitioning to red wines, the 2022 Pinot Noir showcased the varietal’s hallmark qualities, featuring abundant currant, a touch of vanilla, and balanced acidity with a refined finish. The next red was the 2022 Syrah. It was quite dry with a profile of cedar and berries and medium acidity. That was followed by the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon. It had a very opaque hue and lots of bright cherries on the palate. The wine had good structure and a bit of pepper at the finish. Wrapping up the tasting experience was the 2018 Zinfandel (produced from old vines) and featured an opaque hue with depth, herbaceous undertones, plum notes, and robust acidity and tannins.

This winery is a great addition to the Dripping Springs area with plenty of outdoor seating under the oak trees. There is much to just soak up and enjoy at this spot with a great glass of handmade wine and good company. When you follow your dreams, great things are possible. Voila!


www.parmesonwines.com

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