Alexander Vineyards - Fredericksburg, TX

“And now for something completely different” – a motto that owner Claude Alexander has ‘borrowed’ to describe his venture into the Texas winery world.  This new winery has just opened up and is located on the east of Fredericksburg off of Highway 290.  Claude has taken the time and effort to partner with some well established wineries in France to make his own wine to import and sell in Texas.  The grapes and wines are from France and Germany, but unlike most wine importers, he has actually worked with the winemaker and selected specific wines to produce under his label.  There are currently five wines to select from for tasting with more to be available later this year and early next year.  There are two champagnes, one made of 100% Chardonnay and the other from Blanc de Blanc and Pinot Noir. Yes, these are real champagnes and composed of Grand Cru fruit.  Both are quite good and a very exciting option for champagne lovers, as they are the real deal offered through a Texas winery! They are not super dry like some traditional champagnes and the alcohol content is not so high, so you won’t feel so “bubbly” after having a bottle.  There is a good Riesling also available that is very well balanced. The Riesling grapes are from the Mosel area of Germany.  Lastly, there are two Graves to try.  The red is 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The White is 55% Semillion and 45% Sauvignon Blanc.  Both Graves have great balances and aromas to enjoy.  These “old world” wines should help calibrate and broaden your wine sipping sensors so you can compare other wines to these created in the heart of the best wine producing areas for each of these various types of wines.  Claude also has plans to bring in some wines under his label through partnerships with wineries in Italy and possibly Spain.  He is very knowledgeable about his wines and what he is doing.  Don’t be put off by the “temp” trailer tasting room, as you can see the plans he has on the walls for future buildings and bed and breakfast cottages. This place is worth your valuable wine visiting time and he is very happy to share his story with those that stop in to explore what Alexander Vineyards currently has to offer.  Enjoy his hospitality and as well as the shade of the big oak trees on this wine country estate. We look forward to seeing the ground breaking on his new tasting room in the near future and the continued growth of his menu offerings. It is exciting to have something totally new and unique being offered to Texas wine connoisseurs.

www.alexandervineyards.com

Canto Felice – NV; Mandola Winery (now Duchman Family Winery); Driftwood, Texas

“Oh my!” Those will be the first thoughts that pop into our heads when we sipped this wine. As one of the early wines for this winery, one can appreciate the quality and how it impressed those first visitors. Made primarily of Sangiovese grapes, this wine is also blended with other varietals as well. The result is a very smooth and pleasant wine. You’ll notice a touch of sweetness, but it’s just on the edge of being considered a sweet wine. The balance between the sugars and acids is very nicely done. The bright red color is an eye catcher and the cherry and strawberry flavors are notable after the first few sips. It is a luscious fruit forward selection that is very nicely balanced. This wine pairs well with spicy foods, but can stand on its own as an after dinner treat too. It’s not common to find such a good quality red wine that is suitable for any drinking mood; however, we find this one very versatile. Either way, you’ll likely find a reason to say, “Just pour me a little bit more”. This is one of the original wine bottles from what was once the Mandola winery. We only wish we would have bought more! Now it is Duchman Family Winery, which is still a very cool place to visit if you get a chance.

www.duchmanwinery.com

Blueberry Wine - Wimberley Winery; Driftwood, Texas

This sweet blueberry wine is quite delicious. It is light bodied and not as overpoweringly sweet as some fruit wines can be. This wine has a stronger and much deeper red color than purple
and can be easily mistaken for a red wine just by the looks. There are wonder full aromas of blueberries to tempt your nose just before sipping. This one makes a delightful any time wine to enjoy whenever the mood pleases. Serve this one either way - chilled or at room temperature and it’s still good! This wine proves fruit wines aren’t just reserved for dessert.

www.wimberleyvalleywinery.com

 

Peach Creek Vineyards – College Station, Texas

With two years under their belt, this small boutique winery south of College Station is producing some fine local wine. Don’t let the name fool you, this isn’t a place that only deals in peac
h or fruit wines. They have vineyards planted. Ken and Donna Stolpman are the owners and took a stab and planted grapes back in 2008. Upon the grand entrance to their estate, you’ll notice the large overhanging sign with the winery name arched on top. After entering the gate, you’ll notice rows and rows of grapes in the vineyard lining the country side. We especially liked the initial “warning” sign that this is a stress free environment! Most of the vines planted are Lenoir, Muscadine, Lomanto and Noble varieties – about five acres in all. These grapes do quite well in this part of Texas. There is a large covered area for larger wine gatherings. Inside, you can pull up a chair to the closest barrel and start your tasting session. There are five whites and five reds to choose from. With eye-catching names like Bodacious, Fireside, and Rudy’s Red, you’ll surely find something on the wine list to tempt you. The mixed cabernet reds were quite good. The in-tuned wine lover will notice the Chambourcin wine available (not too commonly found in Texas). Their smooth tasting and semi sweet white wines are quite good, too. If you get a chance, you should also try the Ruby Red dessert wine. It’s chocolate and almond sweetness might make you crave for more and you should appreciate the reduced calorie way to get both your wine and chocolate fix in one glass. Although they are located a bit further out of town in the “sticks”, you can still here that aggie yell during football games. Just keep drinking some good wine they have and enjoy the company as you relax lingering in the tasting room or enjoying their outdoor seating on their porch or covered patio area.

blog.peachcreekvineyards.com

Skinny Dippin’ – NV; Fiesta Vineyard and Winery; Lometa, Texas

This clean sweet white wine is quite interesting. It is crisp and refreshing, which is welcomed on a sizzling summer day. The wine is a Riesling however; this one definitely
has a strong apple note and bouquet. There is just a tad bit of effervescence noticeable when held up to the light, but you will also notice the deep golden color as well. Definitely serve this one chilled to enjoy its character. Don’t be surprised if you initially think this is an apple cider wine, as there is a very distinct apple flavor, however, when you pair this with food, like a delicate vegetable based soup, you will find a decidedly different flavor profile. Experiment, taste, try, and enjoy. We think this is a great wine for this time of year.

www.fiestawinery.com

San Fernando Academy – 2011; Pontotoc Vineyard, Pontotoc, Texas

We had previously posted our thoughts on Pontotoc’s Tempranillo wine back in early July. This is one of their red blends from their yet to be opened winery. It has just about
every red grape found in many Texas wines with a bit of Carignane, as well. The official composition list is: 27% Cabernet Franc, 26% Sangiovese, 16% Mourvedere, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Carignane, 6% Tempranillo, 3% Grenache, and 1% Syrah. Shall we call this one, L’Évier? We aerated this one and let it breathe about 20 minutes before sipping. We found this one to be a smooth drinking wine that is fairly well balanced considering how many grapes were combined to create this “brew”. The initial aromas are quite lovely with hints of cherry and raspberry and just a tad bit of smokiness. For those who favor rich red wine blends, this is a lovely wine that is extremely smooth and very easy to drink. We strongly suggest you try it or buy to take to that next dinner party you’re invited to, as this one will be much appreciated. Not bad for a young wine either. We have another bottle in the cellar and will give it a try a few years down the road. The complexities have potential to continue to meld well with age. In hindsight, it would have been interesting to use a decanter with this one instead and see what differences arose. Like its Tempranillo sister wine, this one has won awards from the 2013 Finger Lakes, Houston Rodeo, and San Francisco Chronicle International competitions. We’ve also heard that there is a third wine they bottled, yet have been unable to locate any bottles. Guess we may have been too late to score any of those. If anyone one knows where or would like to share with us a bottle, we would be happy to give our 2-cents on it. Latest winery rumors are that they plan to open in 2014 now instead of this fall, but you never know, something could still change.

www.pontotocvineyard.com

Winery on the Gruene – Gruene, Texas

Nestled off of the main road just north of town, is a tasting room that specializes in fruit infused wines. You name it, they’ve likely infused it! Partners Don and Debbie Parker as well as John Czakowski opened this shop about five years ago. They have a wide selection of wines that can be a bit overwhelming to choose from at first. But have no fear as their friendly hospitality can help you make a good selection. Their grapes and juices are sourced from a select group of locals from across the world. Most of the fruit used in the fruit infused wines come from California. Just looking at the bottles you’ll notice that many are sourced from the Americas (North & South). For a mere $2, you have the choice of selecting four wines for tasting. There is a good assortment to choose from to suit most palates. They are especially known for their award winning fruit infused wines. While not an uncommon technique, it takes a bit of art and science to get just the right balance so that the fruit doesn’t overpower the wine and the grape taste just doesn’t fizzle out. They seemed to have accomplished the right balance. We didn’t come across a bad one during our tasting. By the way, the Strawberry Riesling impressed us a lot! We found it better than the Strawberry wines we have tried thus far. This is a worthwhile place to stop and sip next time you’re in Guene.

www.gruenewinery.com